Becoming a leader, being a leader
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003 - 4:05 p.m.
Dear Confidant,
Now I am having my holidays after a hectic semester. I prayed that I would have an eventful, purposeful and blessed week. From what I can see from my schedule planned, I can say with much faith that God would grant this prayer request of mine...
I shall give you a glimpse of my schedule: CK Enrichment Week in Alor Star, Malaysia (For those who don’t know what is that: it’s actually a training trip for my church’s children ministry), helping out for Children’s camp back in Singapore, probably night cycling (if my parents say okay, it’s an overnight activity you see...), another community service trip to Xiao Qing Xiang, China (that is if I pass all my modules, if not, I cannot go as I have to take supplementary papers and they clashed with the trip dates), helping out with the Christmas stage deco, learning video editing from my shifu (For those who wander who is he: he’s leader of BC Multimedia Ministry) etc... Sounds eventful huh? Hehe! If I didn’t manage to go China due to my failure in exams, I can still thank God! Because I might possibly go for the Amazing Race event held in Sentosa (planned by fellow Bcers in the Youth Network) and definitely help out for my dearest mentor’s wedding! Yup! In all things, I should learn to thank God! Amen?
My main purpose of this entry is to share what I have learnt and my reflections about being a leader or should I say becoming a leader. Sounds similar, but it is actually different depends on how you see it... why a reflection on this, you might wander? Well, my Lord Jesus had been kind to me for He had raised me up in leadership role over the past 1 and 1/2 year when I serve Him... from being an ordinary children worker, to a song leader and soon a team leader in my children ministry... from being an ordinary cell member to a cell intern… In the near future, I also see myself leading some ladies in my multimedia ministry though it maybe someone else...
What did I learnt
I read a book that says, “Even Christians want to be “servant-leaders,” not just plain servant. But to be like Jesus is to be a servant. That’s what he called himself.” Taken out of context, it seems to be against Christians taking up leadership roles in their ministry. At first, that is what I thought and I kind of fear being a leader because the book mention that Jesus measured greatness in terms of service, not status! Being a leader is some form of status, right?
Thank God that He spoke to me as I re-read particular chapter in the book! The statement “God determines your greatness by HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU SERVE, not how many people serve you” (emphasis mine) seems to jump out from the rest of the text. I think though this statement and realize some truth...
I asked myself if there is a possibility that one can serve by being a leader in the ministry. Will being a leader cause one to serve more people? After much thinking and reading the rest of the chapter, I realize that the answer is YES for both questions.
With regards to the first question, I conclude after reading the chapter and the next chapter that I can be a real servant no matter what role I take, leader or not. It is the actions and thoughts that matter in God’s eyes!
How do real servants act? According to the book, (1) Real servants make themselves available to serve, (2) Real servants pay attention to needs, (3) Real servants do the best with what they have, (4) Real servants do every task with equal dedication, (5) Real servants are faithful to their ministry and finally (6) Real servants maintain a low profile.
What then, are the thoughts of servants? Again according to the book, (A) Servants think more about others than themselves, (B) Servants think like stewards, not owners, (C) Servants think about their work, not what others are doing, (D) Servants based their identity in Christ and finally (E) Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.
With regards to the second question (Will being a leader cause one to serve more people?), the answer is yes in some of my situation. Take for example when I take up the role of being a team leader in my children ministry (Celebration Kids) I am not only serving the children, I am also serving my fellow team members.
My reflection
I felt truly blessed by this personal teaching that God had bless me with... God had bring people to further help me in taking leadership roles. My youth net leader tell me that I will never be ready to lead because we will always only learn to be ready when we take up the leadership role and that anointing comes only after we take up the leadership role. My mentor further explain to me that anointing usually come after the person take up the leadership role because God will usually not give anointing to people who don’t need or use it.
I had learnt not to fear taking up leadership role because if it is part of God’s will, He will give me strength and anointing for it. I also learnt how to act and think in order to be a REAL servant.
Point (C) spoke to me most. The book explains that servant-hood is about not comparing, criticising or compete with other servants or ministries but being too busy with the work God has given. The author also explains why is servant-hood defined in this way. “Competition between God’s servant is not logical for many reasons: We’re all on the same team; our goal is to make God look good, not ourselves; we’re given different assignments; and we’re all uniquely shaped. (Galatians 5:26)”
I guess it is because I have times when I am jealous because some of the children worker seemed to be more well-liked by the kids and times when I am envious of the talents they have in song leading, presenting object lesson and acting. I am guilt and must confess this sin before the Lord as many times this sin stumble myself. I will feel discourage and feel like giving up.
An ending prayer... Dear Lord Jesus, I give thanks to You for the lesson that You had so personally taught me. I pray that even as I share this in my sharing journal, You will speak to whoever is reading it in a special way. I pray that whoever sibling-in-Christ who is reading this will be challenged to think to how to act and think like a real servant. I speak forth blessing to all who had read this journal entry. Father Lord, I pray that You will help me to serve You so well through my actions and thoughts! I pray for the people whom I am serving that they may see Christ in me. I pray for strength and anointing for taking up all the leadership roles that You had willed for me to take. All these I pray in JESUS’ most mighty name. Amen!
-Shu Ling-
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