Category: Leadership
Boyd's thoughts on leadership
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Hebrews 11:8 is the verse God used in 1980 to validate His call on my life to vocational ministry. While others had been telling me how they saw evidences of “God’s call,” I was uncertain what that meant. I needed to understand God better, and I needed to understand what it meant to be called. This process of understanding resulted in discovery and affirmation much like my conversion to Christ and my commitment to Rita as my life-long marriage partner.
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God’s call is real and revolutionary, but it is not always clear. Others may understand your call before you do, which is why godly counsel from friends and wise mentors is critical, and hopefully they will walk with you through this discovery process.
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So what constitutes a call to launch a new ministry for Christ or take a ministry in a new direction? While we could talk about numerous subjects, let’s focus the next few blogs on spiritual maturity, giftedness, passion, relational wholeness, financial health, timing, and need.
- God’s call allows you to live in the “sweet spot” of your life. It is your unique experience, gifting, and character that propels you to carry out God’s calling. His call aligns with His Word and with godly counsel interwoven with faith.
- Abraham obeyed God’s call by faith and left Haran--a significant move for this family man and businessman. He followed God, living with the uncertainty of being in a foreign country, unsure of where he would settle. Although he and his family lived in tents, his standard of living was high for his day, and he was blessed with material possessions. So what compelled Abraham to follow God’s calling? I think it was his eternal perspective. God made a promise to him of a life changing legacy, and Abraham trusted that moving to a new land was part of God’s plan for him.
- Are you living as a called person or as a driven person? What area of obedience is God asking you to take a step of faith? Your obedience to His calling has significant and eternal consequences!
- As said earlier, “There is no better gift than intercession to the Almighty on behalf of another.” For example, I try to pray for people on the spot when they request the need for prayer. Immediate intercession precludes me forgetting and breaking my promise to pray sometime in the future. In addition, a hand-written note or an email with a prayer encourages. Begin to build a prayer list so you can pray for someone with your spouse or family members for a season of sickness or other felt needs. Prayer means you care.
- Ministry to givers also includes being present for special occasions like births, deaths, graduations, and weddings. You need to plan for funds in your ministry budget to cover travel and accommodation expenses for those times you and your spouse are invited to attend one of these memorable events. The investment of time in the families of your donors shows your genuine concern and love for them and their children.
- When one of our givers or a son or daughter is blessed with a newborn, we send them a copy of Max Lucado’s book, In Case You Ever Wondered. It is a very uplifting and personal story of the Lord’s love for a child. I write a personalized note in the front of the book to the infant reminding him or her of the parents’ love and Christ’s care for them.
- What needs do the children of donors have, and how can I help serve them?