Before the trip:
Be enthusiastic about and help with fundraising. This is our community of kids. We do not want the cost to be prohibitive.
Meet as Adult Leaders with the Ezekiel staff going on the trip to build community and a good group dynamic.
Provide leadership for pre-trip meetings with our whole group of students and adults participating in this experience. It is vital for you to show up and start building relationships with our students!
On the trip:
Have a positive attitude about everything
This spreads and sets a great example for everyone. It makes relationships easier for you. Positive attitudes model an empowering outlook. Seeing opportunity in even the little glitches and challenges that come along goes far in helping a group have an experience to remember. If everything goes well, that is great. Groups will always remember the positive attitudes of adults especially if there are challenges and the group worked together to make a positive learning opportunity out of them.
Relate to youth positively
Treat them with respect. Do not boss them around. Use positive reinforcement and no negative chiding. Give them the opportunity for leadership. Rarely do we need to discipline youth when we empower them with respect and responsibilities on the trip. They need to know they are valuable partners in this experience. At times they need reminders. There are times, however, when we need to be strong and firm communicating that we care and are serious about them changing behavior that is inappropriate and/or unacceptable. This should be done in a positive way. We never seek to humiliate.
Spend time with the youth
Get to know everyone by name and as many as possible personally. Hang out with them. Walk alongside them. Be quiet and listen. Be enthusiastic and engage them. While it is great and ok to have adult conversations, our number one focus and concern is youth. Connect those who are on the edge. Help others invite them in and reach out. Be where the youth are. Show your genuine interest in them. Do not send them off on their own because you are tired of them and you need a break. We need to have extraordinary stamina.
Leading Bible Study/Discussions
Be a spiritual guide. Encourage open discussion. It is great to share personal stories and spiritual views appropriate to discussion, but do not dominate with your stories or opinion. Listen carefully and draw out each person in the group. Create opportunities for everyone to share, i.e., "Let's go around the circle and each share a response to this question...." Gently move the conversation along if one person dominates. Allow people to disagree respectfully with each other. It is important that you do the entire Gathering Bible Study and/or discussion. Do not skip parts, unless all the small groups have agreed to that. Usually we have all the time we need to complete the entire discussion. Be the leader for the study, but give youth the chance to read the scripture aloud, ask the questions, etc. This is a great chance for leadership skill development. You may partner with a youth to lead the study, but do not leave them alone to lead the group. The presence of an adult with each group is essential.
Work positively with other adults
We are all in this together. Adults need to empower each other to be the best they can be in terms of walking alongside, sharing mutual experience and caring for the youth. Work to overcome differences with other adults privately. Youth will be deeply affected by adults who "bicker" and are hard on each other. If you have a complaint about another adult, talk to them privately. See each other as partners and help each other to be the best you can be for the sake of your entire group and the Gathering experience overall.
At the Gathering:
Participation in the Gathering
Be an enthusiastic leader with youth and participate in the opportunities of the gathering. Particularly at the mass events in US Bank Stadium, and the learning and interactive activities in the Convention Center, walk alongside youth. Remember that this experience is primarily for the young people.
Be a great listener and guide.
Do not jump in to take over or dominate the experience, discussion or activity.
Help youth look out for others, so that they all get their chance to share, use materials, or participate.
Sing enthusiastically.
Encourage youth to join in.
Focus on what you feel positive about. Share that with youth.
Resist complaining or speaking negatively about anything, no matter how justified.
Youth look to adults to lead with grace and wisdom. One of the most powerful ways we can do that is to be intentional about sharing a positive attitude and making the most of the opportunities before us.
