A Biblical model for recruiting, training and deploying potential leaders for ministry.

Before the Anaheim Vineyard started, when I was a consultant to churches around America, one of the most common questions I would get from pastors was “How do you identify potential lay leaders?” Over a number of years, I had trained pastors in five western states on how to identify, recruit, and deploy leaders for small groups. So I wrote up a list of things I looked for in potential leaders.

I occasionally dust off that list and use it to encourage pastors as the primary ministry recruiters in their churches. Imagine you’re sitting down with a couple in your church who would like to work in some crucial area of the ministry. You recognize leadership potential in their lives. Nevertheless, to avoid being “…hasty in the laying on of hands…” (1 Tim. 5:22a), I suggest keeping the following “shopping list” of leadership values in mind.

This isn’t a fail-safe method. Even with these criteria, I’ve managed to select poorly at times. These values and principles have served us well over the years, both for managing professional staff, and mobilizing and recruiting volunteers from the congregation. I believe they can serve you as well.

1. Service and Self-Sacrifice

We conceive in our philosophy, leadership not as a position, a title, power, authority, respect, or privilege…but as an obligation to service and self-sacrifice. There’s a difference between structural authority (in which one has all the aforementioned) and spiritual authority based on attitude, character, gifting and anointing Without agreement here, you’ve got a problem from the outset. I’m not talking about false humility and putting yourself down. I’m talking about a willingness to render unassuming service. That’s what Jesus called for in Luke 17 when He told the story of the servant who went out into the field and came in that night. All he had done at the end of the day was to render humble service. All any of us will have done by the end of the day is render humble service. It doesn’t matter whether you have to plow five hundred acres or one that day; you’ve just rendered humble service. You’re the Master’s and the Master can employ you any way He desires. Some people equate leadership with position. The apostles had a little to learn about this business of humble service.

And they said to Him, “Grant that we may sit in Your glory, one on Your right, and one on Your left..” And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:37, 42-45)

The disciples were already grousing over who was going to get the best spot. They were looking for rewards. I don’t care if you are recruiting a drummer, an usher, or a nursery worker….if he or she doesn’t understand that we humbly render our service to the Lord, then they’ll constantly look for rewards.

As a leader, you can certainly show appreciation in some appropriate way to those who are serving. Paul instructed the church in Philippi to welcome Epaphroditus ”and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ” (Phil. 2:29b-30a). But ultimately the servant must satisfy himself in Jesus, and the opportunity to serve Him.

2. Fullness of the Holy Spirit, Faith and Wisdom

Along with people who provide humble service, you want to look for those who understand that service continually requires unction and anointing by the Spirit.

But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit, and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task…"and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 6:3,5)

In our book Power Points Kevin Springer and I tried to clarify the different ways Luke uses the concept of “filling,” “filled,” and “being full.” Luke employs three Greek words for filling, and they all give a slightly different twist to its meaning. Acts 6:5 describes filling more like a character quality or disposition in which a person is habitually controlled by God’s Spirit. Stephen was full [pleres] of faith and the Holy Spirit (see also Luke 4:1; 11:24). In the Acts 6 passage above, the “full of the Holy Spirit” is synonymous with possessing mature character.

It doesn’t really matter whether you are parking cars, changing diapers, or teaching 4^th grade Sunday School, its all about the same stuff and at the end of the day we get the same pay for it. (cf. Matt. 20:1-16).

3. Loyalty

We’re looking also for people who through exposure to and intimacy with the leader respond in loyalty. For years I had people approach me and say, “I don’t feel called to the movement. I feel called to you.” I now know this is a bad sign. Usually it meant they had little consideration for their peers, and sometimes held their peers in disdain. What they were looking for was some kind of privileged place next to me. When I look back over the years, some of the recruits who have been the most unfruitful have approached me with that kind of language. So now, that rings a big alarm when I hear it. I respond “Man....you’re called to the wrong person. It’s Jesus we’re serving around here. You ought to go serve Him for a while."

Yes, I want loyalty, but at this point in my life, I’m trying to carefully take the tentacles off me and put them on the Lord. I see this as essential if there’s going to be a Vineyard after John Wimber.

And He appointed twelve designating them apostles that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and to have authority to cast out demons. (Mark 3:14-15)

Notice the phrase, “that they might be with Him.” You’re called to Jesus. Jesus was, and is, the only disciple-maker. We make disciples in the sense that we work with the people who are being called to be His disciples. But the ultimate loyalty and commitment belongs to Him.

That doesn’t impugn an appropriate consideration and loyalty to the “family” that they’ve been united with. But there ought to be a balance. I’m not looking for people who are looking over their shoulder, or looking at this church as a stepping-stone. “Let me sit under your ministry for a few years because I’m going to go do thus and so.”  I don’t have any problem with training someone short-term that is on his way to do something. But I want to make sure he’s not using us in the process. I want some assurance they really are a part of the family. Then we can happily send them out as a family.

