1. Identify people you would like to see as leaders in the future, from elementary school aged children to adults. Keep a list and pray for them regularly by name.

2. Write a letter of praise to a young person who shows leadership potential. Point out specific reasons you think that person will be a leader in the kingdom of God.

3. Take a young person to lunch and talk about how to begin to prepare himself to be a church.

4. Invite a young person to sit in on a leaders’ meeting. Be sure to seek the input of the young person as decisions are made.

5. Ask a potential leader to prepare an outline for a scriptural study on a question the leaders are considering.

6. Participate fully when the youth ministry has leadership training.

7. Teach an elementary aged Bible class, or at least substitute teach.

8. Ask a young person to share his or her dream for serving in the Kingdom of God with you. If they do not yet have a long term dream for serving God, help them to form one to work toward.

9. Ask a potential leader to read a book on leadership that you are also reading, then schedule time to discuss the ideas you both discovered.

10. Offer to pay for a young couple to attend a church growth seminar or lectureship.

This article is from Shepherding: Ten Ways to Be a More Effective Elder by Curt Gunz.