Follow to Lead

Sometimes, We must Follow to Lead

I was walking with my 9 year old son Ethan on a very busy street with no sidewalk and huge trucks zipping along. It was actually pretty scary. We had to go single file but I did not want him to follow me because of the danger. I put him in front of me and walked him along with my hands on his shoulders while keeping a watchful eye on the situation. I led him by following him. The Lord spoke to my heart at that time, “This is how you must lead people so that they will learn how to become leaders themselves.”

With all three of my sons, I have coached them in sports. As I have taught them how to swing a bat or a club, often, I have stood behind them, showing them the best placement of arms, hips, best stance, etc. Again, standing behind them to lead.

At Church on Sunday, a dear woman came up to me and said, “Pastor Steve, the Lord told me to tell you, that if you want to lead these people, that you must follow them to lead them.” She had no idea what she was telling me. She could not have possibly known about my experience on the road with Ethan just days before.

Athletic teams often have coaches and team captains. The team captain is a player who is in leadership, but he is submitted to the coach and cannot actually do the job of the coach. Sometimes in ministry, people who are supposed to be coaches end up being more like team captains, spending so much time doing the work, that never coach anyone, never train leaders. The Apostle Paul explained in the Bible that the more senior leaders of the Church are called to train the people for works of service.

I admit that one of the hardest things for me to do is to delegate. To allow less experienced people to do too much. Partially because I am somewhat a perfectionist and also because it is usually less bothersome to simply do things myself.

And so I humbly receive this correction from the Lord. I am determined to do more leading by following. How about you?

A Season of Cleansing and Growth

Yesterday evening was amazing! We baptized two precious people at a Life Group in a community swimming pool! Awesome! The Life Group is a new one held every Thursday night in the Valley Verde area of Pasig, Metro Manila. Please let me know if you are interested in joining. The group runs just over 10 people, mostly consisting of people who know nothing about the Bible. They come from a tradition where they attended a service but were not trained to read or think for themselves. It is very basic and powerful. Most of our other Life Groups held throughout the week get deeper because the attendees are seasoned Christians. Whatever your need, we can place you in just the right environment. Contact me directly at pastorstevemckinney@gmail.com or on Facebook using the same Email address to look me up.

We have also been cleaning out closets as a Church, burning relics and idols and all kinds of related activities. The past month has consisted of messages and prayer times focused on making our lives as pure and pleasing to God as possible, which includes getting rid of all the physical things and the attitudes that hinder us.

It is amazing what God is doing and I would encourage all of my readers to do the same thing. There is a song entitled "Pleasing to You" by Jared Anderson which has been instrumental in this process for us as a Church which I would like to share with you. Click on the link below to view it on YouTube with the words.