A Difficult Vision

It’s great to have a vision about how the world can be, but it’s not always easy to share that vision.  It can be scary, difficult to get across, and many times people just laugh at you or wonder what planet you’re really from.  Some people are taught very early that sharing their vision earns them ridicule, scorn, and shame.  They learn to keep their vision to themselves, and deprive the world of potentially great ideas.

I learned all of this the hard way when I started to share the idea of Next in Line with other people.  The idea of involving young people in leadership training had people looking at me like I had a third eye.  After a couple months of that, I wasn’t sure whether or not I wanted to do anything with Next in Line.

I say all of this because I know that many of you have the vision to start leadership groups in your organization but may not be getting any traction.  I talk to people all the time who have tried leadership development in their churches and schools but couldn’t get any support and ultimately ended up quitting or never getting off the ground in the first place.

To those of you who are dreamers and visionaries I say don’t give up.  The world needs young leaders now more than ever.  Now, like never before, the call to raise up young leaders needs to be answered.  

I know it can be discouraging sometimes; I’ve been there.  But I’ve also seen young people rising up to their potential.  I’ve seen young people do amazing things and take the reigns of leadership before anyone thought it was possible.

As we talk about pitching the idea of leadership development programs, don’t get discouraged if you’re having trouble getting your idea off of the ground, and don’t let others dictate to you what God has put on your heart.  Don’t let past obstacles dictate the route you take in the future.  Keep praying, keep planning, and prepare the ground.  What God has ordained you to do, He will bring to pass!

Training Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,

Matt

Organic Leadership Development

How does the Holy Spirit change the face of leadership development? 

The last time I wrote I talked about how the Holy Spirit is a differentiating factor between Christian and non-Christian leaders.  What I didn't write about is what that means for developing leaders, and it means a lot.

First, the Holy Spirit changes everything.  Leadership development is no longer a regimen or just a curriculum, but an organic process that we are not in charge of.  This is significantly different than most programs of education.  Christian leadership isn't something you can just get a degree in and be good.  The development of Christian leaders takes considerably more time, patience, and discernment.


Since the Spirit is in control, the time it takes to cultivate a Christian leader cannot be set in stone.  I recently read an article by the creator of Relevant Magazine where he stated that God had to teach him over 8 years before he could finally start his magazine.  It might take others a lot less than eight years to become the kind of leader God wants to carry out His purpose in their life, and it might take longer.  Again, we can't relegate the process; thinking that after we review these principles and such and such a program that the people we are teaching will automatically be the leaders God wants them to be.  How long did Moses wonder in the wilderness before God called him to lead the Israelites out of bondage? 

Because we aren't in charge of the time it takes to become a leader, we have to be very patient.  So do the young leaders in our care.   Can you imagine David, after being proclaimed King, waiting to actually become King?  That must have been grueling, but God had much to teach David before he became king.

Lastly (please, however, don't think that this is exhaustive), I think that the organic nature of Christian Leadership Development takes a lot of discernment.  Not all of your students are going to be at the same place, and each will learn and develop at their own pace.  It will take a lot of discernment to know what to teach and when.  This will take a lot of prayer and a deep knowledge of each of your students.  Take the time to see this through.  Be responsible to them and to God for their development.  It's not easy, but we didn't get into this because it was easy.

Christian leadership development is difficult, and the organic nature of it makes it that much more difficult.  But with patience, endurance, and perseverance, we will be blessed to see the godly leadership of tomorrow.

Training Tomorrow's Leaders Today,
Matt