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Leadership Development

Finding Workers Involves Work!

Even God searches for workers. Sometimes the one He wishes to use fails to comply. "I looked for a man [or woman] among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap… but I found none" (Ezekiel 22:30). However, "The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14), and found David. Finding the right person to serve in a specific capacity may involve searching. It will require prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit. A person will be available to fill every place if the place is in God's timing, and if God's people are open to His leading.

Programs should be developed only when there are people to lead them

A church can function without every department and ministry that other churches have. A good rule to follow is, "We begin a new program only when there is a need and people who want to minister to that need."

Leaders must be enlisted without coercion

Unless a person feels called of God, challenged by the Holy Spirit, to do a particular ministry, when the going gets tough she will find it easy to quit. Guilt is not a good motivator, and doing an assignment because of pressure is a poor reason to serve.

Leaders must not be exploited

When a willing worker is found, it is easy to overload that person with too much of responsibility. In our eagerness to see the work of God go ahead, do we realize that God is more interested in the person than in the work he/she can do? The church is to set the example of a balanced Christian life. All work, always giving, will drain a person's spiritual vitality. Each person must be fed and encouraged by others at times. Acts 2:42 gives a picture of this important balance. Christians were involved in worship, fellowship, service and study of the Word. All four areas should be in place in each life and in the church's programs. Leaders who are responsible for soliciting other leaders must take care that demands on a willing worker allow for times of personal renewal.

Ministries will be led by the Holy Spirit to focus on different needs according to its leaders' abilities. Some will major in music, others in teaching or outreach evangelism. Some will emphasize a ministry to families or children, or to women or men. Some may be called to concentrate their efforts on missions, world or home. Or, several of these ministries may grow up together. One is not better or right or wrong, just different. The Spirit provides the leaders and gives the vision for growing a ministry that will effectively reach people in that locale. The church's emphasis of ministry determines the individual personality of the local church.

God offers a special kind of care for those who are willing to be leaders. In his address to elders, shepherds and leaders of the church, Peter said, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Our hope is in a God who inspired David to say, "He will never let the righteous fall" (Psalm 55:22).

Moses had every reason to feel he was a failure, or to feel his ministry was less than great. His first attempt at leadership ended in murder and miserable cowardice (Exodus 2:11-15). He wandered for 40 years without the security of a home. He was often without the acceptance of the people he served. His own sister Miriam criticized him (Numbers 12:1), and his brother proved to be insubordinate (Exodus 32:21-25). But Moses became a friend of God. So close was he to his Creator that "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face" (Exodus 33:11). What a call! What a leader!