How to Relate to a Man God can Shape - Empowering Emerging Leaders

Do you remember when you first learned how to drive a car, you could read the driver’s manual and watch videos, but there is nothing that replaced the experience of being behind the wheel. The same holds true for future pastors and emerging leaders, there is nothing that is more paramount than real world experience to grow in abilities, and it requires today’s church leaders to provide opportunities.

When you first started to drive, you learned best through practical experience, similarly, as a man of God grows in faith through reading and learning, he accelerates his growth when he “hits the road” so to speak! This is where the role of a pastor as mentor is essential to provide additional opportunities for a man to discern his call when interacting with others.

Mark Dever, Pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C. shares you must advance trust in men to grow them for the ministry. He wrote, “You probably have members of your church whom the Lord has entrusted with great talent. But for that to be discovered, someone must advance trust to them, like credit. And good leaders do this. They don’t wait for people to prove themselves, and then give them teaching opportunities. No, they see the hint of something that, with a little encouragement, could grow and flourish.”[1] I remember when one of my pastors asked me years ago to organize a National Day of Prayer event for the local community. He gave me the hint and I organized and led the effort for a decade. Years later, another pastor planted the seeds which led to the opportunity to preach. My friend Kevin was given an opportunity to help lead a prayer ministry, and has been called as an associate pastor at another church in a different state. I think about Buddy who served on the police force for many years, and felt a calling to come alongside side men who struggle with a multiplicity of issues due to the nature of their work. With encouragement, he now serves a chaplain helping officers, and also families and individuals in crisis situations. As noted, our pastors saw a little something within us and provided encouragement. A pastor is to be an encourager which is vital to equip men for the ministry.

So how does the pastor encourage, it requires an investment in men. As Christians, we always think about Paul as Timothy’s mentor, but sometimes we forget he too was mentored by Barnabas. In (Acts 11:22-26 Christian Standard Bible), Barnabas sought out Paul and brought him to Antioch where for a whole year he was able to mentor him. “Barnabas guided Paul during his development from a novice follower of Christ to the greatest propagator of the faith in the early church. Senior leaders today can follow the example of Barnabas and contribute to the development of the next generation of leaders”[2].

Leaders are developed when provided tools, know-how, and most importantly opportunities. It is essential for pastors to embrace emerging leaders providing encouragement and cracking open doors for men to grow in their faith and abilities. Paul wrote, some were called “to equip the saints for the work of ministry to build up the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12). This is where an Above Reproach group is a great tool to provide a dynamic where multiple men come together to grow in their faith, strengthen their abilities, and sharpen their senses to discover their own gifts and reveal the talents of others. It is a place of prayer, brotherhood and learning. It is a place where a pastor can have an intimate conversations of discovery similarly to those between Barnabas and Paul. It doesn’t require a seminary environment, rather a dedicated pastor truly committed to equipping men of God to share the love of Jesus through the gospel message to a desperate and dying world.

As you consider this type of residency building program to empower others in your church there are plenty of opportunities for men to serve leading small groups and discipleship groups, teaching classes, Sunday evening messages, supply preaching opportunities, assisting with youth and adult ministries, community outreach programs, mission work and the list is endless. Empowering emerging leaders requires intentionality, it requires a servant’s heart, and most importantly it requires true love for Jesus embracing his desire to share the gospel with the world.

[1] Mark Dever, “9 Ways to Raise Up Leaders in Your Church,” The Gospel Coalition, (June 5th, 2017), accessed May 8th, 2023, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-ways-to-raise-up-leaders-in-your-church/

[2] Orlando Riveria, “Mentoring Stages in the Relationship between Barnabas and Paul,” Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership, (2007): accessed May 8th, 2023, journal-of-biblical-perspectives-in-leadership/mentoring-stages-in-the-relationship-between-barnabas-and-paul/