Hi, long time no write. Overly busy, I am. Updates later. Thought this exerpt enlightening and a good reminder:
Transformation is the Key
Transformation is the key to leaders who turn the world upside down. That is why we need to start with madmen outside of the church. We need to be a band of madmen that welcome other madmen who need to belong to something that gives them purpose.
It is the impetus of a changed life that provides the momentum of a movement. The transformed life is what is contagious so that others are drawn in. It is our changed life that keeps us holding tightly to Jesus through the thick and thin. Our changed life is what validates the movement. In fact, what are we without transformation? We are just a religious club.
When churches reach new people, the changed lives infuse the whole congregation with energy. But it isn’t only the new followers that should have changed lives. Jesus is real. Our lives are still in process. The work God has called us to is bigger than we are and requires that we step out on faith in God and walk in His power. Transformation should be a constant for us all. When we are stagnant as a people the movement stops dead in its tracks.
If your ministry is struggling without leaders, do not re-evaluate your leadership development program first. It is time to re-evaluate your disciple-making system. If you have next to nothing in the area of reaching lost and broken people, then your leadership development system will yield very little results. A lack of leaders is a symptom of a much greater problem-you lack transformation in people’s souls. Do not mourn your lack of leaders; mourn your lack of changed lives. If you have changed lives, the leaders you need will emerge.
It all starts with someone transformed from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. This is the fodder for the flames of a movement. If this is happening, our churches are surrounded with the fuel for a true movement. All the resources for the harvest are found in the harvest. We do not need to feel impoverished or desperate. We simply need to do what Jesus instructed us to do. It can be scary, but the risk we take is the place for faith … and faith is what we need in order to see fruit.
—Neil Cole is Executive Director of Church Multiplication Associates/CMA Resources and the author of numerous books; excerpted from Organic Leadership (Baker Books, 2008), copyright 2008 by Neil Cole. Used with permission.
You can read the whole article: The Secret Source of Unlimited Leaders here.
Leadership development without proper disciple-making system will only make competent leaders who are not Christ followers… which can only end in disaster! The truest of leaders come from the ones who have learnt to truly follow.
Let me emphasise again a line from this exerpt:
Transformation should be a constant for us all. When we are stagnant as a people the movement stops dead in its tracks… A lack of leaders is a symptom of a much greater problem – you lack transformation in people’s souls. Do not mourn your lack of leaders; mourn your lack of changed lives. If you have changed lives, the leaders you need will emerge.
Lord, let it start with me.
Sorry, this post has nothing to do with Transformers the movie, despite the title of this post. So I shall post a few “relevant” quotes by the oh-so-wise Optimus Prime:
“I am Optimus Prime, and I send this message so that our pasts will always be remembered, for in those memories we live on.”
“Your world must not share the same fate as Cybertron. Whole generations lost.”
Transformation starts with each individual and influences the people around us, and God-willing, a whole generation.
