#79: Do I Have What It Takes to Lead Others Spiritually?

It was 3rd period and I was exhausted. A long morning of proctoring state math exams followed by a quick lunch of a naked salad (no cucumbers, tomatoes or bell peppers!) was a recipe for me longing for my planning period at the end of the day. Luckily for me, my 3rd period is my favorite of the six classes I have. Well behaved and always willing to try every problem assigned.

Towards the end of class, one of my students asked if she could make an announcement. Being it was this class, I was not afraid to honor her request. She informed her classmates about the new prayer meeting that would happen each morning at the flag pole and welcomed all that would like to attend. You could see the excitement in her face as she spoke of this and how she had worked it out with our principal and her church Bishop to bring (voluntary) prayer to our campus.

I was proud of her. Part of me wanted to congratulate her.  It's not easy these days for students to openly express their love for Christ when most students her age are concerned with social media likes and using the perfect filter for selfies. I didn't though, congratulate her that is. With the separation of church and state along with as a teacher keeping my religious beliefs private, I kept my thoughts to myself.

Once she was done, she went back to her seat where her classmates asked questions about this newly founded prayer circle. After I overheard her say, "This school needs prayer. This school needs Christ," I could no longer keep quiet. She was right. A conversation that I've had many times with my husband not about my school, but about this generation of children. Instagram models and reality T.V. show personalities are their role models. They know the lyrics of "Trap Queen" verbatim, but can't perform mental math. Priorities all jacked up.

So I called her over to me and asked if she had ever thought of starting a Christian Club here at the high school. Before I could catch myself, I was suggesting that the organization have two branches: one for young women led by me and a group for young men led by a male teacher. Both myself and the other teacher would help our groups grow closer to Christ  as the navigate through the stressful adolescent years.

These were the words coming from my mouth. My mind, on the other hand, was simultaneously going a million miles per hour. Could I get in trouble for suggesting such a club? Will the school district allow for such an organization? If announcements can be made every day about the new Lesbian/Gay/Transgender/Straight Alliance and its meeting times, why not allow for fellowship to occur on school grounds?

But one question laid heavily on my heart than the others. If given the okay by administration, do I have what it takes to lead a group of young women spiritually?

I don't go to church that often no can I quote scriptures off the top of my head. But I do accept Christ to be my Lord and Savior. I do seek the Word daily for guidance. I give thanks to the Lord throughout the day from the time I open my eyes in the morning until I lay my head down on my pillow at night. I do wish that more young girls knew of the unconditional love God has for them and the completeness they will feel once they begin living for Him and not the World. 

If I am given the opportunity to lead such a group, I will lean on the Lord to guide me. With the state of the African American community in the U.S., the only way change will come about is instilling values and morals in our youth. I pray that it begins soon.