SUBSCRIBE TODAY: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play
Raising up leaders in a replant situation is important. Today we highlight nine characteristics to look for in potential replant leaders.
Today’s Listener Question:
FROM MARCO
As I have begun to develop leaders, what character qualities should you look for in potential leaders that are not only walking alongside of you in a replant but previous to replanting this church, have seen hurt and pain in the church? How can you help to develop confidence as we move forward?
Episode Highlights:
- When you are replanting a church, you don’t need a pipeline as much as you need a lifeline.
- Church leaders should have a love for the church—even in all its disfunction.
- Church leaders shouldn’t only want to lead people, but shepherd them as well.
- “Church members will follow your leadership to the degree they trust your shepherding.”
- The more that someone is praying, the less they are likely to be critical.
- The bar for how we should love is how Christ loved the Church.
The nine characteristics you should look for in leaders are:
- Emotional intelligence
- Deep love for the church
- A shepherd’s heart
- Committed to prayer
- Able to keep confidence
- Supporting spouse
- Able to teach
- Exemplary lifestyle
- Prioritizes family
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
- ChurchReplanters.com
- ChurchAnswers.com
- Replanter Assessment
- Find more resources at the Revitalize & Replant page at ThomRainer.com
Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.Submit Your Question:
Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.
What’s wrong with me? I hear you speaking about shepherding and it grates on me. I do need to be led, i.e. taught to love, as Christ loves me. But to need a shepherd? The Lord is my shepherd, why should I want anyone else?
I’ve often wondered why we need a full time pastor and a weekly sermon. I’d like to see a pastor whose primary job is work himself out of a job. To raise up people to take his place in the body. Rather than hear a sermon every week, I’d like to hear 8 to 10 people get up and share what God has taught them during the week, to hear what people have accomplished following God’s leading during the past week. In other words encouraging people to step out in faith and hold them accountable to give a report of what they’ve learned in their daily/weekly studies and the things God has called them to do.
Like when Jesus sent out his disciples in pairs and they came back to report to him what took place.
Seems pastors or maybe the religion of Christianity has raised up a body mentality of feed me rather than train me and send me out into the world to see what God will do through me.
Or maybe I’m just begrudging my own shortcomings.
Those are good questions Charles. I see nothing wrong in what you ask, why can’t 8-10 people offer their closest moment to God in the past week. I think that would be admirable. Paul spoke of these things in his epistles: there should be many who speak of their experience of God’s presence and there need to be some who point to God’s presence, to edify or to gather the witnesses together into a more coherent picture of God in the world.
That said I offer a different perspective of worship for you to ponder. The function of worship is multi-faceted, it serves to nourish the body of Christ and to help them think about the real presence of God, even when they don’t sense God’s presence. It also functions to educate to a point, but education is not worship and should be held in a different manner. A wise person told me when I was learning to preach that it wasn’t the preacher’s job to say what scripture means; rather, the preacher is supposed to be able to translate the scripture into modern experience or to show how scripture makes commentary on the real world.
Another function of worship, at least in my opinion, is to gather God’s people together for a common purpose. To pray and praise God, to sing and make music, and to be energized for the journey of God’s work in the real world. Without good preaching those things don’t really happen.
Charles, I’d tell you that there was nothing wrong with you. What you describe worked quite well for the early church. During that time church growth was explosive and everyone was in on it. What you describe is the true key to revitalizing and replanting churches.
Charles,
As a pastor, I think there is MUCH validity in what you say. In fact, just this week I mentioned to someone that part of our reality is to continually try to work ourselves out of a job. I think the role of pastor certainly can still be a full-time, paid occupation, but that it’s real function will change. I would love to spend most all of my time working with small groups of people, teaching, training, sending out, establishing a healthy dynamic in a community of self-sustaining believers, and then move on to the next church that needs to re-envision how it lives as a Christian community. I think you’re envisioning what the church may actually look like in the near future, and those of us in full-time, paid ministry have to trust that God will redefine our role and care for us pastors, even if our role changes drastically.
Congratulations Thom on your 40th anniversary and thank-you for all that you do. Your teaching and insight are very encouraging and helpful.
A few months ago I purchased your book Autopsy of a Deceased Church then purchased three more copies for my pastor and the board – but never gave the books to them. I am not sure pastor would have appreciated it much and I didn’t want to be one of those “nats” or bullies you talked about elsewhere. I am a retired pastor that doesn’t want to impede the role of the pastor – but am very concerned about the decline that is taking place. Recently our men’s monthly breakfast began the study of the book “Lead Like Jesus, by Ken Blanchard and it caused me to re-visit your book which led me to your web-site and the wealth of resources that you are providing.
God bless, keep up the good work.
I personally believe your nine points are terrific and definitely describes what a good leader or pastor must be and have to lead.
Excellent ! Keep it coming ! I love evangelism and wish I were
better at it myself, but helping people find their calling is one of the
greatest aspects I can only imagine of having as we minister for the Lord Jesus Christ. All gods people keeping their eyes focused on Jesus
and what he’s is doing in their lives to help people know the Lord and learn how to use what God has blessed them with in the process is to find one’s fulfilling in life and their calling to minister with the church. Makes you feel a part also.