#1. Validate - In Public

People need validation; we all do.  As a leader, especially a spiritual leader, it is important to express to others how important they are.  You do a great service to someone when you validate them and let them know how special they are to you and to the work God has called all of us to do. 

(I will admit, I'm not very good at this.  Maybe it comes from a certain sense of insecurity.  I think about doing it all the time, but my follow through is rough.   I love it when others validate me, but I don't do it for others enough.  Oh how I would love to create and cultivate a culture around me where people were validated and honored regularly!)

It has been said many times by many people that we love to hear our own name.  This is true on different levels.  It has been researched that people's brain activity is greater when they hear their own name.  Honestly, who doesn't like to hear their own name?  It's like being picked in kickball when you were a kid or winning a drawing for a prize.  It evokes emotions and feelings based on the fact that you are being recognized or even known.  We read in the Bible (Matthew 3:13-17) that God the Father spoke and validated Jesus when Jesus was baptized.  Did Jesus need validation?  I'm gonna guess that He was pretty secure in His identity, but the Father deemed it important enough to let Jesus know that He was pleased with His Son.

But even in the instance in Matthew 3, I think God's validation was more than just for Jesus - It was also for the people around Him.  You see, God the Father did not do this in private.  He did not do it in silence or just so that only Jesus could hear and see Him.  He did it on display so that others around Jesus could see and hear that God the Father called Jesus His Son, and that He was well pleased with Him.

People need to hear that they are important.  They need to hear that from you.  You need to do it in public, not just in private.  Others need to know that you have faith in that person.  Such assurance makes people a little more faithful, walk a little taller, feel a little more special.  Yes, even with the chance of being a little embarrassing, but do it with honor and tact.  You never fully know what it will do for people when you validate them in public.  They may have never heard a parent say that they are proud of them, may have never heard a parent say "I love you".  It's important to get into the habit of honoring people.  It's important to speak life into them.  Isn't that what God does for us?  Isn't that what love is about?  Yes, it is.  Let's model that to and for others. 

Top Ten

I have a Top Ten list.  I know, it may sound a little cheesy, but I do.  I've been doing youth ministry for a long time (since '94) and there are a few things I've learned along the way.  A few years ago I traveled to India with a fellow pastor and while there we were scheduled to speak to some local youth leaders in Mumbai.  A few hours before we were to speak to these leaders, my friend informed me that I need to come up with something to say.  I was caught off guard as I thought he was going to be the one speaking to them.  He mentioned something like I should do a list of the most important things I've learned in youth ministry, or something like that.  Ok, I grew up watching David Letterman and his Top ten lists, so I'll do my own top ten list.  On the spot I created and then somewhat refined a Top Ten list of the most important things I've learned in youth ministry.  I have since gone back to it, reworked it, and taught on it several times.  Is it comprehensive?  Absolutely not.  But it does get to the core of some of the most important things God has taught me over the years.  Now, if I were to really take my time and think about the things I have learned I could come up with a bigger list, but I think I shall leave that until another day.  If you get to the end of my Ten and need more (obviously), I strongly recommend Bill Hybels Axiom.  Excellent read.

So in the following days and weeks, I will do my best to roll our my Top Ten things I have learned in Youth Ministry.