Tanise Neu : My Leadership Pathway

My journey began in high school.

As a young student, I was surrounded by opportunities to be part of groups that made a difference in my community. This developed in me a great passion for helping people. I began volunteering in the church in 2010, doing everything from watching toddlers to leading middle school small groups. I joined leadership teams, and was part of the student council of my school. Most recently, I volunteered at a children’s home in Peru.

I chose ministry because I was honestly searching for something more meaningful to do with my life, craving to be part of something bigger. When the opportunity to become a Student Ministry Resident at Rocky Mountain Christian Church came along, I saw it as a happy accident. It made me realize: Why not me? Why not my life? The most meaningful thing I could ever do with my life is to let God use me in whatever way He chooses.

I didn’t have a lot of expectations when I began my residency, but I was really intimidated. Since I’ve only been involved for a few months, I think it’s totally possible that I’m still in the honeymoon stage, but so far everything has been great. Not that it hasn’t also been difficult – some things are out of my comfort zone, and I’m constantly being encouraged to grow. It’s been particularly challenging feeling like I always have to be my best self at work, because this is the first time I’ve been in a work culture like this one. It can get pretty tiring, but it’s helping me grow in positivity. I have so much to learn over the next two years, but my team has been so encouraging.

I’m now planning to go into Outreach Ministry. Over the next year, I hope to grow in my confidence level as a leader. I’ve always been kind of a natural leader, but it’s easy to feel inadequate when you’re working with such amazing talented people. I’m hoping to grow not only my leadership confidence, but also my overall confidence of who God created me to be.

I’ve always felt such a call to just help people. How I wanted to do that has changed over the years, but the call to Outreach is strong in me now, and I’ve just been on fire about what God can do through me. I’m working in student ministry at my church, and I am blessed to be learning from some incredible leaders as I get to pour love and guidance into middle schoolers and high schoolers. Those years can be such a confusing time, and I hope to help show these students the importance of leadership and service in every season of life.

This program is changing the way the next generations of leaders are being raised in the church. I’m leaning on the saying “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.” It’s truer than we realize. God has brought some crazy things my way. I’m looking at everything as a learning opportunity, and realizing that it’s not so much about excelling at whatever I’m doing as it is about who I’m becoming. I never want to stop growing in my understanding of God, and who He wants me to be.

I’m Tanise Neu, and this is my leadership pathway.