New Hanover Presbyterian Church Missions Team – Standards for Leading Missions
Christian Leadership
Mission Team leaders are special people with specific talents, skills, and purpose. Leaders are ambassadors of God sent into a world hostile to Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9, 10; 2 Corinthians 5:20). Leaders should have a Biblical world view, motivation, purpose, and allegiance.
Paul said,
“…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The Bible teaches that every Christian has been given a spiritual gift, or special ability, to carry out their part in God’s plan. Leadership is one of those gifts!
Paul said,
“And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly…if it is leadership, let him govern diligently…” (Romans 12:6,8).
The Mission Team’s Goal: The Great Commission!
Paul teaches that leaders have been given the:
“ministry of reconciliation,” and, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:18, 20).
As leaders we actively spread God’s values through our good example, persuasion, and influence. Jesus called that being the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16).
Christian leadership also calls for a “servant” approach. Jesus modeled this approach when He taught that the “Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).
The Leader's Character
At the heart of MissionTeam leadership must be integrity and compassion. The leader must be genuinely devoted toBiblical values and the purposes of Jesus Christ. Christian leadership must be more than a role that is played, but be a reality that is lived.
Nurturing one’s spiritual life through prayer and embracing the Bible should remain a focus of the leader while serving to ensureintegrity, compassion, and that God remains at the center of the leader’s work.
Keep balance in all things. Biblical teaching about Christian leadership instructs us on the balance between God’s work and our labors. The leader must be sensitive to God’s leading and will and be committed to work hard toward achieving His will.
Paul wrote of this balance,
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6; cf. Philippians 2:12, 13).
Leaders should strive to maintain a balance with commitments made for work within the Missions Team, be a part of a small group (for continued spiritual support), and devote sufficient time for family relationships.
The Mission Team Leader's People Skills
Biblical teaching about Christian leadership stresses the need for good people skills. Much of the trouble Christian leaders face are relationship issues. Misunderstandings, lack of motivation, poor communication, and interpersonal conflict are common issues that the leader should be in prayer about as well as seekingout the counsel of other leaders.
Mission Team leaders must be patient, motivational, and inspirational while leading others. Leaders should be loyal to and love their co-workers, be considerate of their feelings, care for their needs, be fair and consistent in their treatment, and provide opportunities forspiritual development. Workers must clearly know what is expected of them. The leader must work diligently to keep co-workers focused and spiritually fed.
In his instruction to Timothy, Paul urges,
“And the Lord’s bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wrong, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition” (2 Timothy 2:24, 25a).
The leader must establish the team environment as one of love, trust, and fairness. The leader must treat co-workers in a way that is reflective of thefruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 6:22-23)
Paul also said,
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31, 32).
Christian leaders walka fine line between effectively achieving the task at hand while also respecting and caring for the people. People, other than God, are the Christian leader’s greatest asset.