One Vision: Healthy Leaders and Healthy Churches
BT Staff
By Larry Barker, VP of Church Strategy and Training
The entire context of the New Testament is one of multiplication. All healthy believers and churches will multiply. The multiplication of disciples is crucial in the multiplication formula, which places the responsibility on the leader to make disciples. If pastors and leaders are not spiritually healthy, then unhealthy, with no multiplication, is what will be normal in churches. Acts 6:7 says, “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly…” Acts 9:31 continues, “Then had the churches rest… and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”
Russell N. Small, in Church Revitalization stated, “Revitalization is the supernatural work of God that restores health and vitality in a plateaued or declining church evidenced by submission to God’s Word, right relations among members and a renewed commitment to Great Commission ministry!” Notice those three paramount markers that cannot be ignored or bypassed, and it must include all three. A commitment to the Great Commission is usually the most neglected. The healthiest churches are those that are outwardly focused on the one lost sheep and are living like Jesus, pursuing those who are far from God.
In The Multiplication Effect by Mac Lake, he challenged us to focus on the why of multiplying leaders, not just the how and what. He asked, “Why do you want to develop leaders in the first place?” The most common answer is that we never have enough leaders, and there are always more positions and jobs to fill than breathing bodies willing to fill the vacant spots. There is a biblical urgency because Jesus said the fields are white unto harvest, and we are to pray for Him to send forth more laborers. Where do they come from? They come out of healthy churches led by healthy leaders who are multiplying disciples, leaders and churches.
Mac stated, “The greater reason for developing leaders is to cultivate the God-given leadership gifts in others.” He continued, “When we’re driven by others’ potential rather than our pain, leadership development takes on a whole new feel.” Here is another great word of wisdom: “We don’t start with the position that needs to be filled; we start with the person that can be developed.” That is seeing leadership development through the lens of discipleship and how we can walk alongside someone to help them develop and be everything God intended them to be. The journey begins with you being the healthy pastor/leader He has called you to be.
The goal of this journey begins, continues and ends with intimacy with Christ. It is being passionate about our personal relationship with Him and becoming closer and more precious every day. Paul stated in Phil. 3:10, his goal, his determined purpose, was to “know” Jesus. Paul said he would pursue a relationship so close to God that he would walk consistently with Him, whatever pressures, difficulties or trials might occur. Paul desired to be in Jesus’ presence in order to experience sweet intimacy and deep fellowship with Him. It is the “one thing” that David said he asked the Lord for in Psalm 27:4.
Intimacy with God is the goal and discipline is the method or means for having intimacy with Him. It is how you discover it. Discipline is the word everyone admires (in those who have it), but few enjoy implementing it because it requires sacrifice and surrender. Discipline is control gained by enforced obedience and the deliberate cultivation of intimacy with Christ. It requires leading by example so others see it in you, not just hear you talking about it. Intimacy is never natural, automatic, quick or easy. When you see someone who is intimate with God, it is because they have dedicatedthemselves to cultivating that relationship. Are you leading by example?
Henry Blackaby stated, in Experiencing God — Day by Day, “We are so activity-oriented that we assume we were saved for a task we are to perform rather than a relationship to enjoy!” For intimacy to occur, we need to practice two often overlooked disciplines — silence and solitude. Donald S. Whitney defined silence as “the spiritual discipline of voluntarily and temporarily abstaining from speaking so that certain spiritual goals might be sought and discovered.” Solitude is “the spiritual discipline of voluntarily and temporarily withdrawing to privacy for spiritual purposes.” Silence is the gateway to depth, and solitude is the gateway to discovery.
These two disciplines are necessary for God-directed refreshment, health, spiritual refreshment, perspective and recalibration to His agenda. Only in silence can you quiet your soul, and only insolitude can you center your total focus on Him. It begins by leading yourself into His presence and allowing Him to shape, mold and transform you!
If we can help you or your church in any way, please contact us at Healthy Church Solutions at larry@bmaglobal.org or heidi@bmaglobal.org.