TED – How Great Leaders Inspire Action (Video)

I love TED talks. A collection of the world’s greatest minds brought together for an inspiring show and tell of the most innovative ideas out there. I found this video quite interesting:

“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”

Whenever people ask me about our youth group, I often start rattling off the list of our programs and events. Whenever I do that, I feel like I am struggling to capture the true essence of who we are as a group. This video helped me think more clearly about why I communicate that way, and how I can work to improve.

Yes, we are a youth group that meets twice a week and has some cool retreats. But we are so much more! We are here because students need a place where they are safe to wrestle with life’s questions. We are here because nobody else expects much from teenagers. We are here because every junior high and high school student needs a reminder from time to time that they are loved. The very essence of youth ministry is wrapped up in “why” but so often when we talk about our ministries we get stuck on the “what” of our programming.

At least, that’s what I do. And I should really stop that.