by Jeff Tunnell
The excitement and momentary victory of launching a new cell leader is elating, if you are an optimist. The optimist thinks about the fact that the training track is complete, the members of the cell are happy, the supervisor is pleased, the church is growing and the sun is shining everywhere.
However, a realist is already calculating the number of barriers that stand in the way of long-term success for this new leader. The optimist focuses on the problems in the cell, the power of sin to thwart the new leader and the spiritual warfare will increase against the leader.
The optimist will overlook the hard things and transfer attention to something more exciting, while the realist is preparing for the coming pressures. Sustaining a leader is hard work. Assisting the leader in gaining new strength is vital. Here are some key things you can do.
Make sure the new leader is:
- Daily at the feet of Jesus
- Reading the greatest instruction manual ever compiled (Bible)
- Taking the next step in the training track
- Shepherding their portion of the flock, in love
- Learning new skills for helping people through the tough times of life
- Spending time with other leaders in the training times and leader’s meetings provided by the church
Is it possible for you to be an optimistic realist? Yes. Remain hopeful in the Jesus that indwells this leader, while laying a solid, executable plan for them to regularly obtain new tools for leading others in the body of Christ.
Lean into truths like:
- “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4)
- “I can do all things through Christ, Who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13)
- But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8).
Remain hopeful, and get to work!
