Challenger Leaders are mission educators for young men, not only are they teachers of mission studies, they are trainers and mobilizers for the mission of God. Listed below are some of the roles that Challenger leaders fill:
- A Good Example: Adult leaders of Challengers provide living examples of the on mission lifestyle.
- A Mentor: The biblical model and pattern for mission education is personal mentoring.
- A Challenger of Challengers: It is important to consistently hold young men accountable to keep their commitments.
- A Planner: Leaders of Challengers plan and prepare the way for the group.
- An Implementer: Plans are useful only if they are implemented.
- A Teacher: Challengers have a lot to learn. You are a "living library."
- A Friend: Challenger leaders must enjoy and have a good rapport with teenage guys.
Challengers Director
Major responsibilities of the director are to serve as a liaison to the On Mission Team, coordinate planning with the youth ministry, prepare and administer a budget, enlist and train new leaders, order and purchase materials, represent and promote Challengers to the church, and lead in the on going enlistment of resource people.
Primary Team of Challenger Leaders
Their general responsibilities are to plan for the group; recruit and follow up prospective new members; lead (or make assignments to lead) regular meetings; prepare for mission, ministry, and interest activities; utilize and assign resource people; form and coach Accountability Teams; lead Challengers through advancement; maintain records of attendance, advancement, and activities; teach mission skills; and organize the other components of Challengers.
Student Leaders
Some Challengers choose to use formal positions of leadership for students. Any leadership positions should be rotated among the Challenger members periodically.
- President (spokesman and youth representative for the Challengers)
- Mission Action Coordinator
- Ministry Project Coordinator
- Interest Activity Coordinator
Other Challenger groups prefer to assign various responsibilities to students such as prayer leader, Bible study leader, session leader, and Accountability Team leader on a rotating basis. One-time assignments for students may include trip coordinator, ministry project leader, strategy coordinator, or leader of an advancement project.
Resource People
Resource people will give their testimonies; serve as mentors, coaches, and prayer partners; teach lessons; organize activities; drive buses; serve as chaperones; make sandwiches; loan equipment and teach Challengers how to use it correctly. They often feel honored and thrilled to be asked.