Is Your Leadership Capacity Maxed Out? Empower Others & Take a Vacation

Joel Sikha’s passion for youth first developed when he was a young Christian in India. After dedicating his life to Jesus, he felt compelled to start making a difference in the lives of the youth in his country. One of his primary vehicles for serving youth was as a DJ with an Australian radio station. (NOTE: Joel’s voice was heard in all the 2015 Speaker intro videos!) Later he met his wife, who was from the US, and they moved to Boise, Idaho. He now serves as the youth pastor at Vineyard Christian Fellowship where he was introduced to the Global Leadership Summit.

The Summit’s impact on his view of youth and young leaders has strengthened his ministry for the better. When Joel heard the concept about never doing ministry alone, and always having a budding leader with you, he grasped the idea, and went into action.

Joel started looking at youth more as partners in ministry. “I started doing ministry with a bunch of young, enthusiastic and passionate guys and girls, and the more I started doing ministry with them the more I felt like they were growing and I was growing, too,” Joel explains. “Young leaders need a little nudge, but once they get moving, there is no stopping them. I learned a lot from them and they from me.”

It wasn’t an easy start. Joel wanted to see the youth empowered to lead, but that also meant he needed to let go. “Yes, it was hard, and sometimes it still is,” he said. “Especially when it comes to teaching and preaching, but if they are not given a chance, they will never grow. I have been on the other side of not having a chance, and it sucks.”

“My dream is to make disciples of Jesus Christ by enabling them to see themselves as world changers, and equipping them to change the world by teaching them from the Word.”

Today, Joel has a team of 17 young leaders who can run his Sunday service even if he’s not there. This has freed him up to attend conferences, spend time building into young leaders, and work on his own leadership development. “In the long run, I am at peace knowing that the person who can continue the ministry is being taught and groomed even now. My team of leaders can successfully run the youth ministry without me. They organize services, get the worship team together, and teach and lead small groups. I am actually going on a 12-day vacation this summer and have full trust in my leaders.”

A leader can’t function alone. The benefit of empowering young leaders around you might also mean you can take a vacation! Joel encourages leaders to learn from other leaders from different backgrounds and ages. “If you really want to lead, you have to open yourself to learning from other leaders. And the Summit is a GREAT place to do that—both in the ministry and in business.”