The Rebel Youth Pastor is Out of Style

By Doug Franklin December 14, 2009

There was a time when students wanted to hear from the guy with the tattoo. They loved to hear about the drugs and the mistakes and the unbelievable turnaround in life. Whether this was marked by a tattoo or a piercing, somehow this style became cool. As a youth worker, maybe you started feeling like you had nothing to say if you didn’t have a larger than life story or a skin marking to symbolize that story. Perhaps you even looked for ways of dressing up your own story to be a little rougher around the edges. It’s different now; the rebel youth leader is out of style. Maybe too many youth guys followed in the footprints of the rebels. In reality students want what they always wanted: authenticity. They want to follow someone who is real, venerable and honest. You are enough. Just give your students the authentic leader they crave and you’ll see a lasting impact occur.