In an earlier blog I discussed how movements are facilitated by leaders who emerged from those we disciple. Dr. Aila Tasse states, “A Disciple Making Movement is a Leadership Development Movement because a movement can only proceed as leaders are identified, nurtured, trained, and mentored.” Some leaders will come from a ministry population who can lead small groups, and from those leaders will emerge area leaders, and from area leaders will emerge movement leaders. With this in mind, what are some useful takeaways for you as practitioners? That is, what can we as leaders do to help develop leaders?
When I was in college, I was asked to be a team leader of a small group of guys from various colleges who wanted to grow in leadership. My summer training program leader, Brian and I met to discuss the question, “How do we train leaders?” Brian and I discussed two issues related to this question.
The first issue we have in training of leaders is often related to “What plan do I have to develop this person?” The operative term is “I” have a plan. The trouble with “I have a plan” is that this is not my kingdom to build, and this is not my leader to develop. This is God’s kingdom and His leaders. My plan is often tainted with my own sinfulness. What if my motives are mixed motives? I may want to see God’s kingdom built but I also want people to see me as successful. I imagine you can relate to this condition of mixed motives and our own sinful nature.
The second issue is that I lack the understanding of God’s kingdom that stretches from the foundations of the earth in Genesis to the last mysterious part of Revelations. I think of Isaiah 55: 8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’
declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” My best wisdom is profoundly lacking compared to God’s wisdom.
Brian taught me a simple approach. When we notice an area for growth in a mentee's life, we should first pray into his or her life, specifically for that aspect of their development. This aligns my plans with God’s plans. Then, prepare ourselves with potential guidance, often drawn from scripture. In prayer, we ask God to create opportunities while remaining open to His alternative direction.
During that summer program, I applied Brian's method with my four mentees. Each morning, I spent 45 minutes walking and praying for wisdom about their growth. Remarkably, during our one-on-one meetings, they frequently raised questions that aligned precisely with what I had observed and prepared through prayer. This experience taught me a powerful lesson, praying intentionally for those we mentor is more crucial than the actual teaching.
Returning to Aila Tasse’s quote, I would add that training and mentoring are an outflow of praying deeply and preparing with reverence for Christ’s will in the emerging leader’s life. This is God’s kingdom work in which I get a chance to participate. But it is not my kingdom.
Feel free to reach out if you need help on how to apply these ideas on leadership development.
