Who first saw the leader in you?

Have you ever had someone spot and nurture a gift in you? At Coventry Elim, Emma Bacon is doing just that as her kids' team coaches dozens of young leaders. Chris Rolfe asked Seyi Oyewale and Aniah Agbelusi how it works

Seyi Oyewale

Seyi Oyewale oversees the Year 5-6 group on Sundays and assists with the Year 1-4 group. He participates in life groups and the church’s Goalz football ministry and also serves during events.

What’s your role in church as a young leader?
I serve as one of the kids’ leaders, a role I never would have imagined taking on two years ago.

On a typical Sunday I have various jobs, including welcoming, leading worship, delivering the message in creative ways, guiding response time or overseeing games. I’ve had the opportunity to step into each of these over the past year, even though many of them were initially far outside my comfort zone. I’ve grown to love and embrace them.

Recently I became a room leader, which involves not only being responsible for the children but also leading and supporting the team I serve with during services and beyond.

Tell us about your mentoring with Emma
A guy once told me that whenever he speaks to anyone [in a mentoring capacity] he tries to create an atmosphere where the person can have a conversation with the Holy Spirit and be guided by him rather than by his own thoughts. That has been the biggest thing with Emma’s mentorship.

Her mentorship takes the form of informal conversations, encouragement, prayer, friendship, support and advice, as well as guidance on specific matters. Perhaps the most significant aspect is having someone believe in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself, and helping me see qualities in myself I hadn’t recognised.

When I joined the kids team I was batting the idea of being a leader, believing my role in life is to be a follower, to support leaders, to be in the background but not to be a leader myself. Emma saw leader characteristics in me and encouraged me into positions that would develop me as a leader.

She took the time to introduce me to someone she felt would be a blessing and support my growth in kids’ ministry. They guided me and played a key role in my professional career, helping me connect with someone who secured me a work placement.

There were times when I had difficult decisions to make about my future, such as when I was considering an internship at church. Although Emma had a personal interest in wanting me to take it she removed her own desires from the equation, listened and advised with a heart focused on what was best for me.

When she noticed I was trying too hard to please everyone, she called me out and reminded me to focus on what God wants. That advice put so much into perspective.

How is mentoring helping you as a young leader?
Emma’s motto for our team is “be yourself”. Admittedly, I’m on a journey of finding out who I am in God, but Emma has never asked me to change, be peppier, be loud or jump around. I am a fairly reserved and quiet person who watches a lot more than I say.

She asked me to lead just as I am because that is how and who God made me. He can use me to his glory exactly the way I am. There is no better feeling, no better way to grow in Christ than as yourself.

Aniah Agbelusi

Sixteen-year-old Aniah Agbelusi leads Coventry Elim’s life group for Year 1-6s.

What’s your role in church as a young leader?
It’s to look out for the kids, to be someone they can look up to and to support them in their journey with Christ. I do this in many different ways: sometimes from the front – leading a lesson or doing actions to a song; sometimes behind the scenes – helping plan an event or service; sometimes it’s just about sitting in with the kids and helping them to focus.

Tell us about your mentoring with Emma
We talk regularly about how I have grown, am growing and how I can or would like to continue growing as a leader. She provides opportunities in which this growth is possible and encourages me in roles she feels I can benefit from. As well as these regular talks, all the younger leaders meet termly as part of our developmental group with Emma to talk about how we would like to grow.

How is mentoring helping you as a young leader?
It’s been very helpful to voice my thoughts out loud, reflect on my journey as a leader and receive advice from someone with experience. I’ve learned to trust Emma in the opportunities she’s placed me in, even when it’s something out of my comfort zone. Emma has taught me to relax when communicating a word or lesson. It’s easy to over complicate it, when really it’s better to have fun with it.

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.