February 2012
Leader in Training "No man is a leader until his appointment is ratified in the minds and hearts of his men." I'm, currently, reading John Maxwell's The 5 Levels of Leadership. It's been a good refresher to remind me who I am and who I'm not as a Christian leader. As in any other arena, Christian leaders have, traditionally, been identified as leaders because of a position they hold. As full-time, professional leaders, many are recognized as pastor, staff minister, associational director of missions, and so on. Volunteer leaders are, often, known by their position, too. "She's my Sunday School teacher" or "He's chairman of the deacons." Position is, quite often, the entry point for leadership. In being selected for a position of leadership, someone has recognized potential in the prospective leader. Seen that way, having a position of leadership is not a bad thing. But, does having a position of leadership, necessarily, make a person a leader? Does a position of leadership grant the privilege of leadership? My first real position of leadership in the church was as a part-time minister of youth at a rural church in Shelby County, Kentucky. I recall the thrill of seeing my name and title, for the first time, in print. In my mind, I had finally arrived! But, I soon realized, even with that recognition and a job description in hand, it was now time to "put up or shut up". For all of my idealism about what it meant to be minister of youth, I now had to become a leader. Even now, as director of the Network, I am reminded, daily, that my leadership is a work in progress. I've got so much yet to learn! Merely having a position, whether higher in the organizational hierarchy or not, doesn't make one a leader. And, proclaiming oneself as leader doesn't mean it's so. After all, leadership is a lifelong journey, not a one-time appointment to leadership position. To be granted a position of leadership may denote some authority and responsibility, but not nearly as much as we may imagine. As much as anything, that position, merely, opens the door, encouraging the leader to become a more effective leader than they are now. One very real concern I have for myself (and other Christian leaders) is the temptation to coast on the basis of the leadership position I now hold. That's a sure prescription for mediocrity and loss of leadership influence. Bottom line, Christian leadership influence is not based on authority or any rights we may feel we deserve because of our position. True Christian leadership is based on trust granted by those we lead. Those youth in my first church, very quickly, let me know that just being designated "minister of youth" meant little to them. Their concerns were more basic. "Do you value me as an individual? Do you believe in me? Can you help me become more the person God has called me to be?" Then and now, those are the questions confronting me as a Christian leader. |
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"We want to be remembered. That's why we build tombstones of granite instead of cardboard. That's why we inscribe our names in stone instead of with masking tape." "When it comes to your team, having the right people in the right positions allows you to do your best work. Take plenty of time when filling positions. Pray for God to bring the right people in-and keep the crazy people out!" "As leaders, we want to address things en masse, usually from the platform, speaking to everyone and then expecting that things will be different across the board. It never seems to work that way. If the church is to change, it will require change in the lives of individuals within the church. Just as our whole genetic map is contained within the DNA of each cell in our body, so the culture of a church is contained within its individual members. If there isn't change on that level, trying to move the church as a whole in a new direction is akin to holding a beach ball under water." "May all your expectations be frustrated.
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 Think Like a Fish Recently my wife and I went fly-fishing for the first time. Our guides told us that "to catch a fish you have to think like a fish." They said that to a fish life is about the maximum gratification of appetite at the minimum expenditure of energy. To a fish, life is "see a fly, want a fly, eat a fly." A rainbow trout never really reflects on where his life is headed. A girl carp rarely says to a boy carp, "I don't feel you're as committed to our relationship as I am. I wonder, do you love me for me or just for my body?" The fish are just a collection of appetites. A fish is a stomach, a mouth, and a pair of eyes. While we were on the water, I was struck by how dumb the fish are. Hey, swallow this. It's not the real thing; it's just a lure. You'll think it will feed you, but it won't. It'll trap you. If you were to look closely, fish, you would see the hook. You'd know once you were hooked that it's just a matter of time before the enemy reels you in. You'd think fish would wise up and notice the hook or see the line. You'd think fish would look around at all their fish friends who go for a lure and fly off into space and never return. But they don't. It is ironic. We say fish swim together in a school, but they never learn. Aren't you glad we're smarter? Out with the Old, In with the New! There is a principle I try to live by: When I add something to my life, I try to remove something else. Take my closet, for example. Whenever I add a piece of clothing or a pair of shoes, I should try to get rid of something I no longer use. As I'm trying to find space for my Christmas gifts, I am reminded of this idea once again. What am I willing to give up to make space for the new things I have? This discipline forces me to think about the "stuff" in my life, and keeps me from being overrun. If only I could live by this rule in every area of my life! When I take on a new project, I get rid of an old one. When I start a new book, I give an old one away. When I add a new activity, I take one off my schedule. Sounds simple, doesn't it? Or not... How many times do we find ourselves adding and adding and adding, without ever even considering subtracting? I mean the things we do (and have, and enjoy) are just too important to give up! Yet, this may be the very reason we are stressed, distressed, and lose our focus. What if we applied this to our ministries? Or our churches? What if every time we added a program, we found one to let go of? Oh–we could never do that! Or could we? |
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 Though the Virginia Baptist Mission Board continues to generously invest in the Christian Leadership Network, program funds (student scholarships, instructor stipends, peer-learning groups, life coaching, and workshops) are provided exclusively by the generosity of Kingdom donors. The Network’s endowment is managed by the Virginia Baptist Foundation, Inc. All donor investments are tax-deductible. Any donor investments can be made by contacting:
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The Christian Leadership Network
Gary Chapman, Director
3835 Cundiff Drive, Roanoke, VA 24012
540.977.2652 or toll-free 877.977.2652
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