Albert Sweitzer said, "Example is not the main thing; it's the only thing."
I am a huge believer in the power of example. It just might be the greatest tool we have in our personal ministry. The smaller the ministry is or in the early days of starting a ministry or the College Minister taking over a ministry the example of the College Minister is magnified even more.
Here are five ways I believe our example impact the ministry that we lead:
1. Who we are can draw students to the ministry.
The personal characteristics that we demonstrate affect who is drawn to the ministry. Nothing we do inour ministry is more valuable or important than who we are. It might scare us to know how closely students watch, learn, and even copy what they see of us. For years I did all my planning writing on a yellow legal pad. Only after several years did I realize I picked up that simple habit from my College Minister.
2. Who we are affects what students take from our ministry.
If they see us pray about situations and care about people who do not know Christ, they are more likely to take that from our ministry to their adult life. Former BCM Presidents who now serve in secular leadership roles have messaged me pictures of how their meeting room was organized prior to a major meeting. They took that from how we did leadership meetings.
3. What we demonstrate in personal characteristics affects our financial support.
If you have to raise your salary or depend on churches, organizations, or individuals for financial support of your budget, who you are affects their response. People want to support someone they admire or respect. Do your work habits cause others to think their money will be used wisely? It is difficult to separate feelings about a ministry from feelings about the leader of that ministry. Respect and appreciation helps build financial support.
4. The ministry we lead will reflect our personal strengths and weaknesses.
The longer we serve as the leader of a ministry, the more that ministry will take on our personality....strengths and weaknesses. It becomes a picture of the leader. It is a reminder of why we can never cut corners in our personal practices. It is also a reminder of how we much enlist, empower and support students and other leaders or staffers who have different strengths than our own.
5. Our example will affect parents and other Christian leaders deciding whether to send students to our ministry or advising them to stay away.
Well known and respected ministries are blessed by youth ministers, pastors, parents and even college administrators referring and encouraging students to become involved with that ministry. This will not happen where the example of the leader is a negative one.
There is an old saying. "Who you are is speaking so loudly, I can't hear what you are saying.".
Your example shapes and affects the whole ministry....it may be scary, but is is true!
No comments:
Post a Comment