Building churches through releasing leaders

These are good days at SVBC. We have space issues. We are out of space for our Sunday School ministry. We are challenged in our PM Sunday “ETS” ministry (equip the saints). We are asking the Lord and wrestling with the Town of Gilbert on the in’s and out’s of a new Christian Ed building. Wow is that ever not fun. Thankfully I don’t have to deal with our friends in Gilbert. The guys on the building team do. In the middle of all the preaching, teaching, counseling, evangelism and discipleship that is going on is the dream-job of a life-time.

I get to work with unbelievable deacons…right now we have 7 of them. Then on top of that I serve with our elders, associate pastors, chaplains and several other men who have been in vocational ministry or who are headed into vocational ministry. So let me talk about these 20 guys I work with. First, that’s nearly 7% of our congregation. Did you get that? 7% of our congregation are guys that have been and will be leaders in the Lord’s work. Many of these guys will only be with us for two or three years. We presently have seven men who have been in our church who are now “out” in ministry. Guess who is helping with all the shepherding, teaching, organizing and “execution” of ministry? Yep. These men that serve with me. That’s why I pastor a church of 200+, have a part-time secretary, and can still be gone for board meetings, conferences, international mission trips, etc…..I have an army of willing and ready men trained, equipped and very good at ministry in our congregation. OK, I’m not even close to the “genius” level when it comes to ability. I’ve always had to work hard. What kills me is you men reading this that have more talent in your thumb than I do in my entire 5-5 frame. Many of you ought to be doing this.

Look, all that needs to happen is a willingness on your part to share ministry and leadership. You also need to be able to accept these guys just as they come. Love them. Embrace the fact they’re different than you! They will be diverse. Some of them will want to tell you how you should do things differently. That’s OK….its part of their “working through” what they need to “work through.” Let them think with you. Be loyal to them. Allow them to make mistakes. Be teachable! Many times if you’ll listen, they’ll save your bacon! Train your congregation that this shared leadership is not just for them but for the larger body of Christ.

Let me just say there are many of you out there that have retired men and others that have ministry training and experience that could help you be effective in the ministry if you would simply give them a chance. Let me also say, that if you have men that have failed, have quit or have been wounded in the flow of ministry, they are particularly a “gold mine” of ministry wisdom, help and potential “locked up” in the Lord’s work. Many of them simply need to know they are loved, they have your support and have a place to minister, and have God’s blessing to minister to the body. In most cases you just need to get out of their way. You see many of them have been told they are essentially “worthless” for the Lord’s work. When they find out that that’s not true, they come back with a vengeance. I can’t even tell you how exhilarating it is to see the Lord take raw or damaged brothers/sisters in ministry and turn them into effective servant-leaders.

Friends, God’s plan is shared leadership! Let’s do this.

Straight Ahead! jt