How to be a SALT Leader

Hey leaders, welcome to the PursueGOD Training Podcast. Today we’re going to give you a complete roadmap for leading the SALT program—from the big picture 9-month journey to the nightly flow that makes every meeting meaningful, fun, and spiritually powerful.

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If you’re leading SALT, this is your playbook.

Segment 1: The Big Picture Vision

SALT is a 9-month student leadership program that helps high school students:

• Grow in their faith,
• Serve consistently, and
• Lead by example in their local church.

It comes straight from Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth.” SALT students learn to be distinct, purposeful, and impactful in a world that needs Jesus.

The program centers on three core habits:

1. Read daily through the Bible plan.
2. Serve weekly on a ministry team.
3. Meet monthly for teaching, discussion, and accountability.

Your job as a leader? Guide students through these habits, cheer them on, and make it relational, consistent, and fun.

Segment 2: The 9-Month Structure

Here’s the program flow:

• Boot Camp (Weeks 1–6):
• These first weeks set the tone. Students meet each other, start the Bible reading plan, find a serving role, and learn the rhythm of SALT.
• Monthly Meetings (Months 2–8):
• After Boot Camp, you meet once a month for a leadership lesson, Bible and serving check-in, group discussion, and prayer.
• Graduation (Month 9):
• The final meeting celebrates growth, shares stories, and launches students to keep living out their faith.

Every meeting follows a similar rhythm—but the first few weeks focus on relationships and introductions, while later months focus more on leadership growth and consistency.

Segment 3: Preparing Before Each Meeting

Here’s what leaders should do before every SALT meeting:

• Watch the lesson video/podcast and review the Talking Points and discussion questions.
• Listen to this leader podcast so you feel confident about the plan.
• Set the atmosphere: Whether you meet at someone’s home or the church, make it welcoming. Play music, have snacks ready, maybe even start a game while students arrive.
• Plan the fun: Bring icebreakers or simple games like Uno or Play Nine to make it easy for students to connect.

The goal is for students to show up feeling like this is their space—a place they want to be.

Segment 4: The Nightly Flow

Okay, let’s get practical. Here’s a simple outline for each SALT night:

1. Food and Fun:...