Young Life Area Directors wear a lot of hats.
Here’s what some of those hats look like: sharing the vision of Young Life in their community, partnering with local churches, fundraising, budgeting, planning events, organizing trips, recruiting/training leaders and showing up in the lives of leaders and students alike. On top of all that, they can still be spotted at club singing their hearts out or performing ridiculously on stage.
Area Directors are passionate about following Jesus and desire to share His transformative love with kids everywhere.
Below are some of our region’s top leaders. We have the privilege of learning from them as they share their insights on leadership.
The leaders that I look up to and learn the most from are the people that I live life with and interact with on a day-to-day basis. Surround yourself with leaders better than you and they will surely model how to inspire people, have tough conversations, and navigate life with grace.
—Kaitlin Huissen, Area Director, Northeast Grand Rapids Young Life
We show up in one of three ways: a child, a parent or an adult. When we show up as a CHILD, we are looking to please or impress. When we show up as a PARENT, we have a tendency to see the person or people we are meeting with as in need of our help or expertise…we don’t see ourselves as having something to learn from the other person or people. When we show up as an ADULT, we neither anticipate, nor assume, but understand that we are equally engaged in the trials, temptations, and imperfections of life. When we show up as an ADULT, we show up as equals. How will you show up?
—Brad Sytsma, Centurion Project Trainer and former
Senior Area Director, Michiana Young Life
Sometimes we have leaders that are not in the role or place that is best for them. When that happens, it can be hard for them and their teams. Part of our job in leadership is to help speak truth to others about their strengths. Doing so can allow leaders to come alive as they serve in a place where they lead out of their strengths rather than their weaknesses.
—Eric Zoodsma, Area Director, Grand Rapids SouthWest Young Life
When I think of leadership, I often think of servant leadership, and who better to look to than Jesus. There’s a sequence of stories found in Mark 4 and 5 where Jesus calms the storm, drives out demons, heals the bleeding women, and raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead. Not once does he make a claim of who he is or why he is doing it, he just does, which is very contrary to some leaders today.
—Eric Boer, Area Director, Central Grand Rapids Young Life
The best way to lead is to listen. Listen to God, to others, to yourself and to the culture around you. You must be convinced that everyone you lead has something to teach you. Every person and every culture can show you something new about the image of God by what is reflected in them. Be the best of who you really are. Leadership is often lonely; be willing to go first.
—Mike Bredeweg, Senior Area Director, Southwest Michigan Young Life
In order for something new to be born we may need to let some of the old things die—past expectations, dreams, people, cultures, habits, thinking. We are limited humans who can’t keep all things alive, so leadership is in choosing what is worth fighting for.
—Erin Iafrate, Area Director, Grand Traverse Young Life
When I think of leadership, I think of the ability to prioritize. There are weeks where leading a Young Life area seems so easy and there are weeks I feel like I’m spinning twelve plates, two plates just fell and four more are about to fall. A Young Life veteran once told me that we do spin plates but the secret is that not all plates are the same. Some plates are fine crystal and some are rubber. The key then becomes learning which plates may fall and which plates need careful attention.
“You can’t get second things by putting them first. You get second things only by putting first things first.” (C.S. Lewis, “First and Second Things”)
—Jay Lindell, Senior Area Director, Greater Holland Young Life
Over the last six years of being on Young Life staff the biggest thing that I have had to learn was how to show myself compassion for my imperfection and shortcomings. I have found that self compassion is directly linked to empathy. I can be a better leader when I am empathic.
—Ryan Elders, Area Director, Eastern Ottawa Young Life
What leadership means to me:
“I came to serve, not to be served.” (Jesus)
“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” (Mother Teresa)
“If you are going to lead, you need to make goals. And those goals can’t come from the top down, they’ve got to come from the people who are responsible for achieving them.Your job is to help them get there, and remind them every day what their goals are, and what they have to do to make their dreams come true. …When they show you what they are capable of conceiving, and accomplishing, they’re going to knock your socks off. You just have to give ‘em the chance to lead.” (Bo Schembechler)
—Alaina Smith, Area Director, Little Traverse Bay Young Life
I have two favorite quotes I use all the time, both from Laymon A. Hicks:
“Don’t worry about finding individuals to complete you, but rather find individuals that will complement you.”“Be honest with yourself. It is possible your actions, attitudes and associations are keeping you from stepping into the role that God has for you.”—Quentin Henry, Area Director, Grand Rapids Urban Young Life
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Leadership begins with leading yourself. If we are courageous enough to follow God’s call in our life it will take us to places unseen and incredible adventures. It is not an easy road but those who pursue uncharted waters will discover their purposes and enable others to discover theirs. God’s Word reminds us consistently “Do not be afraid.” Equally, God invites, asks and calls us to follow Him to places of risk, discomfort and to the ends of the earth. Get out of the boat. He is with you!
—Ryan Nienhuis, Area Director, Kalamazoo Young Life
