At a recent leadership community gathering, executive pastor, Eric
Lee, revealed the church’s plan to initiate a program for leadership
development. Although that news may have been overshadowed by the news
concerning our plans for the Bedford campus, a commitment to the leaders
serving the mission of Jesus here at MCC is still pretty big news.
Unbeknownst to most of us, a team of nine experienced MCC members
have been on a year-long quest involving prayer, research, interviews
with current MCC leaders, and still more discussion — all for the
purpose of ‘Growing Godly Leaders’ as we
respond to and prepare for the growth of the church as a whole. Many
movements (be they of the Spirit or otherwise) flounder or fail when
wise leaders are not found to play a vital role in leading others.
There is a growing recognition that as we grow together and are used of
Jesus to make bigger and bigger impacts on our community, we need more
leaders and leaders with more capacity. That, in a nutshell, is the aim
of the leadership development initiative.
The effort is just at the baby steps stage right now but there will
be so much more to benefit from in the near future. The vision is to
provide a flexible, learner-paced set of resources for leaders at every
stage of discipleship and growth. There is also a clear realization
that we learn best from each other as we prayerfully seek to faithfully
serve as the Spirit has given us gifts.
In my home library this morning, I happened to pick up a small book
that was given to me over 40 years ago as I approached my high school
graduation. It was a book of motivation and encouragement titled I Dare You
that was given to many thousands of graduating seniors over the
decades, written by a successful businessman, and distributed by a
foundation to those selected for ‘qualities of leadership.’ I am not
completely sure what the faculty members saw in a young man to select me
for this award (when, honestly, I might have preferred a monetary
scholarship!) but one thing that struck me today is that whatever I
thought leadership was four decades ago has most certainly changed and
matured a great deal since!
That is the heart of Manchester Christian’s desire—helping, shaping,
and maturing the leadership capacities of those disciples in the church
who have been called and gifted to lead others in their faithful
following of Jesus. No leader is ever satisfied with mediocrity or
stagnation. Leaders are inevitably also learners. Beginning in 2014,
MCC is making a conscious investment in the lives of those that God will
use in the months and years to come to pray for and realize the
‘greater things’ that Jesus pointed his disciples toward.
Are you a leader? There are some first steps you can take: take the
leadership assessment here on the website; identify your strengths and
areas where you can grow your competencies; attend one of the personal
development sessions we will be offering in May; begin learning as the
team provides more leader resources month by month. We invite you to
stay tuned for even more information and opportunities to grow — because
greater things are still to be done!
Lee Beachy is a long time
member of Manchester Christian Church and has served in a variety of
leadership roles including treasurer, elder and part time staff member.
He is currently a member of the Strategic Leadership Team and the
Leadership Development Team.
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