Texas District

 

Years ago, a pastor friend of mine invited me to consult with his congregation on vision and long-range planning. During this process, two younger men stepped up, full of energy and new ideas. Both felt called to do more than fill a pew. They were eager to help lead worship, give the announcements, and even willing to preach on occasion to mix things up. Here were two men already in the church who were ready to grow and go!

I could not have been more thrilled. What an opportunity my friend had to invest in and mentor these two young men! And, in my mind, one or both might end up being a pastor someday. But my friend was not thrilled. He didn’t doubt the men or their gifts. Instead, he confessed that he couldn’t get past wondering what people would think. He was insecure about his own role. He said, “If these young men are leading and preaching, people will start to wonder what we are paying the pastor for.”

 

I have never forgotten that conversation. My friend wasn’t a bad pastor; he was a faithful shepherd. But his confession made me think about all the fears pastors have that stifle leadership development: the over-functioning pastor who artificially limits how much ministry laity can do; the large-church pastor who keeps staff from attending LCMC retreats or gatherings to prevent them from connecting with others which could lead them to be called away; or the driven pastor who only develops his or her own people to serve only that congregation.

I understand these fears because in my years of pastoring congregations, I confess that I, too, was focused on raising up leaders for my own local congregation only. I did not have a Kingdom mindset. Like many driven pastors, I developed tunnel vision focusing on my church’s mission, and lost sight of a broader Kingdom mission. Pastors need the prayer, support, and encouragement of congregations to equip leaders for Kingdom mission.

 

Leadership development is not just a pastor problem to solve. It is something the whole congregation is called into. In 2 Timothy 1:9, Paul reminds Timothy that God has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. God’s calling is not ours to dispense or withhold. The Lord of the harvest calls, equips, and sends. Our job is never to limit the call but to pray for it, look for it, see it, bless it, and help it grow.
So, who is sitting in your pews? Who is God already calling, already gifting, already nudging toward greater service in his Kingdom? And what fears might be keeping your congregation or pastor from seeing them, blessing them, and sending them? What a joy it is to equip and release leaders for mission and ministry in God’s Kingdom!