As leaders, we must consider what it means to advance wherever we are given responsibilities. As youth leaders, our obligations are how to minister to the students within and outside of our ministries. Influential leaders will look for a way to keep advancing versus maintaining. If we work to maintain, to put it bluntly--ministries die.
We will never advance anything if we accept what we have always had. Advancing is my desire. I admit that I don't like the term best practices because that is what we did in the past. We must think creatively to change the future and not redo someone's idea.
For many, that sounds like a "bigger is better" mentality. I want to twist it to "getting stronger is better."
Too often, we think bigger is better, so we strive to do whatever it takes to grow our work. Sometimes that is weekly, events (camps/retreats), or mission trip attendance. If that is our goal, we will begin to shortcut important considerations just to fill seats. We begin to push our agenda and miss something God has for us. I would like to share with you a little of my journey.
Looking back on the beginning of my ministry, I tended to create a plan and ask God to join me in it. I had wild dreams and would work systems to make them happen. I sought the latest and greatest from others to recreate ideas a little better (in my mind, at least) so I could grow it all bigger. I even thought the bigger my ministry grew, the better I would look. My pushed agenda was a misplaced agenda.
It took a while, but I learned, and still learning, that God's agenda and timing are best.
Consider the story of Abram (Abraham). God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, but that promise seemed so long in its delivery. Abraham and Sarah pushed their agenda to make the promise happen without God.
Why did God take so long? Some have stated that maybe Abraham wasn't ready and needed more growth. Others have questioned Abraham's faith capacity. Even others wonder if Abraham was pushy, greedy, or needy for the promise now and not later.
It is crazy to see how any or each of those thoughts could represent any leader, let alone one that enjoys new and different over everything remaining the same.
What is the lesson here? Do we trust God and his timing, or do we consider our timing as best? I admit that I like seeing important things done yesterday and love new ideas.
Here Are My Hard-Fought Lessons:
1) Everything (my day, every meeting, activity, and idea) must begin and end with prayer. The simple act of starting with God's direction reminds me of who is in charge. That sound so spiritual, but it is a reality. God needs to be in control here, not me.
2) Get comfortable with "No" or "Not Yet." Ministry is an experiment. On our ministry journey, we may meet a hard stop or detour. We may not like it or be confused by it, but we must trust God's wisdom who sees our yesterdays, today, and future days.
3) Keep going until the door closes - and don't try to push it open. Pushing my agenda over God's is telling Him I know better. Trust the closed door. There is a reason.
4) Go deep versus going wide. The more we learn to follow Jesus, the more we strive to advance in our followership; He expands our servant leadership. Meaning, the deeper into our journey with Jesus is far better than trying to widen our ministries.
Remember Colossians 2:7a (NCV):
Keep your roots deep in Him and have your lives build on Him.