So here I am at 3 in the morning with so much buzzing through my brain and heart that i needed an outlet for it all. Hopefully by the time I finish, I can go to bed.
To all of my pastor friends and those in leadership in ministry,
It is more important to have people be “with” you than people be “for” you. Pastor Willie George told us that at a conference I attended a few months back. It rings through my ears at the oddest moments. You can have alot of cheerleaders and people who support you but it is far greater to have people link arms with you and share your heart. In my wife and I’s ministry we have seen people who were “with” and “for” us as leaders and we are still connected to the people who caught the vision and became participators rather than speculators. It really begins with trust. You have to trust the people who are leading you. You cannot jump on board with someone who you do not trust because trust requires a release of control on your part. People like to feel in control and like they can manipulate and maneuver things in their favor. When you trust someone, you give that control up to a certain degree. Trust takes time and is earned. Trust is earned through battles and victories, battles and victories and the consistency of your character and integrity.
You have to realize that when you make decisions that you will be criticized. There will be times when you feel all alone and those are some very tough times to get through. The thing you need to begin to do is to let those who have ears to hear…hear. You cant change people. There will be things people may never understand or come to like but you have to believe that what is best for the whole is best for the individual. You have to be convinced that what you are doing is right and is what God wants. You cant be circumstantial and change to try to please everyone because that is NEVER going to happen. You have to keep moving forward as a leader.
You have to make the decision of why you are where you are. Are you there to make people happy or to help them grow in the truth? You can love people without bending to their every whim and discomfort. The more victories you have, the more they will trust you. Some people will take longer to win trust than others but when you win that trust…people begin to link arms and hearts with you in a way that it is no longer “your” vision as the pastor or leader but it is “our” vision and your ministry truly becomes a united team that has taken ownership of what God has birthed in your heart as a leader.
You have to always stay humble and never above suggestion or correction because a haughty message or heart will come out in everything you do and it will turn people away. You arent always right and you dont always have the best solution or idea. You need to remain humble and teachable as you realize you are growing also. Stay encouraged by staying in the Word and find someone who ministers to you and impacts you. You need to be feeding yourself from personal study and other teachers/leaders. You cant always give and give and give…you will burn out unless you replenish and refresh.
Always love the people above everything else. That doesnt mean that they run over you or that you are a pushover, it simply means that you dont become agenda driven. You keep the love of God in your heart and have patience with others as they grow.
Just some thoughts. Now I think I am ready for bed. I love you all and believe God has great things for your ministries!
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