April 21, 2003
TOGETHER:
Servant leaders embody sacrifice
___Leadership is a crucial factor in the success of any enterprise, whether it is business, government or the church. The only thing worse than a pastor as dictator is a pastor who won't lead. How do you find that special place, that right attitude, from which to be an effective leader in your church and your world?
___The best leadership advice I could offer is to encourage you to hear Jesus' words to his disciples: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:25-28).
___Servant leadership is not weak or ineffective leadership. Jesus led. Some of the disciples became acknowledged leaders.
CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___The Texas Baptist Leadership Center provides leadership development and resources to assist our churches to grow more effective servant leaders. Bob Cavin directs this ministry the BGCT offers to help churches, pastors, other ministers and lay leaders develop leadership skills. Leadership training is available online at www.tblcinc.org or at www.ChurchLifeResources.com.
___After a two-year study involving more than 7,200 ministers and laypersons, Texas Baptists identified 11 characteristics of a healthy church. One is enabling servant leadership. This is leadership that focuses on equipping the people in the pews for personal involvement in mission and ministry.
___True cooperation in our churches and our life together as Texas Baptists cannot be based on control, coercion or criticism. True cooperation grows out of shared vision and mutual trust. It takes the strongest leaders to operate in such a way that people are drawn together around a vision that is too big for anyone to do alone and pull together because they have reason to trust one another.
___I am grateful for churches that demonstrate a passion to be the presence of Christ in their world. As I travel our state, I see leaders who want to help their churches reach people for Christ, disciple them in God's word and equip them to be an effective presence in their communities so that the love of God can really be experienced and heard.
___I am deeply blessed by the people who work with me on the BGCT Executive Board staff. They are servant leaders who desire to help you and your church by providing resources and consultations--much of it free to you because of the Cooperative Program giving of churches--that will enable your church to be on task, on target, on mission for Jesus Christ.
___What does a servant leader look like? An 8-year-old boy had a younger sister who was dying of leukemia. Without a blood transfusion, she would die. This older brother's blood was tested and was a perfect match. The boy agreed to help his sister. They were placed side-by-side on two gurneys, and the brother's blood began to flow into his sister's veins. In a little while, the doctor came by to see how things were going. The boy opened his eyes and asked, "How soon until I start to die?"
___Can we lead and serve out of that spirit?
___We are loved.
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