LIFT Conference: discipling young leaders into living faithfully

LIFT Conference: discipling young leaders into living faithfully

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers: all are mentioned by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians as gifted by God to confer a particular service upon the Church. That service is to build up and equip the saints with two things: a unity of the faith; and a knowledge of the Son of God (Eph 4: 11–16). And while there are many events, workshops or programs designed for adults to grow and disciple them in leadership, unity of faith and knowledge of Jesus; seldom do we take the same considered approach with the more youthful citizens of God’s Kingdom.

At LYQ, we believe that leadership, like any skill, is teachable and transferable. In fact, it is something that comes about from intentional discipleship. For this reason, in Term 2 we are convening the LYQ LIFT Conference. The intent of this conference is to grow connected hope-filled people by providing a space for teams of young people, along with sponsoring mentors, to explore what it means to be a leader.  We believe that learning makes a greater impact when experts and novices can delve into the concept of leadership together, sharing insights and engaging in deeper topics in impactful ways.

The hope is to empower participants to consider their own choices and their own insights in response to scenarios in the context of their own communities. While mentors and experts will facilitate the process with guidance and support, the shape of the final outcome will belong to the young people themselves. The aim is for attendees to leave with a clear vision for forward movement, greater confidence and curiosity – as well as some new connections and positive memories!

If you would like to know more about the LYQ LIFT Conference we’d love to hear from you: Isaiah.Berris@lyq.org.au

And we need your prayers, in the following ways:

For the Good News:

• That our volunteers would have a ready answer for the hope they have
• That conversations among the attendees open the door for mentors to talk about the Good News
• That the the topic of leadership would bring the focus on to the greatest Leader
• That those who need to hear the Good News would be in attendance
• That those who need to share the Good News would be in attendance
• For a successful event that brings glory to God

For the people:

• For volunteers who can help organise, create and lead
• For the youth and young people who come, that they may discover insights that will grow them
• For the mentors who are co-creating answers to problems alongside those young people, thus helping to disciple them
• For me (Isaiah) as the Leadership & Learning Lead, that I may be able to coordinate effectively and lead and equip our event leaders
• For the subject matter experts, that they may have an opportunity to lean into and impact the lives of those who are learning from them
• In attendance – not just to meet the numbers we need to survive but to receive all we need to enable this event to thrive
• For God to raise up the right people to come and help
• For the generosity of sponsors
• For those who supply the grounds on which we will meet
• For those who supply the food

For provision:

• For food that leaves attendees satisfied and well-fed
• For a location that meets the needs of all participants
• For an atmosphere of exploration and openness
• For an atmosphere that faciliates new friendships
• That finances do not detract or draw the focus away from serving

For the location:

• For God to send his Holy Spirit ahead of us to prepare the perfect space for us
• For his angels to guard and make safe the time and place in which we meet
• That a suitable date be found so that we can move ahead in our planning with confidence
• For a space that is fruitful for use into the future

For the program:

• That the right content to reflect the needs and aspects of leadership God wants to teach his people
• For content that is clear and accessible for attendees but still deep enough for fruitfulness and growth.

He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love (Ephesians 4:11–16).