I was extremely honored to be asked to lead the amazing G squad. It has been a time of continued learning for myself and extreme joy in being back out on the field. Our goal from the beginning was to raise up leaders from within the squad and give them a firm foundation in leadership and empower them to lead their peers. I am confident that we have done this well and am proud to hand over the reins to Kelly Chadwick and Kyla Cornelius. The Lord has appointed them for a time such as this and He has given them a grace to lead and serve in the model of Jesus.
This past debrief in Nairobi I was able to officially appoint Kyla and Kelly as squad leaders and also empower a few new people into leadership roles on individual teams. It was a time of change and the entire squad embraced it gracefully. Kyla, Kelly and I are traveling together this month to the 7 teams in the field and spending time with each of them. As we travel we discuss the joys and challenges of leadership and some of my mistakes and triumphs. It is fun to share what I have done well and what I am still learning.
So many of you write and ask what the Lord is doing in my life so I figured I would share a few snippets of what He has been teaching me lately:
2 Timothy 2:4 “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-he wants to please his commanding officer.�
He gave me this verse late one night when I was praying about how to handle a conflict within the squad. Sometimes it is easy for me to get caught up in the day to day drama of the race and forget that I am a soldier in the army of God. This verse reminded me not to worry about the “civilian affairs� and to point everything back to the Truth.
Titus 1:7-9 “Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless…he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.�
I admit that Titus is one of those books of the Bible that I really had not paid much attention to before. Typically it is not full of memory verses from youth group, but I have found so much wisdom buried there. Paul has much to say on the subject of leadership and I have gleaned so much wisdom from his instruction to Titus and Timothy. This verse is a reminder to me that my behavior is closely watched by those around me and I am called to a higher standard because of a leadership position.
1 Thessalonians 2:4b “We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.�
On a daily basis I make decisions that affect the 50 racers with me. Sometimes they are good decisions, sometimes they are bad decisions. Sometimes they are popular decisions, sometimes they are unpopular decisions. Sometimes they are happy with me, sometimes they are not. Sometimes they agree with me, sometimes they don’t. I think anyone that has had a leadership position can sympathize. This verse reminds me that as long as my heart is clean before God I do not need to worry about pleasing men. The tension here is that life is a whole lot more enjoyable when people are pleased—especially when you share close quarters! The Lord is teaching me to make decisions that please Him and find my joy in doing His will. I must admit it is a tough lesson, and not one I will be done learning any time soon.
2 Timothy 2:24-25 “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth…�
I have had a crash course in this one lately! Correcting gently is an art form that I have not yet mastered, but he is giving me practice. I struggled with all forms of correction as I led last year and did not really have the confidence to bring a word of correction. This year he has increased my confidence and given me a platform of respect. There have been times when I have been away from teams for a few weeks and returned only to have to bring a word of correction. Instead of worrying all night or sweating it out, he has given me the words and shown me how to “gently instruct.�
2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.�
How many times have we heard the beginning of this verse “be prepared in season and out of season�? Somehow when I was learning it I conveniently skipped the 2nd part of the verse “correct, rebuke, and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.� As a body of believers we are called to do this for one another, but it is uncomfortable. It is hard to bring a correction or rebuke; life would be easier if we could just glance over that part and let things slide. I am learning that if I truly love the people around me I must be willing to both encourage and correct. If I truly want growth in them then I must be willing to follow the words of Paul. The balance of that are his words “great patience and careful instruction.� Love is also great patience and careful instruction.
Each day my prayer for the leadership team here on the field is from Colossians 1:9-12:
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of saints in the kingdom of light.�
Paul and Timothy pray some very specific things for the church at Colosse and I like to follow their example in praying for those leading beside me.
