Becoming a Problem?

Great leaders create problems. Yes you heard that right, great leaders create problems because they challenge the status quo.

I was sitting around one morning talking with a couple dozen children’s pastors and we were discussing different parts of our ministries. This is one time that I am always awed by how God is moving in so many churches of different denominations and in surrounding communities.  Then after a half hour or so we began to talk about some of the challenges we were facing as we were seeing the movement of God. Through this time is what brought me to my assumption that all great leaders for God will cause problems. All of us cause problems whenever we challenge people to step out of the status quo.

Many of our churches are going through some problems because we are pursuing the vision that God gave to us for our churches. The picture that God has given to our churches is an invitation to excel beyond our present condition. It is our acceptance of this invitation from God that brings us to accept that our current structure, commitment and many methods are not adequate for moving ahead and meeting the requirements of fulfilling what each churches or children’s ministries have been called to do.

Allow me to challenge you to accept these problems and not lose heart. Most of these challenges may come from people in our own congregations. These at times seem to be the toughest problems to handle. I have found it helpful in getting the people to move with me, to focus not on what needs to be done (because I can usually provide a list that is pretty lengthy and overwhelming) but why it needs to be done. Allow them the opportunity to own the change instead of being told to change. I think by us focusing more from this angle people will follow much easier. Let me say it another way: more people will help you come up with how to change and what to change after they have owned the why something needs to change.   

In closing let us all keep causing problems by challenging the status quo. But as we challenge it, let us share why we are challenging the status quo.