I remember the ride home from the meeting like it was yesterday!
Almost 300 concerned people crowded into a local community meeting hall in response to the senseless death of a popular student athlete at our local high school. The dead student had been experimenting with drugs with some friends.
This was the seventh alcohol or drug-related death of a teenager in our school district in just 18 months! For the parents in our community (or any community), this was unacceptable! Numerous parents and others were critical of our schools and other community groups.
As I stood in the back of the room that night, I was dismayed that I couldn't identify any other faith leaders at the meeting. We were missing such a great opportunity to engage with this crisis.
On the way home, I began to think about other faith leaders that could be challenged to get involved. Amidst my thinking came this thought: "You have lived in this community for almost 30 years and you are an executive leader of the National Network of Youth Ministries. Why don't YOU do something?"
I'm embarrassed to admit that I actually said out loud, "But Lord, I just don't have the time." Then I heard this still voice say, "Don't you have time to make one phone call?"
The next morning, I called the high school principal who had been so unfairly criticized and asked if I could come over to his office. I wanted to start a conversation about how the faith community could come alongside schools to help address this community crisis. Although skeptical, he agreed to visit.
That first conversation was over seven years ago and was the first step towards a community-wide cooperative initiative we called What I Wish My Parents Knew (whatiwishmyparentsknew.com).
Since then, we have had almost 3,500 parents attend our interactive forums, designed to help and encourage parents of teenagers. Today, all five principals of our district's high schools meet regularly with several faith leaders to determine our next steps. We all agree that we have seen far more accomplished working together than any one group could ever have accomplished alone.
So, what have I learned from this satisfying, ongoing process?
First, it is important to cultivate a heart to listen and respond to the Lord's leading. I often reflect on what would have been missed if I hadn't obeyed and made that first phone call.
Second, lead with humility-which means we take a listening posture. In order for our faith leaders to build trust, we have worked to listen much more than talk ourselves. It was important that we understood the needs of our youth and the concerns of our educational colleagues. They had to know we cared.
Third, demonstrate a heart to serve. From day one, our faith leaders have attempted to demonstrate a desire to serve. We've never conveyed an intent to be in control. This has led to some amazing cooperation with school leadership and other community leaders.
Finally, be faithful to follow through with your commitments. We have realized the crucial importance of following through on what we agreed to do. This commitment has created an expectation of excellence for everyone who agrees to participate in some way.
I believe these values are the foundation that has kept our cooperation moving forward these past seven years. As I result, I and others have had some great opportunities to minister in ways we would never have imagined.
At the end of the day, the Lord has placed each of us in unique situations. Let me encourage each of us to cultivate a responsive heart to those unexpected doors of opportunity in our communities.
Daryl Nuss is the former Executive Director of NNYM and now serves as Special Counsel for NNYM.