Safeguarding

There has been a topic that has been on my mind for quite some time now. I've seen many things in my short time of being a youth leader.

There are many obstacles to face during any form of leadership. Pastors undergo stress from their congregations while businessmen undergo the stress of sales. No matter what form of leadership you are involved in, you will face obstacles.

However, some issues may be easier to resolve than others. However, as a leader, our focus is usually the individuals or group that we lead. We make sure that criteria and activities are presented in the light of our groups. We tend to go so far as to base things on our groups. But, what happens when opposition knocks at your door?

At this point in time, this is an issue that I've faced. Along with the issue came the importance of the duty of safeguarding my young people. In a spiritual setting, safeguarding can be tough and frustrating. In the realm of the spiritual, enemies and opposition tend to be a lot more subtle.

In Biblical context, it is described as 'wolves in sheep's clothing' as well as given warnings of 'dogs' according to the writings of the Apostle Paul. Nonetheless, it is an issue that is important and requiring discernment. How far should the leader go to safeguarding his or her group?

To sum it all up, my response is to go as far as necessary. Options may range from repelling or removing individuals from the flock in order to maintain the growth thereof. Although these decisions are hard and trivial, it is the biggest necessity for the leader to adhere to.