Loyalty doesn’t mean a person can’t speak his or her mind from time to time. Anyone who knows my wife Carol and me, knows that Carol speaks her mind; but at the same time she’s a submissive wife. I believe loyalty expresses itself in speaking one’s mind. And then at the point that you’ve spoken your mind, being willing to continue to walk in the situation even though you don’t agree.

At a very pivotal point years ago in our engagement with the prophetic ministries, John McClure wrote me a rather lengthy letter, and came and confronted me on three different occasions regarding his concerns. His loyalty compelled him to wave a flag of warning. As far as I know, he never shared that with any other human being other than possibly his wife, Margie. That’s loyalty! He was working with me, but he was pointing out some problems, and he was right to do so.

So we’re not looking for automatons, or people who always seem to agree, nor are we looking for those who are inwardly seething with resentment, or talk behind your back. That’s disloyalty. People who won't stand up and be counted, how can you work with that? No....we all need a few people who can say, “I love you; I think your wrong in this area; here are my reasons why.”

Loyalty isn’t tested by agreement or disagreements. But it can be reinforced by willingness to let things lie until such a time as they can be dealt with. I don’t require people who work with me to sign or verbalize a “loyalty oath".  I’ve never said to a colleague: “I want you to be loyal to me.” Rather I encourage people many times to be loyal to one another, because that’s a vital Christian characteristic.

4. Trustworthiness

This implies the ability to resist being bribed or bought. It doesn’t always relate to money. It comes sometimes with visibility, opportunity. I’ve seen some guys leave one staff and go to another simply for a more prominent position. And it never produces much in the realm of the Spirit; it usually was disastrous for everybody.

So look for people who really have the same heart for what you’re doing that you have. “Furthermore, you shall select from all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain…” (Exod. 18:21). Ministry should be given away….but you don’t give it away to anyone.

Years ago, I had a staff member who, in the process of coming to me, cut some corners with the people he was working with. I confronted him about it. He said he had taken care of it. Later I found out from the people that he hadn’t. Before long the pattern started showing in everything he did around us. Cutting corners had become a way of life. I realized he was gifted, but corrupted in an area of his character, so we had to confront him again. He didn’t respond well, so we had to let him go. It became painfully clear I couldn’t entrust anything in the way of ministry responsibility to him.

Now it’s different for a parking lot attendant as opposed to an associate pastor, but the value is valid at any level. As a fisher of men, you want a net made up of people who are trustworthy, so the unsaved are caught in something healthy, whole, and righteous.

5. Proven Ministry Ability

When recruiting people for the more weighty positions of leadership, look for those who are capable, and respected, mature in the faith, and with proven ministry ability.

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with dignity…not a new convert. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church…(1Tim. 3:2-7).

I see this passage as prescriptive, as opposed to descriptive. Most of us fail in some way at some of these points. But we’re all working toward this standard. We’re all playing with the same rulebook. We’re all measuring ourselves against what Scripture calls us to be. Someone once told me, “I don’t trust leaders who don’t walk with a limp.” Give me a leader who has wrestled with God, and been shown the limitations in his character or make-up.

6. Accountability

“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.” (Jas. 3:1).

That applies to teachers because of the multiplication of influence through teaching. But it’s valid wherever one ministers, or whatever he does. There ought to be standards, with penalties extracted when you don’t live by those standards.

Many times I’ve seen guys wearing themselves out to get their church off the ground, and at the same time, they undermine their ministry week after week by the way they treat their wives, handle their money, or brag over things that have gone on in the church. Someone coming along side with a fatherly hug and saying, “Have you thought about this?” can help. Pointing out connections between lack of success and lifestyle issues, if done lovingly, can help greatly.

1 Peter 3:7 makes a connection between the effectiveness of our prayers, and the way we treat our wives. Ministries can be undermined, and the confidence of the people eroded if we are not functioning well in our household, and rearing our children. That doesn’t mean we have unbroken success. All of us have had some tough moments, or even years, with our kids. But the issue in the 1 Timothy 3 text (above) is that we are trying. We are not ignoring or running away from the problem. We’re dealing with it the best we know how.

But we’ve been called to build a body of people, and we need accountable people and people who are willing to accept reproof. Many folks come to me and say, “You’re my pastor.” And I would say a great comeback to that is “We’ll see if I’m your pastor the first time I have to say ‘no’.” People say, “I’m with you!” Then I have to correct them, and I find they’re not with me. They were with me as long as I never crossed their path with any correction.

