“The leaders in the world act like rulers over their people. But it must not be so with you.”
It’s crucial that we recognize the character trait Jesus most values in leaders. It’s not high-level teaching ability or presentation skills. It’s not their education or their deep spiritual knowledge. It’s not their ability to get things accomplished. And it’s not great time management, brilliant looks or charisma. It is humble, quiet, self-sacrificial, unassuming service. Servants like this don’t build followings. They live themselves in the Way of Jesus, and those who learn from them, do the same. This is how communities of service and love are made, and it’s how Jesus is made known in everyday life.
Here are some of the ways these leaders serve in our context.
The microchurch leader is on the frontlines of advancing the kingdom of God into the world.
The microchurch leader is engaging the world, is a 24/7 worshiper of Jesus and a leader in service, both within the microchurch and the broader community. Determined to bring the gospel message to a specific people group, he or she leads their team to build meaningful relationships while providing tangible service to meet real needs. The team works together to develop a productive ministry that loves, serves and encourages a chosen people-group toward faith in Jesus.
The microchurch is the primary organizing structure within Redeeming Mercy and the microchurch leader is the primary human catalyst that moves the microchurch into being. He or she then encourages and equips their team to engage with the people they serve.
With few exceptions, an MC leader will qualify as an elder as per New Testament instructions (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9). They and their co-leaders are the pastors, deacons and staff of Redeeming Mercy. They are the critical center of the ministry and mission of Redeeming Mercy.
The other leaders described below are in place to advance the success of the microchurches, their leaders and their people as they move out on mission.
As we add more microchurches, each will remain autonomous in the way they carry out the daily work of their local body. But their leaders will network together in ways that seem helpful and advantageous. As they do, they form a network or collective of elders who are available for each other, offering mutual support, spiritual counsel and guidance.
From time to time, Microchurches may gather for worship, prayer or some form of corporate training whenever that seems helpful, but such gatherings will not take precedent over the local worship, fellowship and work of the MC.
Such a network of elders will not be a ruling body over the microchurches. Nor will they seek to manage the day-to-day ministries of any specific microchurch.
It is likely that, occasionally, the collective of elders will have to step in to manage a leadership crisis. If this becomes necessary a council will be formed as determined by the network of elders. If concerns arise about a specific leader’s character or there is some microchurch misadventure that needs attention, the council may need to bring strong advice, counsel, or even correction.
The network of microchurches is served by a board of directors; men and women with particular gifts who desire to use those talents to strengthen and advance the work of microchurches and their leaders.
The currently appointed Directors are specifically in place to handle the State mandates of running a non-profit entity. Currently this team is made up of the RMC founding pastor, acting as board President, a Secretary/Treasurer and a Vice-president, all positions mandated by the State of Pennsylvania.
As needed, additional board members will be added to help expand the expertise of the board, taking it from a mere nuts and bolts support team to a powerful tool for the advancement of the vision of the microchurches. Men and woman will be appointed to serve who have specific skills in areas most needed by the network. Such needs could include counseling, financial management, grant writing, website design and many others.
Nothing will change the world more powerfully than the love of Christ shared with a world that so desperately needs it.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
Even a small light holds back darkness and a group of small lights can banish it completely.
Merely attending church doesn’t make you much of a church because sitting in a row, consuming church doesn’t make you very good at being the church.
If the wrongdoer has to do something to merit mercy, then it isn’t mercy.
By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.
You can’t build the future of the church on passionless, disengaged people. Nor can you build it on consumers.
The difference between humanity and all the rest of creation is that men and woman were made to relate directly with God.
Genuine spiritual knowledge lies in the union of the believer’s life with the truth of God.
To exist without the pursuit of God’s mission in the world is to exist as something other than the church.
I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me
Revelation 3:20