Family is probably one of the most critical areas of influence in which any of us will exercise our leadership responsibilities – whether it is as the husband God has designated as the head of the home or the wife God has called to manage the home and raise the children.
The family unit is an important place of leadership in the body of Christ.
In the context of a family, the Lord gives us a hint about promotion in His kingdom and in His army. He says that if a man does not rule his house well, he has no business seeking to become a bishop in the church or looking for a position somewhere else (1 Tim. 3:1-5)
In other words, you must start out being faithful at home in order to lead effectively at the level of responsibility God has given you-and then He will promote you.
In every relationship you have, there is an opportunity for you to be a leader. Every back-fence conversation in which you give direction to someone’s life is an example of leadership and of your participation in it.
As you are faithful to respond in these little opportunities, God will present you with more and more opportunities for leadership.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Mac and Lynne Hammond are senior pastors of Living Word in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, which they started in 1980. Many outreaches and ministries have launched from Living Word since that time, including Maranatha Christian Academy, a Pre-K through grade 12 school with nearly 900 in attendance, and Living Free Recovery Services, a licensed outpatient treatment program.
Most recently, Mac and Lynne have launched a vision to plant fifty churches across the globe in the next five years. As of August 2024, nine churches have been planted in the Dominican Republic, Ireland, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, and Guatemala with construction underway for seven more churches in El Salvador, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Prior to becoming a pastor, Mac was a pilot. He served in the Air Force, served two tours of duty in Southeast Asia, and was honorably discharged in 1970 with the rank of Captain. Between 1970 and 1980, Mac was involved in varying capacities in the general aviation industry, including ownership of a successful air cargo business serving the Midwestern United States. A business acquisition brought the Hammonds to Minneapolis, where they ultimately founded Living Word. Currently, Mac is the host of The Winner’s Way and The Winner’s Minute broadcasts and the author of several internationally distributed books. Mac is broadly acclaimed for his ability to apply the principles of the Bible to practical situations and the challenges of daily living.