It's also important that the boys in our community have positive male role models to look up to, and that these role models come from similar backgrounds and look like themselves. I now have a problem where almost every 8th grader who graduates out of 5/8 wants to be a volunteer leader, and I can't use all of them! As I mentioned in my last post, we are making efforts to plug the boys in as tutors at our Johnson Elementary tutoring program. For those boys who are 10th grade and above, are mature and responsible, and have a love for Jesus, I have a few spots for them as 5/8 leaders. Most serve for multiple years, like Bryan, who served for three years as a high school student and one in college, and Martell, who has served for the last three years. This year I added Paul, an 11th grader who shined in his internship at the Boys and Girls Club this summer and approached me about leading back in September. Paul shows up at my house on Mondays just before it's time to pick up dinner for 5/8, and I use the car ride to Trinity (our meeting place) as a chance to prepare him for the evening and quiz him about what he is supposed to do. He helps lead the 5th and 6th graders during the meeting and helps me clean up afterwards. On the car ride home, I ask him how the evening went, what he did well, and what he could have done better. He is growing into the role, and his commitment to the group is admirable.
As I did with all my leaders, I gave Paul a sheet of the expectations I have for 5/8 leaders, in the form of the acronym DISCIPLE (see below). Unlike my other leaders, I challenged Paul to memorize what each letter stood for. For several weeks I quizzed him, and he couldn't remember a single one! In fact, he often would guess negative words that were the opposite of traits I was looking for (e.g. "selfish" instead of "selfless"). Last week when I asked him, he managed to name two. He wanted to make a bet that if he learned them all in a week, I would have to buy him Chinese food. I thought there was no chance. To my surprise, he listed them off on Monday, two days before the deadline! It would appear that not only does he take his volunteer position, but also his Chinese food, very seriously.
DISCIPLE
DEPENDABLE – Your commitment to each other and the boys is very important. Not only does it show you care, but it helps ensure the health and success of the program. Just as the boys are expected to attend every meeting, so are you.INVESTING – Being a 5/8 leader requires more than just showing up. Always come to meetings prepared for your roles. Make parent contacts and spend time with the boys outside of our Monday night meetings.
SELFLESS – Put the feelings and needs of the boys and other leaders above your own. Participate and perform tasks even when you don’t feel like it.
COMPOSED – Don’t take it personally when dealing with an unruly child. Be fair and equitable towards all kids. It’s ok to get upset but don’t let that affect your judgment or the standards of how we deal with the boys.
INFLUENTIAL – Recognize that your relationship with the boys gives you a unique opportunity to speak into their lives and help them make good decisions.
PRAYERFUL – Our work requires us to come to our knees in prayer for the boys, their families, and ourselves.
LOVING – Love the boys, not because they love you but because Christ loves you. Be patient and forgiving with them as Christ is with us.
EXAMPLE – Let the way you live your life in and outside of the program be one that positively reflects the Kingdom and how we want the boys to live.
