Leaders

Yesterday I met with several new deacons at First Christian in Alamo while John Gilbert, Mark Crider, Dale Dodd (and several others) held down the fort at Promise Church in Jackson. As ministry in both places heats up, I'm finding that I have to rely more on the great leaders at both churches to step up and do what otherwise I would do. In other words, I'm finding that as I hit my limits, room is being made for others to step into leadership and practice their gifts of leadership.

There's always the temptation to try to do it all yourself. You've got a vision of how you'd like something to look and you believe (wrongly) that you're the only one who can make the vision happen. In following this path, though, you prevent others from being used by God, gaining experience in the ways God is wanting to use them, and being developed into people who use lead with confidence. All of us can probably look back to the time and the person who gave us an opportunity to "do our thing." Where would we be if they had held on to what was their "responsibility" and not opened up a development path to the potential they saw in us?

I'm finding that the best leaders (1) identify other teachable leaders, (2) pour life and experience and vision into them, and (3) make room for them to grow by giving them opportunities to use what they're learning.

This is really how the kingdom of God is supposed to look. We see a picture of this also in Romans 12. We all are part of the body. We each have our function and we each depend on the other to become more complete as missionally competent servant-leaders. We want more of this sort of leader in the church, not fewer. We want more people activated and equipped to live out their purpose. It's in in this way that each of us become catalysts for further kingdom growth. Multiply that process exponentially and you've created a culture.