Developing a supernatural lifestyle requires risk! We encourage you to raise up a company of risk-takers that expands the kingdom by creating a school culture that values stepping out of comfort zones to pursue spiritual growth. To help you develop a risk-taking culture, here are some strategies and tips that will help you empower and guide your students to become risk-takers who step into the fullness of their identity and call.
1. Share Testimonies of Risk-Takers
Cultivate a culture that continually remembers and releases testimonies of supernatural breakthrough. Provide opportunities for your students to share testimonies of breakthrough and to impart them to their fellow students. This will inspire them to take greater levels of risk. Sharing testimonies will also encourage them to establish a history with God full of stories of His faithfulness that they can remember and stand upon if they are ever faced with discouragement.
Example: Encourage your students to record testimonies through journaling, a blog, etc. Also, provide space for them to share testimonies during class sessions or perhaps in a small group setting. You can also encourage your students to post testimonies on your school’s Facebook page, WhatsAPP group, or other forms of social media.
2. Establish Freedom and Safety
It’s important that your students experience freedom and safety while taking risks in the supernatural. Set the tone for your school’s culture by communicating that it is okay for your students to fail when they are trying new things. In fact, convey to them that when they fail to see a healing, get a word of knowledge wrong, or miss an opportunity to share a prophetic word, it is an opportunity to learn and grow! Communicate that school is a safe place where they can take risk without being punished or criticized (and make sure your actions follow your words). This is key to developing trust with your students. When your students can trust their school environment, they will be willing to take risks to partner with the Holy Spirit.
Example: While teaching on words of knowledge, ask students to get a word of knowledge (e.g. his/her favorite toy growing up, last four digits of his/her phone number, parent’s name, etc.) for the student sitting to their right. Ask students who got the word of knowledge correct to raise their hands. Celebrate their breakthrough! Ask the students who got the word of knowledge wrong to raise their hands. Tell these students to look around the room and notice they are not the only one who got it wrong. Celebrate their effort and remind them it’s ok they didn’t get it right the first time. Encourage them to keep trying as it will help them develop discernment.
3. Provide Covering
Your students need spiritual covering when they are taking risk. Make sure you are taking time to pray over them, impart wisdom to them, or counsel them as they navigate situations they encounter while taking risk. In fact, it’s important that you provide space for your students to come to you with any questions or concerns so that they can continue to grow and develop a supernatural lifestyle.
It’s also crucial that you bring correction to students if they are not demonstrating honor (or other core values) while taking risk and perhaps causing harm to themselves or others. When this type of situation occurs, take time to understand a student’s heart and actions. Bring correction in love by calling out the student’s identity and sharing what it looks like to take risk with honor and love for the Holy Spirit and others. Remember, it’s important to help your students develop character that will sustain a supernatural lifestyle that produces the fruit of the kingdom.
Example: While teaching students on how to heal the sick, share your personal journey with them on how you grew in understanding healing, the breakthroughs you saw, the disappointments you experienced, etc. Sharing your personal experiences with your students will establish trust with them and healthy levels of vulnerability. It will also invite them to share their personal journeys with you and glean from your wisdom and experience.
4. Encourage and Celebrate Risk-Takers
Risk-taking and breakthrough should be met with equal celebration and encouragement. When you see students take risk, take time to affirm them and celebrate their breakthrough. This will help develop students’ confidence and sense of safety in your school environment. If students do not see the results they were looking for, encourage them to persevere and try again!
Example: After doing a treasure hunt with your students, ask them to share testimonies of what they saw take place. Celebrate the testimonies! Also, take time to celebrate students who took risk and overcame a fear or stepped out in a new way (even if they didn’t get an intended result). This will encourage students to continue to grow in a lifestyle of risk-taking.
Kevin Dedmon, a Bethel Church pastor who trains believers to develop a supernatural lifestyle, once said, “Without some kind of action, there is no faith. Risk is the expression of faith.” As you lead your school, remember that you have the opportunity to invite your students into the full expression of faith by taking risks! We encourage you to empower them to pursue a life full of adventure and risk-taking with the Holy Spirit and experience the truth that all things are possible to those who believe (Mark 9:23)!
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