Leaders who attempt to accomplish tasks without seeking clear and committed direction from God will always find themselves outside of His will and ultimately with unclear and purposeless objectives. So let’s start at the beginning with the foundation of an effective leader—the Word of God. In Ephesians 4:11-15, Paul describes the five-fold ministries and their purposes and objectives.
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
(Eph. 4:11-15)
God’s first objective for His leadership is revealed in Ephesians 4:12: “To perfect (to equip) the saints for the work of ministry and to edify (to build up) the body of Christ.” By understanding the purpose of leadership, we can now begin to understand its ultimate objective.
In Ephesians 4:13, we learn that God’s desire for us as believers is to come in the “unity of the faith” and “of the knowledge of the Son of God,” therefore transforming us into a perfect man (spiritually) equal to the same stature as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Although the Word of God states that we are sons of God even joint heirs with Christ, it is important that leaders, especially in ministry, develop a servant’s heart. Leadership does not equal dictatorship, nor is it an opportunity for one to propel his or her own interest above the well-being of the ministry.
The Bible states in Matthew 23:11-12, “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” God makes it perfectly clear that when we ad individuals choose to walk in humility and selflessness, He will indeed promote and exalt us into the place where we should be.
A servant’s heart is key to being an effective leader. When God takes the lead within our lives, He gives us the knowledge and strength needed to be successful in the world. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you continue to develop into the leader that God has called you to be:
- Maintain a consistent prayer life! This is an important ingredient to becoming a wise and effective leader.
- Always remember to build up those who are under you and help propel them to their rightful place in ministry.
- Be genuinely interested in other people and their growth.
- Stay focused! By being focused on your assignment you continue to move forward and those under you are encouraged to move forward with you.
- Don’t be a procrastinator.
- Don’t be afraid of failure.
Finally, get things in order! God cannot get glory from chaos. Being an effective leader in ministry begins at home first. For example, if you family is out of order due to a lack of leadership, how much more would your ministry be out of order? If the people who are exposed to you on an everyday basis will not follow you down the street let alone in ministry, chances are your leadership tactics are not on the level they need to be in order to help encourage change in others.
Remember, these are some of the ways that quality is developed within a leader. Be a servant to those you lead and keep the objectives on the interest of others and God will take care of yours.
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Gregory Powe was born in Mobile, AL, and met his wife, Deborah, also an ordained pastor, in Atlanta. They served together there and trained with World Changers Church International.
They moved to Tampa in 1990 with their four children--Gregory, Christopher, Bryan, and Chrystle--and founded Revealing Truth Ministries.
In 2017 Gregory moved on to heaven.
Revealing Truth Ministries, also known as RTM Nation, has grown to several campuses. These campuses are located in Tampa, Florida; Wesley Chapel, Florida; St. Petersburg, Florida; Ocala, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; and Honolulu, Hawaii. Pastor Deborah continues to teach the Word of God along with her son and Senior Pastors Bryan and Rashida Powe.