Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – Lately, as life has slowed down a little, I have had more time to pray and think carefully about the kind of leader, and the kind of man, God wants me to become.
Jesus said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43–44). That is the model for a new kind of leader, very different from the world’s idea of power. This article is the first in a series on church leadership today. Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
Who Is a New Kind of Leader?
I asked myself, “What kind of leader does God want me to be?” Sometimes I feel that the image of American evangelical pastors is that of a CEO rather than a shepherd of God’s people. I fully understand the importance of big-picture vision, systems, processes and organization. But Jesus was more like a shepherd than a CEO. He didn’t just preach the gospel and teach the Law; He gathered twelve men as disciples and ate with sinners. He touched the unclean and let other people’s sweat fall on His hands. I want to love and serve people like Jesus, the Great Shepherd.
A CEO leads a business toward outside markets, but a shepherd serves people bought with God’s blood.
A CEO pushes employees to sell products to consumers, but a shepherd loves, helps and serves the church so believers can display the good news to a world full of pain and loss.
A CEO is an entrepreneur building his own company, but a shepherd recognizes that Jesus said He Himself will build His church.
Our Fifth Anniversary Is Approaching
February 8, 2015, marked five years since Transformation Church was founded. Sometimes it feels like yesterday, until I think about how much my children have grown. My daughter is now a college freshman, and my son starts high school next year. Sometimes I wish I could climb into a time machine and go back.
A lot has happened in our church over these five years. We moved out of a warehouse into a new building with 1,250 seats. We opened another campus in Rock Hill, South Carolina. We even started a church in Kershaw prison in South Carolina and another in Madrid, Spain. Jesus Himself has built this beautiful, multiethnic, multigenerational church on His great mission.
Since Transformation Church began, we have been one of the fastest-growing churches in America. That is a great blessing, and I am very grateful to God. But rapid growth or the size of a church is not what matters most to Jesus. What matters most to Him is in His words to His disciples: “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
I want churches to be communities of love. I want to be a man and a leader who embodies God’s love.
I Want to Be a Leader Who Embodies Love
When I think about love as a leader, I think about how Jesus described the people who embody His kingdom (Matthew 5:1–12):
When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them, saying:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
We need a new kind of leader. We need a “blessed leader,” one who embodies the spirit of Matthew 5:1–12. I want us to be blessed leaders.
About the Author
Derwin L. Gray is the founding and lead pastor of Transformation Church, a multiethnic, multigenerational, missional community with campuses in South Carolina and south Charlotte, North Carolina. Outreach Magazine named it one of the fastest-growing churches in America. Derwin and his wife Vicki have two children, Presley and Jeremiah. After graduating from Brigham Young University, he played five seasons in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts (1993–1997) and one with the Carolina Panthers (1998). While with the Colts, he came to faith in Christ after a teammate shared the love of Jesus with him. He and his wife began a traveling evangelistic ministry in 1999, and he later earned a theology degree focused on apologetics before becoming lead pastor of Transformation Church in January 2010. Known as “the Hit Man” evangelist, he speaks at national conferences and is the author of Hero: Unleashing God’s Power in a Man’s Heart (2010) and Limitless Life (2013).
Becoming a New Kind of Leader
A new kind of leader leads not by position but by example. They dare to admit weakness, know how to listen, and empower others to grow.
Whether you lead a ministry team, a small group or just your family, ask yourself: am I serving others, or demanding to be served?
You may also like: 7 Golden Qualities of a Leader and How Leaders Talk.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the model of the servant leader. Raise up in the church a new kind of leader: humble, loving and faithful in serving as You did. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Article: Phan Hương
Adapted from: ChristianityToday.com
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