LEADERS ARE POWERFUL
- Give Decision-Making Power to People...All man-made
organizations eventually become extinct. Often their demise
is due to their inability to remain flexible enough to meet the
needs of a changing society. In other words, the organization
fails to create an ongoing work environment that continually
encourages people to use their creativity and innovative ideas to
meet ever-changing needs – both within the organization and
among those it serves...Decision-making power can be defined
as the right to determine what action will be taken. Jesus
said to His disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the
Good News to all creation” (Mark 16:15). Here Jesus stated
the goal, but He gave the disciples decision-making power
concerning how the goal was to be accomplished. As a result,
they used their creativity and ingenuity to formulate plans for
accomplishing the goal. 15
- Gardner further notes that “holding a position of status does
not make one a leader...There are government department
heads, bishops, and corporate chief executive officers who could
not lead a troop of Cub Scouts out of their pup tents.”^16
- “The church is painfully in need of leaders,” lamented the
English Methodist preacher William Sangster...If the world
is to hear the church’s voice today, leaders are needed who are
authoritative, spiritual, and sacrificial. Authoritative, because
people desire leaders who know where they are going and are
confident of getting there. Spiritual, because without a strong
relationship to God, even the most attractive and competent
person cannot lead people to God. Sacrificial, because this
follows the model of Jesus, who gave Himself for the whole
world and who calls us to follow in His steps.
Churches grow in every way when they are guided by strong,
spiritual leaders with the touch of the supernatural radiating
in their service. The church sinks into confusion and malaise
without such leadership. Today those who preach with majesty
and spiritual power are few, and the booming voice of the
church has become a pathetic whisper. Leaders today – those
who are truly spiritual – must pass on the torch to younger
people as a first-line duty...^17
