RAISING THE NEXT LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP

 

No leader is self-sufficient and developing a leadership team is one of the primary responsibilities of a successful pastoral ministry. If our Lord Jesus himself had chosen, nurtured and raised the next level of leaders (disciples) how crucial it is for us to develop a competent and visionary team for a successful ministry. I believe they not only ensure the continuity of our success but will pave the way for the next level growth of our churches. As we endeavour to raise leaders, let us learn some valuable insights and guidance in raising the next level of leadership from the scripture.
 

Moses & Joshua
While Moses was tired sitting all day long to administer his leadership role, his Father-in-Law Jethro advised him to look for men who fear God and who are trust worthy to be placed as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Moses listened to this wise counsel in delegating his leadership roles to carry out his ministerial responsibilities in a better way. He also nurtured Joshua in different capacities as a leader to make him the next level leader and finally as his successor. What is surprising here is when Joshua himself received a close and valuable guidance from Moses; we don't get a picture of Joshua mentoring a younger generation of leaders. And there arose another generation who did not know the Lord or the work he had done for Israel and everyone did what was right in his own eyes.' We see a scenario of failed leadership successors in most part of the Israelite history. Since the leaders failed to nurture the next level of leaders the nation forgot God, worshipped foreign gods, followed Canaanite sins and finally exiled to Babylon. The life of Israelites teaches us a lesson to equip and use the next level of potential leaders in our ministry for a bright future.

 

Jesus & Disciples
Our Lord Jesus is the perfect example of raising the next level of leaders. He trained and
transformed his disciples to become the leaders of the church that continues to transform the world for more than two thousand years. Jesus embodied servant attitude, humility, compassion, empathy, prioritizing the needs of his disciples, as paramount actions in nurturing others. Jesus not only modelled leadership but create an atmosphere of genuine conversation and exhibited his love and care for the next level leaders. He prayed with them. He taught them. He took them wherever he went. He revealed himself to them. And He loved them. He developed an inter-personal relationship with the disciples he was mentoring and spent his time and energy in
fostering a good relationship with them.

In the last supper, when the disciples forgot the Jewish custom of having a servant to wash their feet at the door, and none volunteered for the job Jesus modelled his leadership. He rose from the supper, laid out his garments, took a towel, and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the
disciples' feet and wiped them with the towel that was wrapped around him (John 13: 4, 5). It is this personal touch and care made these followers of Jesus become great leaders in the future and helped them to remain faithful in fulfilling the mission even in persecution and death. Just as Jesus invested his life in raising the disciples as the leaders who will carry out his mission into the world, let us raise the next level of leadership in our churches for a greater growth.

 

James Lawrence defines equipping a potential leader as 'a dynamic, intentional
relationship of trust in which one person (leader) enables another (potential leader) to maximize the grace of God in their life through the Holy Spirit, in the service of God's kingdom purposes, by sharing their life, experiences and resources.' If Jesus equipped his disciples to take up leadership roles we ought to entrust our potential successors with trust, tasks, and responsibilities.As Jesus sent the disciples out to minister and gave them authority to perform miracles in his name we should provide opportunities to apply what they have learned and develop their leadership abilities.

Paul, Timothy & Others

We also see Paul equipping young leaders in his ministry. He had a mentoring and nurturing relationship with Timothy, Silvanus and Titus and assigned them as leaders and pastors of the churches to deal with the local issues. In 2 Timothy 2:2 he admonishes his true son in faith Timothy to entrust what  has heard from Paul to faithful men who will be able to teach others. Paul asked Timothy to entrust Paul's teaching to the reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When our Assemblies of God in the Tamil District had only few churches in the sixties with five or six sections for the entire state of Tamilnadu our Golden leaders nurtured many next level leaders in their tenure. If it wasn't for their vision to raise the next level leadership we would not have grown into 71 sections and more than 1500 churches.

I believe equipping and nurturing goes deeper than encouraging; it requires modelling
ourselves as examples to be imitated and having the ability to transform people's lives. Even though the world sees the leadership skills like problem solving ability, attitude, and people skills, Jesus taught us to equip and nurture those who are called than selecting the skilled for the task. I assure if we carefully cater to the Spiritual, Personal and Leadership dimensions of mentoree, we will nurture them to be the next level leaders of our churches and organizations. All Christian leaders and pastors must create an atmosphere of mentoring for a next level leadership in our churches. I do urge
all the senior pastors to equip and train young pastors and able men and women from the congregation for a greater growth of the local church. May the biggest mistake of Joshua and kings not be our mistakes. Let us follow the examples of Jesus and Paul in raising the next level of leadership. A good leader is never more delighted to see their
successor outshines him and goes beyond in the leadership. I want to conclude with the story of our former General Superintendent of All India Assemblies of God and my father Rev. Dr. Y. Jeyaraj. He served in the different leadership roles of the Assemblies of God ministries in India and other parts of the world for more than 38 years. When he was asked to continue as the Superintendent, he said "I do not want to die in  the office, I want to see my successor succeed." I hope and pray to the Lord to give us the wisdom and ability to see our successors succeed in ministry.