Motivating Leaders to Serve
When the old appeals don't work anymore.
Pastors and key leaders scratch their heads and wonder, How will we motivate our congregation? In the post-war culture of the 1950s, when social conformity delivered people to the church, leaders could motivate based on challenge, reasonability, and commitment. In our churches today, these motivators are still the most frequently employed, but they no longer work. When someone says to me, "Dr. Callahan, what we need in our church is people with more commitment," I say, "Good friend, you have just taught me you're a long-time Christian." Commitment is the motivation that most people develop later in their Christian pilgrimage. If there were lots of long-time Christians out there to reach, we would do well to preach commitment. But what's out there are people who do not know Christ. Their ears do not hear our exhortation to dedication. Today, with extended family scattered, their longings for community have become desperately and profoundly urgent. They want to hear about belonging and caring. Discovering these, they will become involved and eventually committed. We have had in recent years a focus on program-driven churches, purpose-driven churches, and vision-driven churches. They talk the language of commitment. But when you look behind the scenes, you see those churches work because somebody is delivering the compassion and community. Increasingly, unchurched people will be drawn to churches that care. High-compassion, high-community congregations will thrive in the coming years. Jesus does not say to Peter, "Will you make the commitment?" His final question is not "Will you rise to the challenge?" Christ says, "Peter, do you love me?" "Yes, Lord." "Then feed my sheep." Jesus appeals to compassion and community. So, too, must today's leader. The phrase "Mary, will you be willing to teach third-grade Sunday school next year?" is an invitation to commitment. Mary may do her duty, take her turn, but she will likely never fall in love with her class. You can say, "Mary, we invite you to fall in love with this group of kids and give them the privilege of falling in love with you." She is more likely to rise to the opportunity. To Discuss
From Building Church Leaders, published by Leadership Resources © 2000 Christianity Today Intl. For more information on similar handouts from the Leadership Environment Training Theme, click here. | ||||||||||||||||||||
