By Dahlia Sitohang

The earth rotates and time goes by. The millennials rule the world because they grow up with technology, computers, and the internet. This condition is different from the previous generation. There are positive and negative things that can be taken according to their roles and decisions. How is ‘Christian leadership’ in the present time?

Leadership is a way of influencing others to achieve the goals desired by the leader by taking advantage of technological advances. Many young people play roles to encourage and to achieve digital success, such as collecting donations for those in need, voicing injustice or manipulation, gathering support votes for a petition, etc.

On Sunday, 19 July 2020, I, Dahlia Sitohang from the Multiplication of Stube-HEMAT in Bengkulu held a live broadcast with Made N. Supriadi, S.Th, a lecturer at the Bible College in Bengkulu (STIAB). This program is one of the online discussions as a part of Multiplication program in Bengkulu on Multicultural and Interfaith Dialogue. Through this discussion, the Christian students learned the character and values ​​of Christian leadership so that they can be trusted and to be better. The live broadcast via Instagram was a way to reach and share experiences on social media which the conversation started at 20.00-20.45 WIB.

The main point of the discussion discussed the leadership of Christian youth in the globalization era. What is the goal of young people as a leader? Who deserves to be a leader? When should young people become a leader? Where do the young people be? Why should young people be a leader? And how do young people become good and true leaders? The following is a summary of the discussion.

“Young people have high enthusiasm and willingness. They deserve to be leaders because they are called to glorify God. This is the main principle. God will be glorified through the young generation as the leading figure. Being a leader is God's calling in him because no one can make himself a leader, even he has abilities, skills, gifts, or forms of leadership. The mandate as a leader itself is a gift, calling and mandate from God,” he explained

"Every young person is responsible to lead himself; how to live, how to study; how to learn and communicate. The millennials must be ready to lead their lives to God and with others. Now, it is the time for young people to lead," he added.

"Meanwhile, in a formal context, young people will face regulations. It requires self-readiness, age, and the right time for young people to lead formally. Later, the young people will replace the current leaders, such as the chancellor or president. All of that requires the right time, young people must prepare from now to become leaders,” the speaker explained about the time and leadership.

The interesting point is the young people sometimes want to lead rather than to be led, and it needs to be evaluated. The high ego sometimes caused difficulty to accept direction, leave off the responsibility and burden. So, where is now the responsible young man? It will be a problem when young people run and hide, afraid and insecure. It means that the most important thing in leadership is qualified for character, responsibility, and spirituality.

“Being a leader with integrity, a young person who leads with a balance in mind, heart, words, and truth. Being a leader who dares to admit mistakes, dares to be responsible, dares to change, and dares to solve problems. Dare to move forward to face problems and dare to be honest. Give a chance and be prepared. Never wait to be successful but let the process itself makes it worthy and proper,” he concluded the discussion.

Well, how about you, young friends? Now, be ready to strengthen your steps so that God is pleased and enables you to become leaders. ***