From afar, being a leader is desirous. From afar, many dream of leading. From afar, some believe they are leading. I have been leading for many years—leading people, leading students, leading a family. Interesting that I have never wrote a book on leadership, nor have I ever been asked to speak about being a leader. My door isn’t being stampeded down by people to find out what my leadership is about nor am I getting calls to pontificate about my leadership. Does that mean I am not a good leader? Does that mean I have nothing to say about it? Does that mean that I am not a leader?
I have read many, many books on leadership. The best book I have ever read is a book called Lead like Jesus by Ken Blanchard. "We believe leadership happens anytime you influence the thinking, the behavior or development of another person. You are a leader...whether at home, at work or at play." —Lead Like Jesus
I am a leader because—I have to be—to my family. I am a leader because I do ministry that demands that I lead a team. I am a leader because—I have to be. Does that mean I know everything about being a leader? No way. I am a leader because I have to be. Does that mean I always do it right? No way. I am a leader because who I am. Does that mean I am above others input into my life? Never.
Leadership is sometimes overwhelming, sometimes beyond my comprehension, sometimes right in my lap. Bottom line—I love it. I enjoy it, I embrace it, I live it. Is that arrogant? No. I know who I am—so a team of people makes me a better leader. I don’t go at it alone—I have many better people around me—I love building teams of people that make what I do—so much better.
I have some big choices, decisions to make everyday, people to lead everyday—and I feel it everyday. So why the blog today on leadership? Just because I can—but so those that read this—can hear a little from me—little ole me, just a person sold out on following Christ what it is like to lead the Next Gen ministry at Fairhaven Church. A new ministry, a new form of Student Ministry, a new model on how it is done. And I know full well that many still see the “youth” ministry in its old form—I lead the H.S., I help out in the college and the middle school guy does his thing. That model is not the model I am leading. There is a new model, and the new model will have my fingerprints all over it. From Middle school through High School, to college/young adults.
My fingerprints on the whole thing? Yes. Am I prepared to lead? Yes. Will I get pushback? Yes. Do I feel and think I know where I am going? Yes Will it make sense to everyone? No. Will I try and make everyone happy? No. I will cast the vision, work out the kinks as I go and dig deep, trust God, learn from great people, build a team around me of solid followers of Christ that have the freedom to disagree with me.
Where is God in all this? Is it just wing it? Never. Is it just make it work? No. You see I believe that God has brought me to this place for the purpose of leading the Next Gen ministry to become all that God wants it to be. I am not a mistake. I was not a whim. I was not the next best person to lead this ministry. No, I believe that God has lead me through my Psalm 40 days. I believe that God has me here for a purpose—to lead the Next Gen ministry into the future. God is sovereign regardless...
