A year in leadership

Continuing in our series of hearing from last year's award winners here is the leadership award winner Trevor Martin:


Welcome students of the Kaléo Program 2013! I also want to congratulate you on being accepted into the program. I am expecting God to continue to work in big ways through this program and in your lives. 

This past year at Qwanoes I learned a lot about leadership, but there are a few things that stand out to me. The first is that leaders follow well. You do not have to be the appointed leader to lead, inspire, and encourage those around you. Through all aspects of this program you will have opportunities to lead through your example. One area where I learned this particularly slowly was in ministry at the church I was assigned to. The church was much different from the one I grew up in, and I knew how to do things better. Until I realized I was not in charge and my responsibility was to follow well. Understand your responsibility and devote yourself to it.


The other aspect of leadership I would like to challenge you with is to never settle. The call from Jesus is lofty and there will always be room for more growth in your life. Challenge yourself to greater heights constantly. I think of Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount, in particular Matthew 5:48- "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." That verse is a reminder to me that I do not have it all together. I saw God work in incredible ways in my life and in the lives those around me through this past year, but I know that He still has so much more that He wants to do in and through us. I pray that you would not be content to coast through any part of this year or the rest of your lives.


The verse I will leave you with is 1Timothy 4:12- "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for 
the believers in speech, in life, in love, and in purity."


You have been blessed with an incredible opportunity! Take full advantage of it and enjoy it!