As I was writing this blog on the importance of developing leaders within the local church, I saw a button at the top of my screen that said “AI”. So I thought I’d try it and see what it spit out. This is what I got:
“Are you looking to take your leadership skills to the next level?”
“Our comprehensive Leadership Development Program is designed to help you unlock your full potential as a leader.”
“Don't miss this opportunity to invest in yourself and become the confident and effective leader you were meant to be.”
Honestly, I was kind of impressed. Where do I sign up? Oh wait, this isn’t real. It’s just a pitch from a creative computer brain.
But I quickly realized that AI was getting leadership quite wrong, at least within the context of the local church. I noticed how their (Do we say “their” for AI?) pitch was all about self-focused motivation and meeting one’s potential. There’s nothing wrong with this necessarily, yet when we look at what Jesus says about leadership, we see how leadership should be used not for self-promotion, self-fulfillment, and self-actualization but rather to give up of oneself for the sake of others.
Or in other words, Christian leadership is not about power, fame, or importance but rather to use one’s leadership for the sake of the health, spiritual growth, and flourishing of others.
So even though I daily daydream about ‘unlocking all my potential’, I think I should go with Jesus’s definition of good leadership over AI’s.
Jesus makes this point in Matthew 20, contrasting the world’s view of leadership with what leadership will look like in his kingdom.
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:25-28
So leadership is to resemble our Savior’s leadership. Jesus was a king who used his power and life to serve others. The whole idea of servant leadership was not made up in a board room nor by AI but by Jesus . In fact the New Testament describes that Jesus designs and empowers his church with leaders in order to serve, equip, protect, and empower those they’re leading.
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. - Ephesians 4:11-13
Jesus could have chosen to make all of us right now completely unified in the faith, mature, and fully Christ-like. He could have just invisibly downloaded holiness, unity, Christ-likeness and growth into us without any humans necessary. But instead he desires to use his people. While this means it will be messy and imperfect, because his people are messy and imperfect, it also means it will be beautiful and glorious because it is his plan and done by his power.
Although some people will do paid work in ministry or to lead his church, all Christians are called to build up his church: to care for, serve, and strengthen through the gifts he has given them, whether it's leadership, service, encouragement, prayer, teaching, and more (see 1 Corinthians 12). Every Christian is given a spiritual gift to care for, serve, and strengthen the church. So as we empower and train all kinds of leaders within Hiawatha, the Spirit will in turn use them to equip the saints to do ministry and to build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13). Because Jesus entered the world to serve us and to give up of his life to pay our debt, we receive both the new hearts (new motivations and desires) and the Holy Spirit living within us (spiritual gifting and the power to use them). We receive all of this by grace and for Jesus’ church’s health, not to look impressive, to promote ourselves, or to find self-fulfillment. Sorry AI, but I think Jesus gives us a much better story and hope.
Are you interested in leadership at Hiawatha? Here are a few ways to get started.
Begin serving, volunteering, and using your gifts now. You don’t need an official title or ministry to begin to influence others. Leaders almost always start off by serving where there is a need, volunteering their time and energy, and using their spiritual gifts as the Spirit leads. Often, over time, others will see and affirm how the Spirit is moving, giving the person more confidence and clarity if they should consider and pursue some type of leadership. Consider joining the Kids Ministry team, the band, the Hospitality Team, volunteering in the Youth Group, or helping run Power Point on a Sunday morning.
Ask your Community Group leaders how you can help out. One of the most tangible ways you can begin to experience some type of leadership is by helping out within your Community Group. Ask your current leaders what they need help with (hosting, bringing snacks, leading prayer, giving someone a ride, connecting with someone in the group, etc.) and offer to do it. Start small, be intentional, and help serve the people that God has placed in your life. If it goes well, ask your leaders for more opportunities as well as ways for you to grow and get better.
Let other leaders, staff, and pastors know of your interest. Our church continues to grow numerically as God brings us more people. This is great in many ways, yet also means that the pastors, leaders, and staff don’t know everyone super well. It means that more than ever, we need to hear from those who are interested in leadership. Yes, we will notice it in some people and pursue them but much of the time someone’s journey into leadership starts with them telling us their interest and desire. So let a trusted leader in your life know your interest in leadership, begin a conversation with them, and ask them what they think.
Take an HLI class. One of the main ministries we offer at Hiawatha is called the Hiawatha Leadership Institute (HLI). It consists of courses, a few half-day Saturday seminars, and our internship program. (See all of our options this Spring semester below.) Like the name communicates, one of the main goals of HLI is to train up and empower leaders. These classes are for everyone and especially important for those who are in leadership or hope to be one day. In these courses we teach people to read and interpret the Bible, learn Christian doctrine, practically apply gospel-truth to all areas of life, and much more.
Consider an internship. If you feel strongly about wanting to grow in your leadership ability and opportunities, you might also want to consider our internship program. If you can give 10+ hours a week then an internship might be a good option for you. We offer an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) shaped around your ministry/leadership goals which includes courses, ministry/leadership opportunities, and feedback, mentorship and coaching from Hiawatha pastors and staff. An internship might not be the best option for everyone but we do want to equip not just church planters and global missionaries but all kinds of leaders and influencers (think: biblical counselors, Bible teachers, youth ministry leaders, lay pastoral ministers, art-as-gospel-expansion creatives, and those who care about the integration of church and city).
SPENCER PETERSON / COMMUNITY LIFE PASTOR
