Called to Lead?

If you attended the 9:00 am auditorium service last Sunday (July 27) you heard Pastor Kirk share his heart in the ongoing series about "A Church that Pleases the Lord". The morning's subject was "Willing to Lead" based on 1 Timothy 3:1.


He spoke about the desire to serve being good and the idea that it's the service itself that makes the tasks so noble. We serve a great God who desires to bring about great things--but by using ordinary people.


When calling individuals into leadership, God often begins speaking quietly speaking into their hearts through his word, life experiences, or the examples of others. He begins qualifying them through these same sources. While the call to lead is often quiet, the voices to disqualify one for leading are often louder. Voices of doubt, fear, uncertainty, can virtually "out shout" the call to lead and cause many to shy away, stop listening and in essence not obey the voice of Christ calling.


Pastor Kirk clearly spoke a challenge to women to answer the call to leadership in the church. He and I spoke the next day about how we see this, the needs, the difficulties with it, how to better address it and how to help women be sure they are responding to God's leading. We don't have it all figured out but following are a few thoughts to begin a dialogue as we look at this.



If a woman would come to me asking "What position of leadership can I fill as a woman at the Hershey Free Church?" I'd respond with other questions:
"Before dicussing positions, how is God leading or speaking into your life?

What are your passions?

How has he gifted you?

Where do you get really excited about serving?"

After hearing the answers to those questions I'd begin talking about what positions might be a good fit for her...

Leading for anyone can't be just about filling a void, grabbing recognition and power or trying to keep up or be equal...it needs to be in response to God's call on your life...

Let me know your thoughts on this, your questions, ideas and lets keep dialoging. If you're a woman wishing to explore where to be used of God in the church I'd be thrilled to meet with you! You can contact me at dnilson@hersheyfree.com.