Ministry GPS

 

Ministry GPS

When a family gets into a car and prepares to take a trip, there are certain things that are in place. First of all, there will be an agreed upon destination. Few families jump into the car and say, “let’s just see where we end up.” They have a plan for where they are going and usually a purpose for going there.

Additionally, there is an agreed upon route. We live in the day of GPSs, Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze. When you put a destination into your chosen device, it will give route options. Some of these routes are quicker, some are shorter, some eliminate traffic disruptions, but you have to choose a route.

Once your journey has commenced, there are regular check-ins with the route. Sometimes, your device will tell you that there is a faster route. It will tell you how to avoid traffic jams, police officers, and road closures. As you travel, you will frequently check the route to make sure you are on the best route to reach your destination.

Occasionally, you will find that course corrections are necessary. Maybe there has been a traffic accident, maybe weather has forced a road closure, maybe you took a wrong turn or missed a turn, but course corrections have to happen. If we fail to make course corrections, we may not arrive at our destination or we may arrive much later than we had planned.

This reality of travel and devices can serve as a great metaphor for us as it relates to leadership, especially leadership within ministry. In ministry, we rarely travel alone. In fact, our biblical mandate is to develop others for ministry. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:11-12, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (ESV). So how do we accomplish this task?

1.      Have an agreed upon destination. This destination may relate to the overall vision of the church, “this is who we want to be.” It may also relate to a particular ministry within the church, “this is the scope of what we are trying to accomplish.” Either way, if we do not know where we are going, we will not know how to get there or when we have arrived. Establish an agreement as to what the destination is.

2.      Have an agreed upon route. As the old saying goes, “there is more than one way to skin a cat.” However, you cannot skin a cat in two different ways at the same time. Once we have determined our agreed upon destination, we must decide how we are going to get there. Obviously, the route will shift from time to time, but we want to start out with a planned route so that we are of one accord and one mind.

3.      Next, we must have regular check-ins. This can take on several forms. Sometimes, that is us checking ourselves to make sure that we are still on course and have not become distracted or unintentionally rerouted. Another form this may take is the form of accountability. We have agreed on a destination, we have agreed on a route, and I have released you to accomplish the task. However, there needs to be regular check-ins to make sure you are still on track, that you have not met roadblocks, and for me to see what I can do for you in the process. As has been said, “delegation without examination is merely relegation.” Don’t relegate, delegate.

4.      Finally, there will be needed course corrections. Sometimes these course corrections are a result of getting off course and sometimes the result of the course needing to change. Either way, an important part of the aforementioned check-ins is the willingness to make correction. Having to correct others is never fun. However, it can be done in love and with the mission in mind. The discomfort of having to make corrections must be weighed against the cost of not reaching our destination.

Ministry and leadership are complex. No single plan or method will work all the time. However, having some framework to apply is helpful. So, the next time you sit down with an individual or group, as the leader, think in terms of the GPS. Where are we going? How will we get there? How often will check-ins happen and in what way? And, if necessary, how will course corrections be made?

Humble Servant Leadership

I have spent a number of years studying leadership. Informally early on, but eventually in a formal setting while obtaining my Doctor of Ministry in Leadership. For some reason leadership has always been an art that has intrigued me. It is interesting to see the number of philosophies and approaches different people use and all of them successful to some extent. If you are someone who examines these things, you will be intrigued by Jesus’ take. Jesus said, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12).

The immediate question we ask may well be, “how in the world can I lead if I take the role of servant and how is humility going to help me?” May suggest four characteristics that will help us to be strong leaders while at the same time embodying what Christ has called us to be.

Be Clear

Know what you are trying to accomplish. Know where you are trying to go. Nothing drives leadership more effectively and brings more clarity than having a defined goal. When we have an agreed upon destination it makes the conversation of how to get there a lot easier. A defined destination also makes it easier to hear criticism with humility as the overall vision is not challenged, just the means by which we will achieve it.

Be Empathetic

There will be those around us who may not agree with the stated goal. This could be true for a number of reasons; it may be that they long for simpler better days, it may that their heart is just not there yet, and it may be that they simply do not understand the vision. Whatever the case, it cost us little to listen with an empathetic ear, to sense what they are feeling, and do our best to make the goal and reasoning clear. The vision is not threatened by taking time to listen.

Be Teachable

No one has reached the point where they have nothing left to learn. We may need to learn about methods. It may be that we need to learn about the history of our organization. It may be that we need to learn about the past successes and failures others have experienced. Again, once the goal is clear, all these things are simply helping us to get there. There is no reason to be arrogant and unteachable.

Be Resolute

The determination to see the vision fulfilled or the goal achieved will be of the utmost importance. There will be good days and bad days. There will be days that a lot is accomplished and there will be days that little is accomplished. There will be days when you feel you took two steps forward and there will be days that you feel you took three steps back. The point of it all is that we must be determined to do what we feel God has called us to do. When everyone else wants to give up and abandon ship, we must press on.

Leadership is never easy. It seems that there are no two situations that call for the exact same style or approach. However, if we develop some guiding principles will do well. I know of no better place to look for such principles than to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Characteristics of a Leader

Genuine spiritual leadership seems to be rare these days. There are so many different factors and sets of expectations at work that people seem to forget what real leadership looks like. On top of this disregard for genuine leadership, there also seems to be an inability to recognize potential leaders when they are in our midst. This begs the question, what are we to look for in prospective leaders? Or, if we desire to lead, what should we be looking to develop in our own lives?

Acts 18 records the story of Apollos. We are told several things about him that would lead to his effectiveness in ministry. There are certain characteristics that he had that any potential leaders should have as well. Here is a list of these characteristics:

He had a natural competency – Verse 24 says, “He was an eloquent man.”

He also had a working knowledge of the Scriptures – Verse 24, “He was competent in the Scriptures.”

He was passionate – Verse 25, “Being fervent in spirit.”

He was careful – Verse 25, “He spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus.”

He was bold – Verse 26, “He began to speak boldly in the synagogue.”

He was teachable – Verse 26, “When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

He was available – Verse 27, “He wished to cross to Achaia.”

He was helpful – Verse 27, “When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed.”

He was powerful – Verse 28, “He powerfully refuted the Jews in public.”

While all of these characteristics may not currently be evident in our lives, they certainly give us a standard to attain to. Also, if we are looking for potential leaders in our midst, these characteristics provide us with a test of sorts to recognize qualified candidates. If the church is going to fulfill her mission, we must return to a biblical model and mindset of leadership.