Walking In Ministry - Last 2 Steps
Step Three: If You Are Called to Lead
and
Step Four: Surviving the Throws of Leadership
Wow…the holidays can truly take one off course but thank
God, here’s another chance to follow up on my mini-series of Walking In
Ministry. Here are the last two steps: If You Are Called to Lead and
Surviving the Throws of Leadership.
Step Three: If You
Are Called to Lead.
We all know that in every organized group, there’s a leader;
the one who steers the ship. In ministry, the leader/president/director, etc.
has to not only be ‘called’ to that position but be prepared in multiple ways
in order for the ministry to be a productive and successful one. How do you
prepare?
Prayer/Fasting
No one can lead a ministry/auxiliary outside of the will and
purposes of God without prayer and fasting. You have to seek His face and find
the pathway He wants you to take. Seek God’s will for the ministry. Fast and
pray regularly. As leaders a consistent prayer life outside of ministry
produces a powerful vessel and a consistent prayer life within the ministry
produces a powerful ministry.
Check Yourself
Check your motives. Listen, it’s very exciting to be a part
of a thriving ministry and even more of a blessing to lead. But you must check your
thoughts and personal agendas. Are you in that role to be glorified or to
glorify God? Remember it’s not about us but His will that HAS to be done. Do you
like the attention it brings? Can you still thrive in it even if no one notices
you? You have to count every step you make as joy unto the Lord even when no
one gives you props for your work.
Educate Yourself
Whatever the ministry is, find some academic courses in your
particular field and take a class, or two, or three to take it to the next
level. Conduct workshops. Ask professionals within your church (or ask God to
connect you to the right people) who have the type of expertise your ministry
needs and lend their services. I’ve had the blessing to meet powerful people in
both writing and acting who have lent their talents to the respective
ministries I was in and it made huge impacts on the groups.
Create and Maintain
Ministry Mission Statements & Standard Operation Procedures
Like any organized entity, rules and regulations apply.
Same, too with a ministry/auxiliary. Write the vision and make it plan. Have
unified goals with the church’s mission statement – if the pastor has not given
an outline – of what the ministry is about, where you (the ministry) are going
and how you will carry out the plan, procedures for new members, conduct, etc.
Yes it sounds very authoritative, but believe me, it is necessary. You don’t
want a ship in a storm without a sail. Mission statements and SOPs are the
sails.
Learn the Art of
Juggling Personalities
Of course we know that the world is full of different
personalities, opinions, attitudes, etc. and it can be quite a task to handle
them all in ministry but…it must be done. In order to maintain an atmosphere of
peace and productivity, a ministry/auxiliary leader has to learn and
continually work on casting the flesh aside. It’s not easy when you have people
who just don’t want to follow direction or show up on time or want to dominate
the meetings, etc. Leaders have to have that kind of skin and oomph to let
things roll off their sleeves and steer the ship. What do you do when someone
wants to continually be disruptive? Love them and tell them in love what needs
to be corrected. If they don’t want to follow along peacefully, God WILL remove
them. Don’t fight. Pray. Don’t gossip or cause divisions. Pray. Don’t be a push
over. Pray. God will give you the peace and strength to deal with them.
Follow Then Lead
Ministries/auxiliaries are a part of a church organism and
must follow the over-all mission of the house of worship. They are not separate
entities working outside of the church. They must be uniform with the vision of
its governing body. We have to learn how to follow in order to lead. If a
leader expects their members to be obedient and he/she is not, guess what, they
will not be in that role. Rules and regulations are put in place for very
specific reasons. Leaders have to trust the leadership of their governing
bodies – unless for extreme situations. A great leader is a great
follower/server. Jesus served.
Now that you’ve prayed / fasted, checked and educated
yourself, created and maintained ministry mission statements and standard
operating procedures, learned to juggle personalities and can follow the
leadership of your church governing body, what about surviving the throws of
leadership?
When you’re on top, you have a target on your back.
Jealousies, backstabbers, your own insecurities, demonic spirits of
temptations, distractions, etc. have zeroed in on taking you out. Plain and
simple. If you are called to be in the role you are in, it’s automatic that you
will go through some trials and tribulations…but you can survive! How?
Keep Your Eyes on the
Lord
Again, prayer and fasting will give you strength and the
courage to push forward. If God put you there, He will keep you there until He makes
the change. Be silent and still and know that He’s got you. Hold your head up.
Don’t Look In Their
Faces
People are mean and will have no qualms about showing who
they really are if they have an agenda. If you are not built to stand firm, you
will topple over. Ask God for the spirit of discernment and He will give it to
you. Street smarts will go a long way when dealing with ministry/auxiliary
members who may be a bit difficult to handle. It’s just different in how we
have to handle them. Be firm in what has to be done. It’s not about them or you
but what God’s purposes are. Don’t look in their faces – meaning, don’t worry
about what they have to say or even what they’re doing in front of or behind
your back. When God’s hands are on you, no weapon formed against you will
prosper.
The Roller Coaster
There are highs and lows in everything. Sometimes we can be
up and flying high and the next lower than low. As a leader it’s especially
difficult when you’re low. Everyone is looking to you for direction. You’re the
“it”. But when you are not having a good day, what do you do? In my
experiences, I’ve learned to steal some time for myself just to vent, exhale
and breathe again. It’s OK to turn your phones off, to say no I can’t do that,
etc. We’re not super people. In fact, Jesus even took some time for Himself to
commune with God.
Be Humble / Give God
All Glory
There’s not much to say here but again, know it’s not about
you but God. Favor is addictive but a privilege. It is easy to think it’s you.
It’s nice to smile over what God has done/is doing but be careful not to get
puffed up on yourself. You don’t have to be where you are. Keep your eyes on
the One who is blessing you and give Him all glory!
I pray that my little tid-bits can bless you in your
ministry/auxiliary. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at
jwestonprod@outlook.com.
God bless you!!
Jewelz
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