People who willingly accept reproof are people who can be built together in a body. You get 40 people together like that in a church, and you can take care of 500 people comfortably. You have this inner core of team players that want to do this thing together.

7. Love For God’s People

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” …And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.” (John 21:17).

Peter had avoided the crucible of identifying with Christ by denying Him three times. Now the resurrected Jesus probes the very core of Peter’s motivations. Before Jesus was going to turn the keys to the Kingdom over to this impetuous Galilean fisherman, He wanted to fortify him with the essential motive; if you really love Me, then tend My sheep. Love My people.

There’s a terrible price to be paid for such a commitment. It cost Peter and the rest of the Apostles their lives. Vineyard leaders have paid an awful price for the privilege of tending the sheep. I’ve spoken elsewhere about spiritual warfare...the dynamic of attack and counter-attack. This past year has been a grim reminder of that reality, but by God’s grace we’re still here. And as a movement we’re a stronger, tougher crew as a result of the fiery trials that have come our way, especially since we rededicated ourselves to evangelism, church planting, and missions.

Years ago I consulted with a young man (not in the Vineyard) during a conference in the Midwest. He had been an evangelist in a certain denomination for several years, and had wearied of that, and wanted to pastor. His denominational leader had said to him, “Why don’t you go up to this community here. We have a little church that hasn’t done too well. Go up there and see what you can get stirred up, and if you do well, then I’ll give you a more choice position later on in a bigger church.” We met at a restaurant and he brashly told me what he was going to do. He wanted my advice on how to “jump start” the church. I said, “I can’t do that.”

“Why?...Because there’s no integrity in what you’re doing. You’re going up to that little community like a gigolo, pretending you love this part of the bride of Christ. You’re going to have intercourse with her in hopes of having children, but you have no intention of raising them. No intention of loving, protecting, or caring for her. You just want to have a few babies with her so you can get a chance to have some other babies somewhere else. I can’t bless that, and I don’t want any part of what you’re about to do.”

This really angered him. He swore at me, then got up and left. He called me at my hotel around eleven o’clock that night. “I’m sorry I swore, but you made me really angry.”

“It was calculated to do that. I was trying to show you the bottom line.”

“Well, you’re right. That’s exactly what my motivation is for going there. And that’s exactly what I was told to do. Who was wrong here? Me or my supervisor?”

“I don’t know about your supervisor, but you were the one who was going to do it. So you have to take responsibility.”

“Well, I talked to my wife, and we both agreed that if we can't go there with the intention of staying there permanently, I’m not going to take the assignment.”

“If you do that,” I said, “there’ll be integrity, and I'll be glad to help you out.”

There’s got be some integrity and sincerity in all this. We just can’t do something to advance our career, or position. We need to recruit people who love God’s people. I know its always a love-hate thing, but if you don’t love the church most of the time, get out of the ministry. Let’s raise up people who love the church. That’s true with your team in the church. If they don’t love the church why do they want a position other than to make something out of it, or use it? You don’t want to give position to someone who doesn’t love the church.

8. A Team Player

Look for willingness to be a “team player” and to help one's co-workers succeed.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Phil. 2:3-4).

That doesn’t mean that we live constantly in touch with this feeling, but whenever the issue presents itself, we defer to that. This attitude manifests itself in ministry situations by praying not only for my portion of the work, but also praying for other areas of the ministry. We will be confronted with our own selfishness in this arena, but when you see that, like anything else in the way of sin, you just confess it....“Oh God, I’ve let up on this again…forgive me.”

9. Both Husband and Wife Sense the Call

If the wife resents the guy being the Sunday School leader or director or taking over all the house groups, and being out a couple of nights a week extra because of that, you’re in trouble. If you’re going to ask someone to give a ten-hour a week commitment on top of going to church and all the other things they have to do, you better sit down with both of them, and find out. And if she doesn’t say it with her mouth, she’ll say it with her body whether she’s happy or not. So watch what’s going on when you’re talking. Sometimes they’ll work together. Sometimes the roles are reversed. You don’t want a husband either who is dragging his feet while the wife is getting more involved.

Conclusion

If these values I’ve listed are shared, taught and rigorously adhered to, over a period of time it will build a culture of commitment among your lay leaders. I would hold scrupulously to these values in recruiting whether I had 50 people in my church or 500. In fact, when you’re building a church from the bottom up, it’s even more important to set these values in place at the beginning, and make them intrinsic in everything you do.

Several months before Germany surrendered to the Allies, Franklin Roosevelt had expressed hopes that the Yalta conference would not last more than five to six days. Sir Winston Churchill had a more patient outlook.... “I do not see any way of realizing our hopes about world organization in five or six days. Even the Almighty took seven!”

Take your time, and listen to the Spirit as you recruit and deploy leaders. There’s no hurry when you’re building something lasting.