4. Make Tough Calls.
They decided that they weren’t the best ones to feed the widows. That decision posed the risk that some might say, “So it’s beneath you to do these servant kinds of ministry? Jesus washed your feet and you’re not willing to put a plate of food before a hungry woman?” Some of the widows probably preferred that a true apostle provide their food. They made the tough call, though. And tough calls are just that, tough. They aren’t easy to make, but crucial
5. Collaborate.
Great leaders welcome others into the decision making process and the execution of ministry. They welcome input. The apostles had the group select seven godly men to take on this task. Although they themselves posed the solution, they welcomed the input from the others to choose the seven.
6. Set Healthy Standards.
The Apostles set the parameters for the solution: the number of people (seven), the roles (handle the food distribution), and the qualifications (men full of the Spirit and wisdom). Our staff operates by a set of staff values we call Permission to Play Values. You can read about them here.
7. Delegate.
After they selected the seven, they delegated this pastoral responsibility to them. Good leaders share ministry. Good leaders don’t try to do it all themselves. And good leaders don’t feel threatened when someone else can do a ministry better than they. It’s a temptation for a leader to think, “If it’s going to get done right I’m going to have to do it myself.” That attitude stifles leadership effectiveness.
8. Trust Other People.
This relates to delegation. How did the apostles show trust? They gave the ministry away. They trusted that this group of seven would do the right thing. When leaders trust they build others up and give others opportunities to grow. And when you trust, you won’t micromanage.
9. Discover, Develop and Deploy Other Leaders.
This sums up this entire biblical scenario. They guided the people to discover seven qualified people, they handed off the ministry and developed the seven by bringing them up to speed, and they deployed them. The mark of a good leader is reflected in how many he or she deploys into ministry.
So, the apostles set a stellar example of great leadership as they helped solve the first internal problem the early church faced.
What other essentials should great leaders embody?
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This article originally appeared on CharlesStone.com and is reposted here by permission.
