Want to begin a Leadership Training for Christ program at your congregation? Here’s some information you may find helpful.

• recognize and develop leadership skills
• grow in their relationship with God, his word, and his people
• develop a lifestyle of service to God and his people

What are the goals of your congregation in training the leaders of tomorrow? To
implement Leadership Training for Christ, it will be necessary for a number of ministries to work together

• Youth and Family Ministry — How will you use LTC classes in your Youth Ministry? Several of the LTC classes provide great training for mission trips. The Service Challenge provides a great background for a service-oriented youth group.
• Children’s Ministry — LTC provides a lot of activity for a Children’s Ministry. As the children begin to develop leadership talents, how will they be utilized in the congregation? Is there a time and place set up for the young men (and young women) to lead singing or deliver their speeches? It may be a particular Sunday evening or ladies’ class. See how it best fits into the life of your congregation.
• Education Ministry — How will LTC fit into the education program at your congregation? Can teachers help coordinate the Daily Devotional challenge or Scripture Challenge?

As you coordinate ideas and goals, it will be easier to mold LTC to meet the needs of your congregation.

Talk to your parents and youth. Help them develop and understand the vision for leadership training. We must first see the need and then have a desire to do something about it. Seek volunteers from very early in the planning stage.

Visit other congregations who are currently involved in LTC. Don’t visit with the idea of copying their program. However, it is helpful to pick up valuable information and perhaps learn from their mistakes.

Prepare an LTC budget. LTC registration is $30 per youth. There are additional costs involved with leadership training classes. Make sure you consider how these costs will be covered:

• Purchasing puppets, backdrops, and costumes for puppet classes.
• Supplies for Christian Art classes.
• Supplies for a congregation Scrapbook.
• Songbooks and pitch pipes for song leaders.
• Hotel costs if attending the convention.

Move your planning stage to practical applications.  Answer a number of questions:
What leadership classes will be offered?

Who will teach the classes? Are any special requirements necessary to teach the class (i.e. sign language)? Given the potential size of the class, how many assistants are needed?

How many weeks will each class last? A general rule of thought: the longer the classes continue, the less likely a student is to complete the class. Some congregations offer classes in three to five week segments — with an emphasis on intense training and application.

For what ages will the classes be offered?  Some congregations begin LTC with younger ages (3rd through 6th grade) and allow the program to grow as these children get older.  Other congregations begin with just teens.
One of the keys in beginning the classes is to make sure there is enough adult support to provide proper training and assistance.

What time will the classes be offered?

Sign up youth to participate.  It is a great idea to have a meeting of parents and youth to explain each of the classes that will be offered. Teachers may be given time to explain their goals — an opportunity to “sell” their class. Before you ask youth to sign up, provide a schedule of classe, times, dates, etc.).  Let them know the level of commitment they are being asked to make.  Provide an LTC participation sheet (develop your own based on the classes you will offer).