November 2004
Page 1 - Barnabas - A Leader Who Served By Dr. Mark Herringshaw
Page 2 - Beyond Offense By Paul Anderson
Page 3 - More Than Brazil Nuts! By Paul Anderson
Barnabas - A Leader Who Served
By Dr. Mark HerringshawNorm and I were having breakfast on purpose-my purpose. How quickly things can change! In every church there are leaders who carry titles such as the "Chairman of the Council" and the "Head of the Missions Team." And there are leaders who carry influence, even if they don't manage specific responsibility. Norm is the latter. He is a wise, pragmatic man. When he speaks, people listen. I knew it was prudent to share my vision with Norm, and hopefully win his support.
I had given Norm a written draft of our 2003 plans. The document was high on vision, yet grounded with a specific strategy. I felt confident I could win Norm to the cause. "So, what do you think?" I asked him between bites of waffle. Norm looked at me and smiled. He pulled out his copy. "This is all fine," he said, "but it doesn't excite me."
I swallowed hard. This wasn't what I had expected. "So, what excites you?" I felt more defensive than I let show. Norm flipped to the backside of the paper where he scribbled notes. "I'll tell you…" And he did. For the next 30 minutes Norm shared how he and a group of fellow engineers had visited Afghanistan and how doors were open to help rebuild the infrastructure of that nation. He told me how they were planning to build a gas pipeline across the country with the purpose of being able to say, "Christians did this." I sat dumb and dumber. "So, sure, we need a new roof on the church. But I'm going to change a nation. That's what I get excited about." I looked sheepishly at my paper. Then I heard myself say, "So how can we help you?"
Like most pastors I have spent most of my dreaming energy drumming vision to grow the church. I do, indeed, want to see His Kingdom come and His will done on earth as it is in heaven. But are my plans for church ministry big enough? What if God is placing charges inside the lives of Christians that far outpace my own? I had come to Norm hoping he would help me. I left knowing I was called to help him.
Barnabas on Leadership
Barnabas may be the greatest leader in the New Testament Church. Paul? Peter? John? No, Barnabas! His given name was Joseph, but he was nicknamed "Barnabas" which means "Son of Encouragement." He earned that title as a man who gave generously of his time, talents, and resources to reconcile other believers to their destiny. Today, Barnabas stands as one of history's preeminent models of servant leadership.
When we first meet Barnabas in Acts 4:37, Luke tells us he "sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles feet." Barnabas is investing his personal resources that others might taste of the gift of grace. But investment of finances was just the beginning on this man's legacy. When Saul, who had violently persecuted the church, converted to the faith, most Christians were afraid to embrace him. Barnabas however saw the "Paul" inside of Saul. Putting his own credibility on the line he got to know Saul personally. He stepped out as he introduced Saul to the apostles, insisting that Saul had "preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus" (Acts 9:27).
When news of a new church in Antioch reached Jerusalem, the leaders immediately sent their "networking engineer", Barnabas, who "encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts" (Acts 11:23). Then, instead of leveraging the Apostles' delegated authority for himself, Barnabas found Saul, brought him to Antioch, and released him into public ministry. The two then served the church in Antioch for one year (Acts 11:26). When those in Antioch learned of an approaching famine in Jerusalem, the church took an offering, each giving "according to his ability." They sent their gift of encouragement back to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11: 28-30).
When Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch, the Church commissioned them for the first "intentional" missionary journey. The quest was a great success. After their trip they traveled back to Jerusalem to share with the Apostles the miraculous signs and wonders that had accompanied the advance of the Gospel among the gentiles. Their story helped convince the church leaders to "not make it difficult for the gentiles who are turning to God" (Acts 15:19). Here, again, Barnabas was working to bolster the spiritual destinies of those he led.
But Paul and Barnabas experienced a bitter parting when Paul refused to allow John-Mark, a young man who had deserted their first mission, to rejoin them. Barnabas, ever the encourager, believed that God had a purpose for Mark. After the fallout he invited Mark to join him on a mission to Cypress. This step of faith saved Mark's ministry.
Luke describes Barnabas as a good man, "full of the Holy Spirit and faith" (Acts 11:24). He demonstrated these attributes by continually drawing attention away from himself. Barnabas understood that his place in the Body of Christ was to help others find their place. Yes, Paul is remembered as the first great missionary. But Barnabas made a place for Paul. Mark wrote the first gospel account of Jesus' ministry, the text that served as a model for other writers. Yet Mark's work of inspiration might never have come about had not Barnabas restored him to service. Barnabas was a quintessential servant-leader.
Leaders Prepare for the Vision
What qualities of a "Barnabas" style of leadership can we employ in our contemporary settings? In Ephesians 4:12 Paul suggests that the role of leadership is to prepare God's people for service in the Kingdom. Pastors are appointed to equip Christians to fulfill their callings. How, specifically, can a leader nurture the visions that God places in the hearts of his people?
