Important Leadership Principals

 

"I HAVE CHOSEN YOU."  HAGGAI 2:23 NIV
 
Over the years leadership coach Angie Ward has enlisted dozens of ministry volunteers. She says that most of the time she hears the same excuses: "I'm not a leader...I don't know anything about teens...I'm not an extrovert" (or as Moses told God, "Send Aaron"). Instead of trying to convince them otherwise, Ward tells them they have only two major responsibilities:

1. To love people. Face it, ministry would be easy if we didn't have to deal with people. But people matter to God and they should matter to us! Like being part of a family and knowing what's best for your own children, you need to spend time getting to know the people who depend on you and look to you for direction. Consider their needs, not just your own. And look for ways to serve them instead of seeing them as distractions from your "real" work. Jesus spent most of His time with people, not offering pious platitudes, but loving and ministering to them. And He said, "Love each other as I...loved you" (John 13:34 NCV). It's always easier to ask people to do something, when you're modeling the same kind of behavior in your own life.

2. To try to think like a leader. One mega-church pastor says that before he makes any important decision, he asks himself what the other leaders he respects would do in the same situation. That's wise! Asking somebody to be a leader can be intimidating and overwhelming, whereas, asking them to think like one takes the pressure off, allows them to be less-than-perfect, and grow into the job!