One Year of the Onelife Leadership Sessions
9 November 2022 · Simeon Taylor, Onelife Resources and Training Coordinator
‘The Sessions have made me braver, giving me the confidence to share my faith with my non-Christian friends.’
This is what Kainaan, aged 12, had to say about his experience of the Onelife Leadership Sessions. Kainaan was struck by the teaching about the ‘five Cs’ that are central to godly leadership: charisma, character, competence, chemistry, and calling.
‘Onelife’s dream is to see the UK populated with leaders carrying godly qualities into every sphere of society’
Onelife’s dream is to see the UK populated with leaders carrying these qualities into every sphere of society, stepping into the unique calling that God has for their life. It starts with enabling young people like Kainaan to believe that this is something they can do, and it’s exactly what the Onelife Sessions are for.
This month we are celebrating that the Sessions are one year old, having seen almost 200 groups signed up since October 2021.
As part of my role with Onelife, I get to see and hear about more and more young people equipped with the tools that the Onelife Sessions provide, through their use in groups all across the UK and further afield. Having joined the Onelife team over the summer, it has been a privilege to hear stories even over the last few months of groups and individuals who have picked up the material and are working out what the teaching means, and how it is lived out in a whole variety of local contexts.
‘Rob, a youth pastor, described the “honesty, vulnerability, and truth” that are at the heart of the content’
What are the Leadership Sessions?
The Sessions are a free online resource for anyone leading or working with young people or students. Rob, a youth pastor, described the ‘honesty, vulnerability, and truth’ that are at the heart of the content, which have totally changed the way he equips the younger generations in his local context.
Emphasising character, the Onelife Sessions help individuals understand the importance of leading from a place of integrity, which is ultimately what sustains leadership so that it withstands the test of a lifetime. The earlier we can grasp this, the better. We believe that as leaders in every sphere, we are called to be even more sold out for Jesus and his kingdom in the decades to come than we are today. It all starts with character.
How do the Leadership Sessions work?
We’ve heard of people using these Sessions in a whole range of settings. Whether in a youth group, a living room alongside family, over an evening with dinner, or in a church small group gathering, the material is designed to be used as a shared learning experience, meaning people can gather around the teaching – practicing it and living it out with accountability, as groups can cheer one another on in everyday life. This happens throughout the separate age streams, with content for 11–14s, 14–18s, and 18+ including students.
‘Mark Sayers challenges leaders to see what could be perceived as roadblocks instead as opportunities to see God’s kingdom break out’
What next?
The church in this moment is presented with what seems like overwhelming challenges in its mission impacting society. We know that this can feel even more real when it comes to leading young people. And yet the next generation is being called to see such challenges as unique opportunities to lead and restore a lost and broken world.
Recently I’ve been inspired by the writing of Mark Sayers, who challenges leaders to see what could be perceived as roadblocks instead as opportunities to see God’s kingdom break out. We know that God wants to use young people in doing this. He is looking for groups who can pick up the tools to see this happen.
The Onelife Sessions, developed with material carrying our heartbeat to see faith-filled, character-first leaders raised up for every sphere of society, provide the tools for young people like Kainaan and many more, to begin to step into this.
Onelife Leadership Sessions
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