How Can I Become a Leader in My ChurchShembull

Desiring to Lead with Affirmation 

Sometimes, we want to serve humbly and faithfully in the church, but we are not sure how. Maybe, we have more than one gift. Perhaps, we are not sure if we are gifted or in what way our gift can be used in God’s Kingdom. This is where humility becomes very helpful. If we are humble and teachable, others can speak into our lives. We just need to be willing to receive their input. At times, our gifts are more recognizable to people around us than they are to us. Church leaders can also direct us to the area of ministry where we are most needed. 

In other words, if I want to be useful in the Lord’s Church, let me humble myself and not demand anything, but be faithful wherever others see me as most useful. Let the church recognize me. When others recognize the gift in us, we can become more influential in the congregation as a result. We can rejoice in that. Recognition of our gift or usefulness by others will give us great joy. 

Church leaders can also encourage us if we feel inadequate for a certain position, or feel unworthy to exercise our gift in a church. Elders can affirm God’s gift in our lives. This happened in the early church too. For example, the Apostle Paul had to encourage young Timothy to boldly serve in the gift that was affirmed in his life by a prophetic prayer of the elders. Timothy started to be fearful about leading with his gift, because of his youth. Paul told him not to fear and not to neglect his gift. He added that Timothy should not allow anyone to despise his youth. Paul encouraged his young disciple to be an example to others in the church. 

In the same way, elders, pastors, or church leaders can affirm the gift of God in your life. They can help you recognize your gift and also encourage you to exercise it with boldness. If you stay humble before the Lord, He will lift, honor and exalt you into a position of leadership according to the gift that He has given you. Be faithful and the Lord will show you in which area you are able to lead.