Secure leaders serve those they lead by embracing differences.  Instead of being threatened by differences, they see differences as a strength.  The leadership team in Antioch was filled with five remarkably secure leaders.  

¹ Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off (Acts 13:1-3, NIV)

This team modeled how and why serving leaders embrace differences. 

Secure leaders embrace different backgrounds because they provide perspective.

This group came together from remarkably diverse backgrounds. Barnabas came from the island of Cyprus and was a Jew but spoke Greek. Simon (a Jewish name) and Lucius (a Latin name) were Africans and likely black. Manaen was a Palestinian with Greek background who grew up in the center of the political world in Judea. Saul, who would become Paul, was a well-educated Jew from Tarsus.  The team was clearly multi-racial and multi-ethnic. Their different backgrounds gave them the diverse perspectives they needed to lead the growing church in Antioch with its mixture of Jews and Gentiles. Their different backgrounds and perspectives made them a dynamic team.  Where there was a need for someone to speak in a Jewish synagogue, Paul was prepared. Barnabas could speak Greek. Manaen could speak to the Gentile politicians and Simon and Lucius could connect with immigrants. This diversity could have caused significant conflict, but these leaders were secure enough to embrace the different perspectives each brought to the team.

Insecure leaders see different backgrounds as a threat and a distraction. They look for people who think like themselves and see the world in the same way. But secure serving leaders serve by embracing those from different backgrounds.

Secure leaders embrace different gifts because they produce strength.

There were many different gifts represented in this circle of leaders, some were prophets, some were teachers. Barnabas was an encourager, a giver and a man of faith. He recognized the need to bring Saul to Antioch to help with the young church (see Acts 11;19-26). Saul was a strategic visionary. With the others, they were a strong team because of their different gifts.

Insecure leaders don’t readily accept and affirm the gifts of others. They feel threatened when others do things better. But secure serving leaders see different gifts as a strength. They acknowledge and affirm the value that other gifts bring. They serve by embracing different gifts.  

Secure leaders embrace different callings because they propel innovation.  

As the team worshipped and fasted it became clear that two were called to go. As they released Barnabas and Saul, they launched a new age of church expansion and innovation that would go to the ends of the known world!

Insecure leaders can’t see beyond their own work or envision greatness beyond themselves and their own calling. But secure serving leaders recognize that different callings can lead to innovative expansion. They serve by embracing different callings.

For further reflection and discussion:

• How diverse is my team in terms of backgrounds? Gifts? Calling? How does this impact my success?
• In what ways can I encourage the different perspectives on my team?
• Have I tended to bring around me people with gifts that are similar or different from mine? How has that impacted my leadership capacity?
• How clearly have I recognized and affirmed the different gifts on my team? Who can I talk to today to express my appreciation for the gift they bring which is so different from mine?
• What has been my attitude towards those whose calling is quite different from mine? Have I been able to bless and release these gifts in ways that produce new initiatives? Who on my team currently may have a call to something new and different? How can I encourage them to follow that call?   

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll examine how secure leaders accept mistakes.

Effective leaders are never content with the way things are; they challenge the process. They refuse to accept that current reality is the best that is possible. They push themselves and encourage others to develop and grow towards a better future. Challenging the process is a mindset that creatively pushes traditional boundaries, explores new options and is willing to take risks. Servant leaders like Paul, challenge the process to advance the Kingdom of God.

Examine Paul’s example of challenging the process.

Paul was not content with the way things were. He continually pushed out to accomplish new things for the Kingdom of God. His passion for reaching new areas is clearly expressed in 1 Corinthians 10:15b-16, Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man’s territory. Paul continually pushed out to new areas, he found new ways to work with a team of disciples, he found ways to quickly establish leadership in new locations, he developed a network of supporters, and found ways to support himself with tent making. All of these were innovations that continue to challenge us two centuries later. His message challenged the church to think in different ways and resulted in the inclusion of the Gentiles. I am a beneficiary of that innovation!

Understand the power of challenging the process.

Discipleship is a call to grow and develop, to move forward and to become the persons God created us to be. Leadership is about change, taking people to higher levels. Leaders of organizations are called by God to move the organization towards God’s intended purposes. Visions, by definition, are a picture of the future that includes change. Visions will not be accomplished unless a leader is willing to challenge the process. Leaders are not content with the way things are and effectively challenge the process to produce change. Change is good, but change for the sake of change is not our goal. The goal is growth which is change in the right direction! We are called to challenge the process and find ways to work with God to make this happen. Challenging the process is the first step towards growth and movement. Every advance is the result of someone not being satisfied with the way things are.

Accept the call to challenge the process.

You are called to challenge the process! God didn’t create you to passively accept the situation of your world. He created you to be a change agent in your home, business, profession, community and church. Look around prayerfully and find a problem. That’s not a difficult assignment, most people can do that! But leaders see the problem and then get to work to find a solution. They ask, “What could we do about this problem?” They think critically about to improve the situation and look for innovative ideas to deal with what others accept as normal. They recognize that there is a big difference between critical thinking and a critical spirit and go far beyond complaining about current realities!

Servant leaders don’t seek to challenge the process because they want to make a name for themselves, build their own organization or make money; they do it because they realize deep in their heart that God Himself is not satisfied with the way things are. They understand that God’s heart grieves over the broken condition of the world. He is not satisfied with the fact that 2 billion still wait to hear about His love. He is not content to watch my neighbor’s marriage break, or my friend lose his home. Again and again God has intervened in the affairs of the world to bring change and hope where there was only darkness. Every time a servant leader raises a voice to say “There must be a better way” they reflect this heart of God. Act like a leader and challenge the process!

For further reflection and discussion:

• Think about the leadership of Jesus. In what ways did He challenge the process?
• Take 10 minutes to think about your area of leadership (home, work, community, etc.). Where is God not content with the way things are? What can you do to move forward in that area?

Reflect on the group you lead by asking the following questions: (or discuss them with your group!)

• On a scale of 1 to 10 how much do we challenge the process as a group?
• What could we do to critically evaluate our results? (Are we unafraid to really measure our success or failure to reach God’s goals for our group?)
• What one problem do we face in our group?
• What could be solutions to this problem? (Make a conscious choice not to evaluate any ideas at this stage, just get them out!)
• Are there ways we could improve what we are doing in this area?
• What one step can we take to move forward?
• Does my leadership encourage risk taking by myself and others? Why or why not?