This chapter is about developing leaders from the community to fill the leadership vacuum. After moving back to Mendehall, Perkins discovered youth who grew up barraged with the message, "you're inferior, you're powerless, and there's nothing you can do to change it." Perkins knew the answer would be in helping these kids find their sense of dignity, discover their gifts, get an education, and helping them believe they could make a difference. He began to mentor and disciple youth and develop young leaders who would one day lead the programs and ministries. In Perkin's words,
"We need leaders. Leaders with a faith that sees the depth of our needs, yet persists in believing in the power of the gospel. Leaders with a hope that can see the future and move others toward it. Leaders with a love that will sacrifice self in order to serve others.
If we are to have that kind of leader, we dare not leave leadership development to chance. We must make the discipling of new leaders the very center of our ministry strategy."
There's an excellent question to ponder at the end of the chapter: Assume that you are matched with a Christian teen and assigned the task of developing him/her into a strong Christian leader over the next five years. What would your strategy be?
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