This year, I went through a bit of a challenging time. During the beginning of the summer, I looked at my job and my life, and I was overwhelmed. The ministry I am privileged to lead was growing, the preteens were more connected than ever and I was about to have my very first child. I was stressed from the workload and did not see it getting better in the next few years. Even worse, I saw some people around me dejected and fatigued as a result of some tough circumstances and bad leadership on my part.
It was one of the hardest seasons in my life.
Coming out of a dark time in my life and not seeing any fruit in my ministry, I asked my wife about the people in my ministry because I knew I needed to pour into some to get the ministry and myself to a healthier place. I told her, “Baby, I know I’m supposed to find some people to not only hand things off to but to pour my resources and time into, but I don’t know that they are there.”
In no uncertain terms, my wife told me, “Um, you’re crazy—you have some people who would do whatever you asked them to do.” She was right, I was crazy.
After that realization, I looked at that summer that happened a few months later and thought to myself: “I can’t do it. This is too much. I don’t have what it takes. Someone out there is a much better fit for this than me and certainly way more gifted to lead this organization to the next place.”
Then I went to our summer camp for our preteens. It literally was a breath of fresh air. I saw students connect together in community, true community for maybe the first time, and after transitioning families into our seventh- and eighth-grade ministry, I saw that the ministry meant something and God was using me in the middle of my craziness. I felt refreshed and renewed. A fresh breath of God’s Spirit was in me.
I tell you that very long story to tell you this. One statement has haunted me since the beginning of 2012. This statement could be the most important to ask yourself, and it is not an easy question to answer. It’s taken me almost four months to answer it at a place where I’m OK to share with the understanding I don’t think it’s complete yet.
Here’s the question:
What is it only I can do and should do to benefit the organization the most?
But before I share mine, let me share some of what I’ve learned about leadership in organizations.
1. You must build a team
I cannot forget my call to equip the saints to do ministry. More than Bible study, teaching and communication. I must help them understand what it is they are supposed to do. It is not enough to release them—I must equip them. Who are you pouring into? Who are you teaching to do ministry?
2. You must let go
This is maybe the hardest. I would have never called myself a control freak, but I am. Even now there are things I don’t have to do that I want to do that aren’t the best thing to do (does that make sense?).
3. You must know yourself
What are your weaknesses? Strengths? What are things that are effective under your watch? What are things you would rather just give off to someone else?
Now, please listen to this next part. If you aren’t good at it, and you want to just give it to someone else, do you still value it? If not, the person you give it to will feel dejected and worthless. You must know yourself and build up your weaknesses.
4. You must think long-term
You have to get past the next thing and build structures, processes and procedures for the next place.
Now, here is where I am. I’ve struggled to answer this question, but here is what I feel like the answer is, at least until I understand more about me and my role to edit it a bit more.
I must discern the heart of God for Switch, and pour into the people God gives, so they can fulfill it.
It’s a big job and definitely different than what my 8:30-5:30 might look like. But it’s what I feel God has called me to do at this point.
Only I can do this. Notice, it’s not teaching or preaching or even communicating—but instead leadership.
So I challenge you to do this. Answer the question, “What is it only I can do and should do to benefit the organization the most?”
Then tweet it and hashtag it #purpose. I want to see it.
Leave a comment with the link to your tweet. I can’t wait to see people with a clear purpose to live.
