Growing Leaders Among Us

Philippians 2:19-30

Paul grew leaders. He knew that God’s kingdom did not rise and fall upon one man. As John Maxwell says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Leaders have to learn how to replicate or they will not see to fruition the vision God places within them. For Paul, two leaders needed to be lifted up before the church for their hard work and willingness to minister.

The first is Timothy. Timothy was Paul’s protégé for a lack of a better term. Timothy was increasingly being sent out by Paul to minister and care for the needs of the churches they had help to start. Timothy had genuine concern for others and their needs. Verse 21 seems to put leaders such as John Mark in the crosshairs of Paul’s criticism. John Mark had abandoned Paul and Barnabas due to personal issues. Timothy held a humility that placed God first and the needs of others next. Paul nurtured this humility.

Timothy was like a child to Paul who looked at their relationship as being a father in the faith to a son of the faith. Through this relationship, Paul is teaching us how to mentor others in the faith. Mature Christians should all have someone in their life that they are mentoring. A good book for this purpose is As Iron Sharpens Iron by Howard and William Hendricks.

Paul also takes on the mentorship of another in the faith, Epaphroditus. Epaphroditus is sent by the church of Philippi to help Paul during his imprisonment. Paul ends up ministering to the needs of him because of some illness that nearly takes the life of Epaphroditus. Paul even gives insight to his worries – being arrested was one thing but having a friend in the faith die while trying to act on your behalf was another. Paul commends his efforts and lifts him up as a hero in the faith.

Mentoring others and being able to release them into leadership is a difficult task. It takes tact and wisdom. To mentor others means risking hurt and frustration. Mentors find themselves leading alone at times but with consistent energy leaders grow leaders who grow leaders.

Being alone in the ministry or any workplace can be a frustrating experience. Take a page out of Paul’s leadership methods; begin finding others to mentor and watch your leadership quotient increase your effectiveness.

Here is an easy way to start (and I wish I knew who made this up but I do not):

• Do the work (find a need in your organization you can release someone else to do)
• Take someone with you to watch (someone who shows interest helps a lot)
• Let that person share in that work (give them small tasks)
• Watch the person do the work alone (observe and offer advice)
• Release the person to take over the work and mentor others (you are now free to begin to identify new opportunities to create a mentor relationship for other needs in the organization)

Questions:

1. Who could you immediately begin teaching and then releasing into leadership?
2. Do you have a plan to grow leaders in your organization?
3. Are you available to be mentored?