Servant-leader to Servant-leader;

We just finished the first Spring Conference under our tenure here in Mountain Plains Region of Open Bible Churches in April-- the theme: “Breaking the 100 Barrier”.  Thank you to Chuck Loftis, Bill Jiminez, Jerry Houchens, Jerry Wood, Kelli Loftis, Teri Beyer and our special hospitality lady Debbie Arne.  We are indebted to Sharon Potts for putting so much of this together and appreciate all the hard work.  I believe we accomplished what we set out to do.  The sessions will be online within the week. 

I thought I would do a short follow-up to encourage you to break any and every barrier you might have to making more and better disciples. We are looking for fruit that remains to bring glory to our Father.  Paul D. Borden in his book “Direct Hit” has some suggestions to breaking barriers that keep us small and I would like to share some of those with you.  In fact let me encourage you to purchase his book and read it with intent to improve your church.  (I will buy the book for anyone who cannot afford it in their budget.)

Paul strongly suggests that one of the barriers pastors face is that they do not see themselves as leaders of the congregations.  They perhaps accept the title of “spiritual leader” but not the leader of the congregation.  “Many assume that their job is to call individuals to personal discipleship.  This assumption permits them to take on roles as the congregation’s chaplain, preacher, theologian, disciple maker, and so forth.  These roles are validated by the pastor’s training and the expectations of the congregation.  However, the idea of leading a community of people (a local congregation) to fulfill a mission and achieve a vision is foreign to their way of thinking.  It is not a part of their paradigm.”

Paul suggests a “second barrier is that pastors have been trained and often perform in an environment where faithful endeavor is honored, but fruitful results are not expected or demanded.  This avoidance of results is present not only for pastors but also for any individual who possesses ministry responsibilities in the congregation.  And so we have declining congregations and declining denominations.  The Church shies away from accountability perhaps better than any other organization in our society. The incentive to change is particularly absent when the ministry environment reacts so negatively and often labels change as unspiritual.” 

I want to challenge each pastor to lead.  I am not suggesting dictatorial captains who plow under any and all opposition in the name of authority.  I am encouraging you to ask yourself some questions:  “What is the last thing God told me that our congregation should do?”  “What areas in my leadership are weak and need attention?”  “Am I better suited to be a chaplain and not be the leader?”  “What tools do I know that I lack and must have to better lead?”  “Do I need better conflict resolution skills?”  “Do I need greater people skills?”  “When is the last time I led someone outside the church to Christ?”  “Is there one or a few people in the church who seem to control everything?”  “Do I really believe that God is more interested in faithfulness than fruitfulness?”  “Is there anyone who is personally holding me accountable for my spiritual disciplines?”  “Are you having regular evaluations on your ministry?”  “What are some of the things a pastor should be evaluated on?”  “Can you list at least 10 things you should be evaluated for?”

God spoke through the angel of the Lord to Gideon:  “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:12)  I pray that each of us would so lead others and follow Christ that we could say with Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:9 “Not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.”  Can you invite others to fall in line behind you and follow you because you are following Christ to that degree?  I want you to be effective in ministry.  I want you to have a vision for your community, your area and your region.  I believe we are to take this great message all over the globe while at one and the same time touch those in our city, our area and our region. 

Let’s bear fruit. Be an example!  Imitate Christ and call others to imitate you as you do so.  May we serve those we lead and may our service be an offering of joy to our Lord.

Have a great month and blessings on each of you who are a mother.

Les