We discover what keeps us going further and farther in our ministry lives, despite difficulties and stumbling blocks, both internal and external.
During the EPIC Leaders Night, Pastor Christie asked everyone serving 15 years and above to stand. I could remember previous leaders’ gatherings, many years ago, when only a handful would stand when that number was called.
Then she called for leaders serving ten years and above, and I saw my contemporaries stand, and I was like, that’s me as well, and so I stood up. But I almost couldn’t believe it. Ten years is a decade. Ten years is how old a fourth- or fifth-grader is in school. Ten years is like a matured loan made on a smart investment a whole one hundred and twenty months ago.
Ten years is a lot.
As I was writing this, two words keep repeating in my head: survival, and sacrifice. But I wanted to stay away from those concepts because they sound so dramatic. They seem too extreme. They imply that it is all an uphill climb, a constant battle throughout, a long, arduous road that requires tremendous personal effort.
And while that is true to a certain extent, I don’t want to undersell how fulfilling it is, how satisfying to the soul and spirit, to know and feel when you have served, and served well.
Sustainability is “Staying Power”
Because sustainability means staying power. It is the ability to remain, the endurance to stay, through seasons of both trials and triumphs. It starts with a love for God that is unshakeable, which is the foundation upon which everything else will be built upon. It continues with a heart so committed that challenges only make it stronger. And it is fortified by a mind so focused that it can ignore distractions (i.e. difficult situations, difficult people).
A sustained leader is certain of who God is, what He can do, and what that means for them and their ministry.
Leading Question for the Panel
1. Relate how you started out in your ministry/leadership. What were the circumstances; who were your mentors? Did you say yes right away, or was there hesitation?
2. Did you ever think that you would be in your position/ministry for this long? Did you have a roadmap before, or a specific plan for just how much you would serve in the church?
3. What has been the greatest impact of your serving/leading in your personal/family/work life?
4. Do you ever have thoughts of letting go of your ministry/position? Not to leave the church or anything, but just to do other things maybe, or lie low and rest.
5. What was your greatest struggle when you were just starting out in your ministry? What about now, years later, what are the challenges?
These “Characteristics of Sustained Leaders” are notes from a Hillsong Worship Conference forum. They describe what a sustained leaders, based on the things they should be doing. These are specific to their responsibilities in their pastoral groups and ministry. These are also the ideal way that they respond to, or deal with, their people or ministry volunteers.
- Sustained leaders see a way forward for their own involvement
- be careful not to progress people too quickly
- Sustained leaders are confident in their future.
- be careful not to let go of people indiscriminately
- people who’ve made mistakes must have learned something
- allow mistakes and understand seasons
- Sustained leaders enjoy reproducing themselves over and over.
- Sustained leaders are more open to change, they will help initiate change, and carry the fallout.
- the people who love change are the ones pioneering it
- Sustained leaders feel their gift is not only being used, but is being stretched.
- Sustained leaders are inspired by vision
- check your vision — is it properly communicated to your people?
- Sustained leaders see it as their church, not “the church” or “your church”
- Sustained leaders have a leader that care about their journey
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