Moses was a reluctant leader, yet God used him mightily. He dealt with fear, yet he went forward to do what God had called him to do. He had: defection of staff, defection of family, weak and incompetent coworkers, nagging whining people, & constant sin in the camp – to say nothing of the fact that they moved 41times in 40yrs. He was humble. He was a friend of God. Moses spoke to God and vice versa. As I said above, you’re probably no Moses, but who is? Even Moses started poorly, served 40 yrs. in Midian, wandered 40 yrs. & then at the summa of his leadership role, he died.
Leadership is a funny thing. I once asked my husband, “How do you know if you’re a leader.” He said, “Look behind you. Is anyone following?” This is so true. When you read the lists of everything you’re supposed to be, it can be a little overwhelming. The only thing missing from most lists is “able to walk on water.” It’s downright unattainable. And, to compound the situation, we many times compare ourselves to others, try to emulate them and fall far short of the mark.
Leadership is so many things. Leadership is saying no sometimes to ideas you know won’t work. Leadership is not forgetting where you’ve come from and treating people with dignity. Leadership is seeing the big picture but not forgetting it is made up of people, like pixels. Leadership is flexibility. Leadership is keeping your eye on the goal. Leadership is praying for discernment. Leadership is standing for truth when it’s not popular. Leadership is being willing to try something new.
Church planting leadership is akin to test piloting. Test pilots are an elite group of folks who are willing to try new things knowing it may mean losing their lives. They constantly push past the edge of what’s normal. Church planters are the test pilots of the pastorate.
We are all unique and minister in time and place. It is so important to just understand who you are in Christ, where you are geographically, and to know your limitations. What works in California may or may not work in rural Georgia, New England, or inner city Brooklyn. A variety of programs offered in a large church must be pared down to make them workable in a new church plant, but they can work. Does this mean that you never try anything new? Of course not, vision is a part of leadership.
You may have limited leadership skills, but God doesn’t. Pray that you may lead in the right path for the people God has given you.
According to the ancient Greek writer Pausanias the inscription, “Know thyself” was inscribed in the forecourt of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. As far as I’m concerned, I think it’s more important to “know God.”
