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4. Contribute Your Influence in Weaknesses and Failures
There is no leader and ministry without weaknesses and imperfections. And none knows better the weaknesses of a leader and ministry than the co-workers. Co-workers observe everything. They basically know the strengths and also the loopholes in ministry. But sadly, quite few co-workers make a difference in ministry.
There are two kinds of co-workers I have observed in ministry: some are passive and don’t bother about the imperfections in ministry; they just mind their own business, for they are afraid of taking risks. And some are so aggressive that they become critical of the leaders, eventually quitting them to seek for a better ministry. I think, these are not good examples.
Believe me, my friend, leaders are not always sound and strong. They struggle with many weaknesses and temptations. They need help to live as overcomers, to rise and shine, particularly from their co-workers. When I was a co-worker, I used to be critical of leaders, but when I took the responsibility of leading the ministry, I realized I am not much different from what I criticized in them. I now see that it is easy to observe the weaknesses but difficult to be an example, manifest compassion and uplift our leaders.
There is a great need of co-workers, who when they observe weaknesses in their leaders and ministry, agonize in prayer and weep before God to bring transformation. It is a blessing to have co-workers, who when they see imperfections, gently and respectfully confront the leaders and rectify the loopholes. O, it is a wonderful blessing to have co-workers like Nathan who confronted David (2 Sam. 12:1ff) and like Paul who confronted Peter (Gal. 2:11ff).
Of course, there are leaders who are stubborn, proud and do not entertain confrontation. However, courageous co-workers do their best in addressing the problematic issues with an intention to resolve them and help the ministry to grow. They are patient and do not quickly quit, and if they happen to quit, it is only after practicing longsuffering and perseverance by giving enough chances to their leaders to consider change.
Blessed are the leaders and ministries who have co-workers concerned for the development of their leaders and ministry and persevere to make a difference!
5. Encourage Your Leaders in Ministry
To stay on the top is not as exciting as it seems. There are many battles to fight, many difficulties to handle, many afflictions to undergo and many disappointments to face. In all these upside down phases of ministry, it is a great blessing and joy to have encouraging co-workers.
You know, dear brothers, many times the inner battles of leaders may not be noticeable to others; others may have no idea what actually is going inside of them. It is rightly said that to be a leader is a lonely battle. Unfortunately, when leaders are going through painful times, co-workers may perhaps be much like the disciples to whom the Lord Jesus said in His trying times in the garden of Gethsemane, “Are you still sleeping and resting?” (Matt. 26:45).
O, it is a great encouragement to leaders to have co-workers stand by them in trials! Although the disciples abandoned Jesus for a while during the time of crucifixion, the Lord said to them, “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials” (Lu. 22:28). Could this be said of you? Paul writes, “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life” (Rom. 16:3-4). Could this be testified about you? And where shall we find the co-workers who are like David’s three mighty men who risked their lives for their leader? (2 Sam. 23:13ff)
How encouraging it is to have co-workers who say to their leaders, “I am with you in ministry. Let me know anything I can do to help you lead the ministry effectively for the glory of God!” How motivating it is to leaders who have co-workers sincerely appreciating their leaders’ character traits, labor and accomplishments! How inspiring it is to leaders to have co-workers praying for them in secret and also praying in person for them! What a delight it is to leaders to have co-workers who truly care for them!
Dear co-workers, whatever difficulties you identify your leaders and ministry are undergoing, do you stand with them? Do you agonize with them? Do you console and uplift them? Are you a great encouragement to them in great difficulties? Do you express your care for them in word and deed? Do you let them know that you are there for them, anytime?
This is what I would like to say at the end: Be such an excellent co-worker that to lose you would be to lose the right arm of your leader. And be such an excellent co-worker that when you become a leader, you won’t be ashamed but take delight to have a co-laborer just like yourself. [Click here to go to Part 1 of this article] |
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Enquiries:
cstephendavid@gmail.com (or) messageforourage@gmail.com
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