By Chris Nichols

Life in ministry can be frantically full, especially in a ministry setting where apostolic and evangelistic gifts are being effectively demonstrated.  Pushing forward into new territory, calling skeptics and seekers to belief, and gathering them into Jesus centered community are foundational elements of ministry culture and is invigorating for everyone involved.  Whether you are planting or building, these are essential qualities that need to be valued and encouraged.

But the leaders of apostolic movements must do more than churn up evangelistic and expansion activity.  They need always be aware when ministry activity is edging into chaotic, gospel activity rather than strategic kingdom advancement.

In order to avoid developing that kind of frenetic ministry culture, effective leaders of apostolic movements must be ready and willing to do three things in order to lead effectively.

1. Stepping Aside

They must step aside to reflect.  Wise leaders always know to step away from the front lines, even when the activity is at its peak, and get to a place where they remember the end results the movement is seeking.  You as the leader of the movement are required to remember the mission, not as an echo in your memory like the lyrics to a good song, but as the guiding objective that determines your every move.  It is fine for those you lead to lose track at times of where we are heading, but not for leaders.   We must have discipline to step out of the fray to focus on what we are trying to achieve.

How is it done?

• Stop for a period of time for the express purpose of keeping the mission in mind.  It is surprising how often the activity we engage in has little to do with the essential mission we are say we are committed to.  Stopping allows you to remember the cause that led you into this battle in the first place.
• Engage in significant times of prayer that allows time for reflection before God and allows you to mull over current results in light of the ministry’s objectives.
• Invest in a devotional life that takes you into the word on a daily basis and causes you to be reminded of the values, principles, and person of Jesus so you don’t forget who and what you serve.
• Pursue self-reflection so you know yourself well to recognize when your choices and response are more about you than God or the mission he has called you to.

2. Looking Up

Effective leaders are always looking up from the activity in front of them to see the fields beyond.  As in chess, you must keep the whole board in sight even as you set ministry in motion in a specific direction.  The Apostle Paul was constantly looking ahead to the next place that was unreached with the gospel.  I keep on the wall of my office a map of New England and on each state I’ve written the number of undergraduates in each state as a reminder of the people I am called to and the magnitude of the challenge I am constantly placing before God.  Effective leaders find ways to get perspective on the mission field they are called to serve.  Keeping the field in sight will keep you from becoming so transfixed by the work at hand that you invest all your energy in what is and forget greater field you are called to serve.

3. Thinking Strategically

They learn to think strategically, preparing for the next phases of ministry advancement by:

• Developing layers of leadership.  Effective leaders are always on the watch for ways to encourage leadership gifts and move potential leaders into places where those gifts can be matured.  They are constantly preparing for the next phase of ministry where those leadership gifts will be needed.
• Knowing the territory.  You have spend time “on the ground”, listening to those with expertise and in coordination with other key leaders, identifying where you hope to move next.
• Keeping track of the resources required, whether it is money, people resources, training, spiritual formation, etc.  The effective leader develops and gathers resources necessary not only to sustain work but to expand it.
• Prayerfully watching for the “Kairos” moment.  Effective leaders know the key factors that need to be present in order to move ahead.  They are sensitive to the working of the Spirit and when key factors come together and the Spirit makes a way forward, that leader is ready to move.
• Making the tough decisions.  Effective leaders know that not everyone will always understand the choices they are making.  They need to make decisions in community with others who share responsibility for the greater mission, but they must be willing to own difficult decisions, knowing they will at times be misunderstood.
• Being willing to be wrong.   No one is right all the time. Effective leaders gather others around them who help them know when they have made a mistake, own the error, and find ways to make corrections that enable the ministry’s development.

We seek more than missional activity.  May we all learn to step aside in the midst of our work, look up to observe the field, and learn to make strategic choices so that the kingdom work we are called to lead may advance.

Which of these three do you do effectively? Which need work in your leadership?

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