Any program designed to produce leaders doesn’t emerge overnight. It takes time and dedication, built upon a solid foundation. Start with yourself. You’re a Christian man with a personal concern for teenage boys. You sense that God wants you to be involved with a ministry to young men, and you know that through his Spirit, he’ll give you the power to succeed. Ask yourself, “Am I prepared to make the necessary commitments?” You will see some immediate results, but it may take several years for you to see the real fruit of your labor. Discipling takes time, but the investment pays off.
Look around and consider the teenage guys you know. You may have a son. He has friends and acquaintances. Involve teens in your church. Survey your neighborhood as well. You may know some teens who live near you casually. All of these young men are potential members. Those who already know Jesus as Lord are potential leaders. They could benefit greatly if you were to launch a Battalion. Identify several of these teens whom you think are ready for leadership. Choose a few likely candidates and speak to them personally about your vision. Invite them to be teen leaders in Battalion.
What follows is a look at four different Battalions and suggestions for each. Remember, the number of members doesn’t determine the success of a Battalion. A very effective ministry can be run in both a small and a large Battalion.
No Teen Leaders … Yet!
If a Battalion has not yet developed any teen leaders, senior leaders fill the role of corporal for each squad. This will be true for new Battalions or those without older high school members. Not having teen leaders is fine, as long as it’s only temporary.
Run your meetings just like you would if you had teen leaders. This will help make the transition smooth when the teen leaders are added.
Watch for those who demonstrate responsibility, maturity, leadership, and spiritual growth. You may want to ask them to assist you with an occasional squad meeting.
Small Battalions
Two men and a teen leader can form a very effective leadership team. Here are some suggestions for Battalions that have up to seven or eight young men:
As soon as you’ve identified even one teen leader, give him a copy of Leadership Trails and begin working through it together. Appoint him lance corporal or corporal and work with him very closely. He’ll need a lot of support and encouragement as he begins to lead. Give the guy as much responsibility as you think he can handle. Don’t worry that he will make mistakes; be patient. Keep your expectations high, and thank the Lord for every sign of growth.
The squad meeting will include all the young men. The teen leader leads it as soon as he is ready. Always review his plans before the meeting and evaluate after.
Informally invite teens from the church and community to join the Battalion. If the number of members grows to around ten, it’s time to divide into two squads. If no other teen leader is ready, a senior leader should act as the corporal for the new squad.
The small size of the group permits you to be flexible about meeting locations. The church building may be the best but your home may also be suitable. Consider space requirements for games and projects.
Battalions with Two Squads
A larger group will require more leaders, both teen and senior. If there are 10-12 teens attending a Battalion, there should be at least two teen leaders and two senior leaders. Two squads should be formed, each led by a teen leader. Designate a mature teen in each squad as an assistant squad leader. You need to be looking for new teen leaders at all times, anticipating growth.
Once you have one or more teen leaders, you should begin conducting Leadership Team Meetings. These will serve the purpose of planning and discipling. They will be the means by which you can influence and help these young men on their way to Christian maturity.
Larger Battalions
If you have more than 12 teens attending your Battalion meeting, more than two teen leaders, and two or more senior leaders, you’ll need to organize more carefully and share responsibilities. Here are some suggestions.
Leadership Team Meetings are important for all Battalions. Planning for large Battalions will take more time. You’ll need these occasions to talk with your teen leaders since the weekly meetings will be very busy.
Your teen leaders will need to have clearly defined roles in the weekly meetings. They will assume specific positions (corporals, lance corporals, and sergeant). Squad meetings will be an important aspect of their leadership. You may want to encourage them to do some special activities with their squads outside weekly meetings. They can begin to disciple others in their squads just as you are discipling them. They may also be ready to take on additional responsibilities, such as leading games, Battalion Action, or some of the Council Rings.
Weekly meetings should be well-planned if they are to fulfill their purpose. The captain (and the sergeant)watch the clock and keep the meetings on schedule. Your formations need to be crisp and prompt and perhaps used more frequently if you have important announcements or awards to present. Keeping records of attendance and achievement progress will be an important function, perhaps one that a teen leader can handle.