Empowering Leadership
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Jesus empowered his disciples to continue his mission on earth by giving them the authority and responsibility to do it. Healthy leadership in a church empowers people to use their gifts in ministry by giving away the appropriate responsibility, authority, and accountability. This is rooted in a trust paradigm rather than a control paradigm. Trusting people to creatively, faithfully, and passionately co-labor with God in His ministry is more important than controlling the outcomes to conform to a certain method or manner.
“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (I Corinthians 12:12,27)
Healthy ministry occurs in groups or on teams. We engage in ministry as a team believing that teams cultivate a sustainable and reproducible ministry. This minimizes burn-out among volunteers and staff; it invigorates and encourages people; it innovates and creates effective ministry.
