I debated this in my head for quite a while, about whether or not I should just slap everything onto one blog or separate it into sections. In the end, I'll probably have written at least two parts to this topic. But, alas! Here is my first part of writing about this topic.. Only a month and a half late. Sorry!
The whole concept of empowerment first came to me last year. I was at my pastors house, sitting in on their youth leader meeting. We were going through a little task of trying to determining what type of leader everyone was. There were three basic categories of leaders: a) a complete hands on leader, right in the thick of things getting their hands dirty; b) a director, delegating tasks and helping where required; and c) an overseer/visionary type, having people work and being hands off in the process.
At first, I had trouble trying to categorize myself in one of the three. I felt that it really depended on the context in which I was leading. I kept coming back to the idea of ending up at C, where I would be able to be a hands off type of leader and allow a team to be self-sufficient. The only issue was how to get there. I said that depending on where I am and what I'm doing, I could potentially start at point A, or at point B; however, as it is also my weakness, I cannot stay at either A or B for a long time without a huge potential to burn myself out. Thus, the desire to gravitate toward point C. Further into the discussion, and with a little help from my pastor, he came up with the word to describe my type of leadership: empowerment.
It made a lot of sense from there on forward. This concept of leading with the end goal of seeing groups and teams be able to be self-sufficient lined up so well with my general philosophy of ministry. The core of my beliefs and values, and the very foundation of how I am wired, is based on this idea of building people up so that they can be as thriving as their imaginations allow them to fly. To me, it boils down to a very simple reason for why I have this strong desire for things to be self-sufficient: I, or other leaders for that matter, will not be around forever. So when we leave, what have we left behind? I base success largely upon, not only on what is happening during my time as leader, but perhaps even more so on what the ministry/environment looks like after I have left. If I work somewhere for 5-10 years, leave, and nothing has changed, did I really do anything at all?
So, brings me to the point: the very reason I would want to work in a church is so that I can play a role in people's lives, and as a result have them flourish and blossom into instruments that can be used by God to further his work, far beyond anything that we've ever dreamed to accomplish. I've talked about leaving legacies in places, wherever I go. I think that empowerment goes beyond that. It's more than just about leaving a lasting impression of myself; it's about setting people up to be on fire for God. Quite honestly, I actually don't even care if people don't remember me after I leave; but if I'm able to place into their hearts a desire to stretch the boundaries and push their limits for God, then I am content with what I have accomplished.
These are all things that drive me, but I also think that empowering people is one of the hardest tasks to do and achieve. I've been on the unfortunate end on a few occasions where having left, or being left behind, and not having taken the necessary steps to have people carry on what I, or other leaders, have started.
I will be first to admit that, strictly speaking in the terms and context of NEAC, I left too soon to pursue my vocation of becoming a pastor.
To find out why I feel this way, and more of what empowerment means to a community, stay tuned to my blog over the next few days for part number two!
Blessings (=
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