TO: Current and future leaders of Getwell Road
FROM: Bill
Paul wrote to the church in Philippi and said, (Philippians 1:3-5), “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Daily, I try to remember you in my prayers and I do give thanks. Thanks for your current leadership skills and I look forward to serving with those who will be assuming leadership roles in January, 2011.
The ministry of LEADERSHIP is why I feel compelled to write this letter. WE cannot take this role of leadership lightly, frivolously or for granted. As we are about to enter a new era of service and leadership for 2011, I felt compelled to write and challenge us in our roles as a leader. As the senior leader, I expect you to hold me accountable to my leadership position. As spiritual leader of this church, I should have equally high expectations of you. In the past, those expectations have never been written out. They have only been assumed. I take this opportunity to make these leadership expectations clear for all of us as we serve God’s kingdom.
First, leadership is thought to be many things. According to John Maxwell’s book, 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Maxwell writes what leadership is not. He writes, “Leadership is not because someone has a title or position. Titles don’t have much value when it comes to leading. True leading cannot be awarded, appointed or assigned. It comes only from influence, and that can’t be mandated. It must be earned. The only thing a title can buy is a little time – either to increase your level of influence with others or erase it.”
The Lay Leadership team (Nominations Committee) felt that each of you were the chosen person “for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14) You are given opportunity to lead in your committees for one purpose – to expand the Kingdom. I encourage you to lead courageously and creatively. Many mainline churches and denominations are declining. It is only as we lead courageously, boldly and think differently that we will ever achieve different results. Use your influence and discernment to make your position the best it can be for God. Zig Ziglar said, “Success is the maximum utilization of the abilities you have.” On Andrew Carnegies epitaph were the words, “Here lies a man who was wise enough to bring into his service men who knew more than he.” It goes without saying that “the strength of any organization is a direct result of the strength of its leaders. Weak leaders equal weak organization strength. Strong leaders equal strong organizational strength. Everything rises and falls on leadership.”
With all of that said, that brings me to the expectations that I have of this leadership team – whether you serve as a committee chair, ministry leader, bible teacher or committee member. I encourage you to seek in your heart whether you feel compelled to accept these challenges. Please let me know your decision. The Kingdom of God is too important for us not to take our time of leadership seriously. God expects much of us. I expect much of my leaders.
During your tenure of leadership, I expect…
• YOUR PRAYERS. (I have attached a prayer guide for you to use.) Sincerely pray for this church and its ministry daily. Grow deep in your love for God and your love for this church. In leadership books, I have read this truth concerning leadership, “Grow a leader and you grow the organization. A company cannot grow until its leaders grow within.” The most important work you will do as a committee might be your time together in prayer. Should you desire to take this challenge of prayer to a deeper level and be part of the prayer ministry team, then I applaud you. Bunny Krag is the chairperson of that team. So, PRAY. Pray daily. Too often we tell people, “I’ll be praying for you.” While the intent of that statement is great, the follow through is often lacking. We get busy and don’t make it a priority.
• YOUR PRESENCE. Attend the worship services as often as you can. Lead by example. Make attendance a priority in the rhythm of your week. I remember testimonies of the past where people would say, “When I was growing up, I never had to ask my parents, “Are we going to church because that was always a given.” Lead your families in that same mindset. Come expectant because we have opportunity to gather and worship our Creator and Savior. Ask yourself, “What word of truth does God have for me today?”
o Your presence also includes attendance at your designated committee meetings. The committees can only function at high capacity because the full committee has assembled. Each committee NEEDS your wisdom, discernment and support. I often tell the new member class, “This church is only going to be as good as you make it because God has gifted each of you differently with special spiritual gifts that the Body of Christ needs. Without those gifts, then the body will be incomplete.” Attend your committee meetings.
• YOUR SERVICE. Serve with a servant’s heart. Use your spiritual gifts to lead. Each staff person at Getwell Road has a job description. At the bottom of the job description are the words, “Do whatever else is needed.” The Kingdom will be enriched because we have joined Jesus and taken the towel and basin and are willing to “wash his disciples feet.” (John 13) As a leader, I never want to ask of others what I’m not willing to do myself.
• YOUR GIFTS. Support the church financially in a systematic fashion. Last January, the program, “Test the TITHE,” gave us a glimpse of what could be accomplished if a church truly tithed. To tithe is to honor God with the gifts of my financial blessings. Everything I have comes from Him. I am only a trustee of those financial riches. The expectation of a leader is to be a generous financial supporter of the church and its mission. Nothing less.
• YOUR LIFESTYLE. I added this bullet point to the vows and promises that we have already made as a member of this church – prayers, presence, gifts and service. I placed the LIFESTYLE bullet point just as a wake-up call to each of us -- for us to remember that when we are out in the community, we represent not only Getwell Road, but more importantly, God. As a leader, am I living the example that others need to follow? Living an example that my children need to follow? Are my words, words of God-honoring speech? Are the places that I attend, God-honoring? If someone from the church or community saw, heard or witnessed my actions, would those actions be worthy of a leader of this organization?
o I include this last section on lifestyle because of an article that I read. The article was part of a statistical report that simply said, “Those on the outside of the church looking in say that there is no difference in lifestyle between those who profess to be Christian and those who do not. They see no difference in financial decisions, attitudes, morals, the language we use, places we frequent, etc. There is little to NO difference.” Let us at Getwell Road live above the standard!
Thank you for taking time to read my “epistle.” This opportunity for leadership is heavy on my heart. I want the best for you, Getwell Road and for God. As leaders, we will be held in a higher accountability before God because of our position of leadership. I began this letter telling you that I pray for you as often as I can. I close this letter with that same commitment – going down the roles of this 2011 leadership team – praying for you and your families individually. I sincerely hope that you agree with this challenge. Should you have any questions, please contact me at bbeavers@getwellroad.org
Now, let’s get busy. My mother wrote the following words while she was in college. These words are framed in my office. They come from Matthew, “I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work.”
Thanking God for each of you!