We’ve all heard of the famous American, Paul Revere, who warned that “the British were coming,” but we rarely hear about the other man, William Dawes, who was sent out with the same message but whose name has faded from view.  Why?  According to some, Revere was enormously effective at finding the right people to notify.  He banged on the doors of key influencers, while Dawes was less successful connecting with citizens who could alert local troops.

Using the example of Paul Revere, before I’ve made any major changes in my ministries, I’ve held “Paul Revere” meetings to give influential students the scoop on the changes that will be taking place in our group.  Below are some things you want to keep in mind if you decide to hold a “Paul Revere” meeting:

1. As with all important meetings that you want to feel personal, I suggest you host this meeting away from church—in your home, if possible.  Serve light refreshments.
2. A good number to invite is about 50% of your overall weekly attendance.  Be sure to include several fringe students who may not currently be attending or who only visit sporadically.
3. Ask them to help use their influence to change the tenor of the youth gatherings and announce the change you are planning to make.  Let them know that this change will not happen without their support.
4. I usually have a few student leaders share their own thoughts about the change, which I selected ahead of time because they each carried weight in different social circles.
5. Conclude the meeting by requesting that everyone fill out a response sheet before leaving.  On the sheet, list any specific teams or projects you need help with, and ask the students to check off areas where they feel like they could get involved.

Remember, what people are not up on, they’re down on.  To implement a major change successfully, it’s important to win your students’ hearts and then solidify your vision by enthusiastically enlisting them to take ownership.