The church defines leadership not by titles or positions but by the ability to influence others. Throughout history, leaders like David and Nehemiah have profoundly impacted those they guide. Aubrey Malphurs expands on this concept, emphasizing that leaders possess influence and use it to steer people towards fulfilling their God-given purpose in a specific context. Church leadership’s role is to help individuals recognize and embrace God’s work in their lives, understand their calling, actively pursue God’s plan, and effectively execute that plan. Leading in a church requires awareness of one’s own leadership style, strengths, and weaknesses when leading others. The most effective approach involves self-evaluations or using resources to assess one’s effectiveness as a leader.
During the first half of this course, I have been able to acquire knowledge about the desired attributes of a leader. The author not only furnished relevant readings on this subject matter, but also incorporated evaluations that enabled me to evaluate my own leadership style and determine how well I embody these qualities. This compilation and analysis of individual audits found in the readings is known as the Christian Leader Audit. It will prove invaluable in bolstering my leadership abilities and honing my aptitude for effectively guiding others.
Malphurs explores the concept of “eight distinctives of Christian leadership” in chapter one and provides examples from leaders in the early church to illustrate this. The Christian Leader Audit evaluates an individual’s overall strength as a Christian by considering their commitment to Christ, adherence to His teachings, and willingness to emulate His example in daily life. I received a score of eight on this audit, indicating that I possess strong attributes as a Christian leader. Along my spiritual path, I have encountered both accomplishments and challenges.
My personal experiences, such as the loss of loved ones, instances of sexual assault, divorce, and other challenging situations have had a profound impact on shaping my identity. These experiences have strengthened my faith in God and reaffirmed my commitment to Him. As a follower of Christ, I am mindful that many people closely watch how I handle difficulties in my life. Therefore, as an educator, I purposefully position myself to be a role model for numerous young girls who attentively observe and imitate my behaviors and words.
Every day, I make an effort to demonstrate my beliefs and be a good example. I must admit that it has been difficult for me to let go of control and let the Holy Spirit lead my decisions. Often, my impatience gets me into tough and uncomfortable situations. However, as I grow in faith, I understand the importance of following the Holy Spirit’s guidance in every aspect of life. Trying to navigate on my own only brings more complications that I cannot handle.
Moving in God’s time relieves stress and allows me to stay in peace, enabling me to focus on my Kingdom assignment. Chapter two of the Servant Leader Audit discusses the qualities and elements of a servant leader. This audit helps determine if someone possesses the qualities of a servant leader and their ability to serve people within their ministry. I received a score of thirty-one on the audit, indicating that I am a strong servant. Being a servant has always come naturally to me, as I find it effortless to give of myself to those in need.
I prioritize the needs of others over my own desires and am genuinely interested in helping them. When someone requires resources that I have, I willingly put my own wants on hold. This comes naturally to me because I genuinely care for others’ well-being and only want to see their success. I understand that being a servant or a leader who serves has nothing to do with the title associated with my name. Although I am referred to as Pastor Nelson by the congregation at church, I constantly inform them that the title is not necessary.
I would rather not be called by my title. My identity is not based on the position I occupy; I am a servant. Upon reviewing this audit, I recognize that serving others is a crucial aspect of my life. At times, it entails giving and aiding until it has an impact on me physically. Lately, I have devoted a substantial amount of time to assisting members of the congregation who lack transportation. This includes running errands for them and providing transportation to and from work. Moreover, I have been actively involved in organizing the church’s food pantry and gathering food contributions.
Both running and traveling have had negative effects on my body, according to those close to me. They believe that my willingness to serve makes me vulnerable to being taken advantage of. While they may be right, I find solace in prayer during these times, seeking guidance from God on who and how to help. In Chapter three of the Malphurs text, the importance of a leader’s credibility and trustworthiness is discussed. Trust is essential for effective leadership and serves as an indispensable element.
The Credibility Audit assesses the credibility of a leader and their credibility with the people they lead. I attained a score of seventeen on this audit, indicating that I possess significant leadership credibility. In my current ministry, I have yet to establish complete trust with those under my leadership due to not having been in this position for a sufficient period of time. In accordance with the Malphurs text, it typically takes around five years for a leader to develop any kind of credibility [3]. During my previous ministries, I had the opportunity to accumulate that length of experience in a leadership role. One of my notable traits is my unwavering convictions, regardless of others’ opinions.
Although I am recognized for my deep concern for those under my leadership, my emotions have hindered my credibility. Previously, I allowed personal matters to influence how I led, allowing my emotions to dominate and divert me from achieving objectives. Consequently, doubts arose regarding my dependability and capability to complete tasks. Nevertheless, through prayer and spending time with the Lord, I have gained better control over my emotions. At this point in life, repeating past errors is something I cannot afford.
The damage to the congregants would be too great because most of them have come from ministries where the leadership has mishandled them and the trust severed. As a leader, I have to make sure that they stay balanced in order to continue to build their trust in church leadership.
Spiritual Gifts Audit
The Spiritual Gifts Audit is meant to help a person determine what spiritual gifts God has given them. By working through one hundred and ten statements, a person can determine the areas of ministry that will best fit their skills. With this Spiritual Gifts audit, I scored a forty-five in the areas of Apostleship, Faith, and Giving.
I obtained a score of forty-four in Administration and a forty-three in Mercy. It is not surprising to me that I excelled in Administration. In every ministry I have participated in, I have held the roles of church administrator or pastor’s secretary. It may sound unusual, but I genuinely enjoy managing appointments and maintaining calendars, ensuring everything is organized and orderly. Additionally, I find satisfaction in coordinating events and guaranteeing the smooth execution of all aspects of church-related gatherings. Another expected outcome was my high score in Giving. I am known for generously assisting those in need, even if it means sacrificing my own resources.
Helping others without expecting anything in return or seeking recognition brings me joy and fulfills me. It is gratifying to know that my actions please God. Nonetheless, I was taken aback by the low score I received in the teaching category during the audit. As a teacher, I had anticipated a higher rating in that aspect. Within the church community, I acknowledge that there are many individuals who possess superior teaching abilities compared to mine.
I am filled with anxiety and it is something that I need to overcome. According to 2 Timothy 1:7, God does not give his people a spirit of fear. Fear comes from the devil and it is a tool he uses to silence me and prevent me from proclaiming God’s word. The Natural Gifts and Abilities Audit helps determine a person’s passion for different vocations and occupations. Taking this audit can help individuals discover their unique gift from God.
Malpburs explains that every believer, including leaders, will have one or more spiritual gifts, but not all leaders will have the same gifts. We know that God also gives natural gifts to both believers and non-believers through his common grace. Like everyone else, I have been given natural gifts that I believe were bestowed upon me by God. One of these gifts is wisdom and judgment, although it took me some time to recognize this within my Christian journey.
While wisdom is acquired through life experience, I personally believe that it is also necessary for God to bless an individual in order for them to acquire the knowledge gained through wisdom.
Bibliography
[1] Aubrey Malphurs, Being Leaders: The Nature of Authentic Christian Leadership, (Grand Rapids, Michigan, Baker Books: 2003), Pg. 10.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid., Pg. 52.
[4] Ibid., Pg. 77.