First, a leader may carry a role in the conception of vision. When a preacher, or prophet, effectively communicates the Word of God, life is transferred into the hearts of those who are willing to hear. A leader who accurately opens scripture will impart faith (an apprehension of truth and an eagerness to respond to that truth), hope (a heart-felt encouragement that God keeps his Word) and love (accountability in relationships). Faith, hope, and love will supernaturally spark a specific vision. Recently, many churches have bolstered the birth of vision by teaching about, and then helping their people discover, their natural and spiritual gifts. Only God can "create" true and enduring vision. But by faithfully administering the Word, a faithful leader can prepare the way.
Leaders Woo the Vision
Once the Holy Spirit has deposited a particular vision in the heart of a Christian, a Barnabas leader can "woo" the idea out of the steward's heart where it can begin to grow into reality. An effective leader encourages the bearer to believe that God's visions can become reality. They impart the courage to put the idea into words. Anyone who has borne the weight of a vision knows the risk involved in making it public. Dreams are safe, private indulgences. But good leadership sets an environment where "impossible" ideas are articulated and then given away so that others can join them.
Last winter I began to encourage the members of our church to open their hearts to God's visions. I was hardly prepared for the avalanche! One young man sheepishly approached me saying, "I know this sounds crazy… but I have this idea. I really think I'm supposed to start a coffee shop staffed by Christians down by the University of Minnesota." "Okay," I said, "tell me more." Over the next weeks a dozen individuals shared their dreams. One person wants to plant an international church in Beijing China, another a prayer retreat center in a deserted resort, another an ESL school for immigrants. Open the door, and visions will flow!
Leaders Scrutinize the Vision
Not every vision that surfaces is right to pursue. Leaders must test the mettle of church visions. This may involve putting some distance between the steward of the vision and the vision itself. Here several questions need to be pressed: Does this idea pass Biblical muster? Is there a witness of the Spirit in more than one person? Is it prudent? Is there a measure of practicality? Does it flow with the stream of God's plans for this particular church? Is the timing right? As an idea is passed through this crucible, "right" will emerge from "good" and God's heart will be revealed.
Sometimes the dream of the individual will need to be adapted and honed. Last year one of our staff launched a worship service for college students. As the vision developed through the gauntlet of real experience, we concluded that the dream needs to be fulfilled from our church, but not within our church.
Leaders Wait With the Vision
In real estate the question is: location, location, location. Following God's vision the question is: timing, timing, timing. Joe Rickenback, the former executive director of North Heights Lutheran Church in St. Paul, is one of the most patient visionaries I have ever met. For years Joe served the visionary leadership of Morris Vaagenes. This meant setting aside a personal mandate he had been given by God during one Conference on the Holy Spirit back in the 1970s. Now in his retirement, nearly 30 years later, Joe is released to pursue that idea: to see leadership training released around the world.
Leaders Connect the Dots
When a vision is from God, unrelated individuals will frequently receive similar ideas. The Barnabas leader recognizes patterns and draws together individuals who share common interests. Sometimes stewards of particular visions are so focused upon their intent they cannot recognize potential relationships. Barnabas leaders connect the dots so visionaries can benefit from the synergy of wider relationships.
Currently there is a great impetus in marketplace ministry. About five years ago the Holy Spirit prompted this theme independently in the hearts of several people throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Last fall several ministries, all birthed independently during that original season of inspiration, came together in a conference to encourage each other and to link their efforts. Servant leaders see these Spirit-inspired patterns and help play matchmaker.
Leaders Resource the Vision
When a vision is right, and the timing is right and the relationships are in place to begin to see it materialize, servant leaders begin to help resource the dream. On earth every Kingdom activity requires both material and spiritual assets. Prayer, spiritual warfare, prophetic insight, and grounding in the Word are spiritual elements that must be woven into the founding of every Kingdom venture. Barnabas leaders make sure these elements are present.
Physical resources, including time, energy, and money, must also be directed. Barnabas leaders help coach the visionary with wise strategic planning. If the dream is genuine, it will captivate others who will invest their time, human energy, and resources to see it fulfilled. Some churches are establishing endowment funds or other capital drives toward this end.
Leaders Join the Vision
Barnabas was committed to releasing others in ministry. But in every case he also dove in to work shoulder to shoulder in their labors. Genuine leaders will do more than cheerlead. They will roll up their own sleeves and partner alongside the visionary they serve. This allows leaders a legitimate platform from which to continue to offer prayer and counsel, and gives them an excuse to join the celebration when the vision finds fulfillment.When Bigger is Really Better
As a pastor I am coming to accept that the objective of my leadership is not to cast a vision for the church, but rather to facilitate and hone the multiple and wonderful visions conceived within the hearts of the sons and daughters of God under my charge. This "Barnabas revelation" may steer my ministry in directions I had not anticipated. After all, I didn't dream up planting a Christian seminary in Kenya, or building a recreation center for teenagers in our town. I didn't muster up the ideas for the gas-pipeline across Afghanistan, the orphanage in Belarus, the scholarship fund for needy college students, the plans to support 300 church planters in China, the English language school in the Phillips neighborhood, the Internet-based discipleship program for rural teenagers, the citywide college ministry in the Twin Cities… But with or without me, these and other God-breathed passions are echoing through the hallways of Vision of Glory Lutheran Church. If I can't beat them with bigger ideas of my own, I might as well join them.
Mark Herrringshaw is senior pastor at Vision of Glory Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN. You may e-mail Mark at: markpastor@qwest.net.
