Once again I am going to borrow a topic from a post on Dr. Thom Rainer’s blog by Chuck Lawless, Six Reasons Why I Love Church Staff . If you are familiar with my posts that link to this blog, you know the routine. Read his post first, then we will evaluate our own leadership qualities in view of those thoughts.
Now, you may be saying (as the majority of women’s ministry leaders can say), “I am not on staff, I am a volunteer.” Let’s just forget the word staff and consider these qualities as applying to leadership in general and take a look at each one.
- They respond with joy to multiple “bosses.” If you are on staff, you know that you have a number of others you serve with and must respond to. But even as a volunteer, you have leaders in the church as well as all the women you are seeking to serve in the church to consider. Do you respond with joy when they give you suggestions that feel more like orders?
- They work without the limelight. Jesus did not seek the limelight and neither should we. Our calling is to serve Christ first as we serve others. Love for Him and our obedience to Him is the motivation for serving, not a platform or recognition.
- They do the work that others often don’t want to do. Perhaps you have worked diligently in a way that others in your church noticed how well you led. Sometimes that means you are a target for having unwanted tasks delegated to because others know you will complete the work. If God doesn’t tell you not to do it, then as you serve doing unwanted aspects of ministry, do it unto HIM, not the ones you serve with.
- They are passionate about their ministries. When you have been called to serve in any capacity, your passion is obvious as you allow Christ to use you as you lead. When we’ve been called to something, it’s something we just can’t NOT do. Bad English but true words! Serving out our calling makes us passionate about the work!
- They work on their own initiative. Often, women’s ministry does not have a lot of staff history. You may be the first women’s ministry leader in your church. That means you must listen to God as you serve and yet still connect with church leaders as you do. God will lead you as you stay in His Word and on your knees to reach women.
- They are willing to support a vision that may not be their own. Ask your pastor about his vision for the church. Listen to him share his heart and then ask him how the women of the church could help him accomplish that vision. Our vision and goals for women’s ministry should line up right under the pastor’s vision and goals for the church.
Ok, how did you do as a women’s leader? How does your ministry line up with these qualities? Perhaps you can use this as a leadership team meeting activity and ask these questions of your team members.
Your church staff will appreciate you as you lead well and so will the women in your congregation. Most important, God will be honored as you reflect Him as you lead.
