I’ve been thinking a lot over the past few weeks about what it means to pastor a group of people. Of course, these days, I’m pastoring two congregations, and so I’m having to learn how to work between the two amazing groups.
One group is fairly used to my style of leadership. After all, I’ve been pastoring them for nine years now. And, since I planted the church, it has my DNA all over it. In many ways, the personality of Bikers’ Church is very similar to my own.
The other church is just getting used to me. While I have been connected to many of the people within the church, we are really just learning about each other now. Many of them were part of the church when I filled in for eight months a few years ago, but my roll was different, and this time they truly are viewing me as the leader. At the same time, we’ve seen a significant number of new faces at City Church, and so many of the people who attend are just now getting to know each other. In other words, they are in the early stages of defining who they are as a church in this new chapter.
Working with both groups has reminded me just how much I need to learn as a leader. While I do believe I’m at least okay as a leader, I have found myself needing to take a step back and learn a few things again. In fact, I put aside most of my reading and picked up a few books on pastoral leadership to help me.
Here’s what I’m needing to be reminded of again at this time. If you’re going to cast vision as a leader, you will simply not keep everyone happy. There are always going to be “arm chair leaders” who point out what they don’t like with how you lead, but fail to offer a better way. I saw that last night while watching some of the State of the Union Address by the American President Obama. Twitter was on fire pointing out all the flaws in the President’s comments. I saw it on Sunday while watching one of the NFL’s games. Commentators and fans questioned every call that a quarterback made.
Good leaders stand firm. Someone recently suggested that Pastors have the toughest job out there. The comment caught me by surprise because I don’t see it that way. I think Pastors have one of the best jobs out there. We get to watch people realize their potential. We get to see people set free from so many past hurts, failures, mistakes and sin. In my case, I get to enjoy seeing two incredibly amazing congregations blaze a trail and do something completely incredible.
In one of the leadership books I’m reading right now, the author shares an incredible quote:
Some people come into our lives and quietly go. Others stay awhile, and leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same.
It hit me, I get to do that. For just a few people, I get to leave a footprint on their heart. Is pastoring the hardest job in the world? I don’t know about that. It sure is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding.
So, let me challenge you. Whatever job you may have, if you are called to lead, then lead. No matter what the critics may say, no matter what challenges you may face, no matter how impossible it may seem. Lead. Cast vision. Dream dreams. And lead.
I’m speaking about leadership this week at the two churches. I’m going to be talking about creating an atmosphere that encourages leadership development. I just can’t shake the topic. If only people could experience what I get to enjoy as a leader. They’d see that there simply is nothing like it.
