“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” Colossians 4:2-4
Everyone needs prayer and encouragement. Everyone. Nobody in this life has it all figured out; not even those “in charge”. Leaders as a whole are the most targeted for criticism and slander, but are given the least amount of encouragement because we expect of them nothing short of perfection. Leaders are humans beings with gifts that need nurturing and imperfections that require compassion and patience from others just like those they are serving and leading. We cannot produce and maintain good leadership if we as followers fail to care as much about their well being as we care about our own.
This month our team is serving alongside Stephen and Autumn Byxbe, the missionaries, directors,
and primary labor force of Together We Can, http://www.twchaiti.org/, here in Montrouis, (pronounced Mo-wi) Haiti. They have been doing ministry here for less than 3 years and in that time they have seen God increase their stewardship and grow their ministry tremendously. Every morning at 7am before we go to work in the community, Stephen ministers to us, and shares the wisdom he has learned over the years as a missionary doing ministry long-term far from home. We asked Stephen and Autumn what’s the hardest part about what they do, and they both responded lack of mentoring and encouragement in the Lord from others. Here, everyone in the city everyone looks to them to solve problems, and back in the States, the majority of their friends and family have moved on with their lives and forgotten about them. While there are a few close relatives they speak to regularly, most days there is no one ministering to them and intentionally uplifting their spirits.
Stephen and Autumn celebrating the 6th birthday of Michelet, a child at the Agape House orphanage.
At the coronation ceremony of Saul, the first king of Israel, Samuel the prophet said to King Saul and the people of Israel, “far be it from me that I should ever sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.” (I Samuel 12:23) It is EVERYONE’S ministry to pray for our leaders. When we don’t, we are sinning against the Lord and crippling our own lives. If we had nations and churches that prayed as diligently for the wisdom and well-being of our leadership as we pray to God about our finacnces and personal health, we would be living in a near utopian society, resembling God’s vision for His kingdom on earth. I have been blessed on the World Race to have amazing leadership within our squad who truly exercise God’s model of servant leadership. Each one humbly and graciously request and accept prayer from our squad for the wisdom, grace, and compassion it takes to serve and lead God’s people.
I challenge all of us in our churches to replace our critisim and standard of perfection for our leaders with prayers and words of encouragement. If we do, the presence of the God of encouragement (Romans 15:5) will be so concentrated and powerful in our nation and churches. Doing this will not cause all of our problems to disappear but it will bless us with the attitude, wisdom, and power we need to “run this race with endurance” (Hebrews 12:1), living life more abundantly (John 10:10), and spreading God’s kingdom along the way (Matthew 28:18-20). The world will truly know us by our love. (John 13:35)
It is God’s command that we pray for our leaders. Let us no longer sin against the Lord and hurt ourselves by failing to do so.
“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.” Hebrews 13:17-18
My leadership team here in Haiti. (From left to right) Dan (TWC),Austin (WR squad leader), Autumn Bxybe (TWC), Josiah Byxbe, Stephen Byxbe (TWC), Asher Byxbe, Trent (WR squad leader), Amanda (WR squad leader).
