“You need to have a ‘plan’ that is clear,” said Vincent Mo, a volunteer in Irvine, Calif., “but not so detailed that it is like a job.” These leaders merge everyday life with ministry. For instance, one volunteer leads a group of kids who attend the school near where he works, making it easy to bring them lunch. Strategic choices were made (or just “happened”) that allowed volunteers to frequently “bump into” kids because their lives overlap.

6Great Volunteers Seek to Build a Caring Network of Adults

Great volunteers not only partner with parents, but they seek out ways to involve other adults, as well.

I asked these leaders, “Who influenced you the most in your faith in Jesus?” The consistent response was: “There were many adults—not just one.” A broad range of adults impacted the leaders themselves, and this perspective affects their approach to involving other adults in ministry.

“My friends helped build my faith,” said Brittney Corrado-Tate, a college student and volunteer, “but looking back, it was a lot of adults who made Jesus real for me.”

Great leaders are not “Lone Rangers.” They are not seeking the “glory” of being idolized by kids. There is no “territoriality” in these leaders—they welcome co-leadership and forge bonds between kids and other adults at every opportunity.

7Great Volunteers Have Received Great Encouragement from Youth Staff

Volunteers consistently mentioned they have been encouraged deeply by someone on the staff of the church or organization. Whether it was the youth pastor or someone else, great leaders have been told they are great.

“When you affirm leaders it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy,” said one volunteer. “You have to buy into leaders as you expect them to buy into kids.”

Working with teenagers often does not seem to bear fruit. These interviews showed the importance of encouragement in a ministry that can be frustrating and require great patience. “Leading can be draining,” added Clark Berngard, a six-year volunteer. “We need to be taken out to lunch a lot.”