Leadership Excellence needed - Discipleship is the only answer!

Friends, as we are envisioning the mission, the essential requirement is a healthy leadership team.  Ellen White says “generally the people rise no higher than the minister” (Manuscript Releases, 168), and that means not just pastor, but elders, leaders in general.  On another occasion she penned “Men in responsible positions should improve continually. They must not anchor upon an old experience and feel that it is not necessary to become scientific [learned, trained] workers. (Testimonies for The Church Vol.4. p93).

As we discuss discipleship plan for our church we are envisioning discipleship on all levels.  Here’s the preferred picture of desirable future, or simply, the Vision – elders are coaching, encouraging, supporting directors of various ministries.  As overseers they are “cheerleading” directors of ministries and their team. At the beginning of each year the elder discussed with a ministry leader their roadmap and plans, as the year progresses, the elder meets with their disciple in coaching session to talk about progress and improvements needed, at the end of the year the elder celebrates results with those he or she coaches.

In addition, elders are visiting with members in their parishes annually and interviewing every member about their spiritual growth, about their use of spiritual gifts, about their involvement in service, and presenting with ministry opportunities, connecting all people to be engaged in meaningful service.

The lead pastor is coaching elders, providing support, training and resources for elders to lead their parishes.  The pastor is also interviewing elders.  When coaching, mentoring, or simply – discipleship becomes our norm, then we can talk about warmth, spiritual environment, and total members involvement in our church.

Do you have a coach?  Are you being discipled by an elder? Are you coaching someone? Are you discipling people on your team, your children, people who are looking up to you? 

Discipleship is not about sitting in the pews once per week on Sabbath and hearing a lecture.  It is about doing life together, it is about serving others, it is about walking alongside people in different seasons of their life.

Remember that the Message of Jesus has to be shared through the Method of Jesus – discipleship!  Jesus told us to go to be His disciples (John 8:31) and to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).