The keys have changed. The house I grew up in required a skeleton key to access some of the rooms. Recently, we changed our traditional key locks to an electronic keypad. Our church's exterior doors require keycard access. I now need the hotel's app to access a room. One of my sons told me that he can install a fingerprint sensor on his bedroom door so that only he and his brother can enter. Indeed, the keys have changed! Suppose we use the keys metaphor to give people access to ministry skills, authority, and opportunities. In that case, it might sound something like this… The church we grew up in needed competent and skilled specialists to volunteer, coordinate, and lead programs. Over time, volunteers needed to go to work, or their seasons of life changed. Today, staff are hired to lead ministry programs. And when there is a ministry opportunity, we hire more staff, expect an unequipped volunteer to do the bulk of the work, or say "no" because those who "hold the keys" are already at their capacity. That's not a knock on staff or volunteers—it's just a reminder that the keys to ministry have changed. Each of us knows someone who is wanting to lead something. The challenge is that if those who desire to lead do not receive an opportunity, are not equipped, or do not receive authority to lead among the people of God, they will find a way to do it elsewhere. That's a perfect thing in a world that needs godly leaders everywhere. At the same time, we need godly leaders to equip God's people for ministry (Ephesians 4:12). It's not either-or… it's both-and. Today, we need more humble, teachable, and hungry leaders to share the keys of life and ministry where they live, work, learn, and play. This means increasing awareness of opportunities for people of all ages to lead (not just sub-in, but truly lead). It also means growing in our abilities to trust and empower more people (and perhaps even ourselves) with ministry skills, authority, and opportunities to lead forward. Kara Powell from Fuller Youth Institute and her team take the metaphor even further by saying:
What would that look like for you?
What could that look like for us as a church?
Vision is always caught more than taught, so I'd love to engage with and listen to what excites you about what "Champion Leaders of All Ages" means to you. Please click HERE to email me, or let's connect over coffee or tea. Look for a new series of blogs throughout October focusing on living a Spirit-Filled Life. Until then… Cheers and blessings!
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Pastor Tim Meet Pastor TimTim Bayer has served as Our Savior's Lead Pastor since September 2019. He also serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Concordia University - Irvine, a National Leadership Facilitator and Resource, and with the Northwest District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Archives
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