From before I even started the Race, God has laid heavy on my heart the word “leadership”. As I was preparing for training camp in May of last year God kept bringing that word leadership to my mind. I thought He was preparing me for a position of leadership, however as soon as I got there He told me what He really had in store for me this year. Submission.
What does it mean to submit? To yield to authority, or be accountable to another. Of course we are all to submit to God, but also to our earthly authorities. No where does it specify if that person has to be man or woman, young or old.
God blessed me with six amazing, growing months under the leadership of my first team leader, Shelby. She helped showed me the truth behind leadership, and encouraged me always to seek the Lord to see what He says – including what He says about leadership.
As we were given the news last month that she would be following God’s call in her life to step down as leader, it made me think. How could the leadership on my new team be even better for my last five months. First, God placed on my heart to have my team define what we think leadership is, and what it really should look like. And where better to find those answers then in God’s Word?!
First, I wanted to define what a leader is. It is someone who has commanding authority or influence, or is a chief among others. The Bible says a leader is someone who:
Is a man (or woman) after God’s own heart
Is a leader of their people
Keeps the Lord’s command
Is a servant
Works hard
Gives spiritual guidance
Can teach the Word of God
Lives their life as an example of their faith
Secondly, what does it mean to lead? To lead means to guide by direction or example. The Bible says a leader should:
Seek wisdom and knowledge on how to lead properly
Do right, teaching others their way
But even with all that, God wasn’t done with me yet..
Since the very beginning, the World Race has been something I am very passionate about. The idea of young adults giving up what the world has to offer, in exchange for an understanding of God’s Kingdom – what’s better than that?! After only 6 months on the field, I am excited for future Racers, and the experience they will have. Hopefully, even greater then mine (which is really going to be hard to beat).
God has been laying on my heart the possibility of future involvement with the World Race – more specifically squad leading. This is something I have been praying a lot about, and continue to pray about. As I think about the possibilities, I have to be honest that doubt fills my mind. That was until God gave me confirmation that first, I can lead, and second, I can be blessed by it as long as I am in God’s will.
As we had our first leader step down, that only meant one thing – another had to be raised up. God has blessed my new team with the leadership of Kara T. She is fun, energetic, and so on fire for the Lord. However, at the end of last month she went home for emergency back surgery. She wasn’t expected back until the 7th of this month. That meant, our team was without our leader for a few days.
As we traveled from Swaziland to South African, our squad leaders approached me, asking if I would fill in until her return. All I could think was, “Really God??” Of course I said yes, and I was blessed because of it. I was encouraged, given challenged to improve my leadership, and given the confidence and confirmation that I can do anything God calls me to – even leadership.
So this is where my final thought came from. As I was reading about Moses and Joshua, God showed me what it looks like to raise up new leaders. What I learned from Joshua’s life was that effective leadership is often the product of good preperation and encouragement. How could I, or all of us for that matter, encourage our leaders better? Also, a person committed to God provides the best model for us to follow. We need leaders that hold God in the most important places in their lives, and whose life reflects God.
So I want us to all think about these two questions.
First, how important is God to those you want to be life? And second, do those who are watching you see God reflected in every area of your life?
I thank God for this wild and crazy journey, and am excited for what the future holds.
XoXoX
Bri
