Another Heartbreak of Leadership
Hey Friends,
We are still looking at some serious issues in Kingdom Leadership and I just thought of another one – Mistrust! I am fully aware of trust being earned. After 13 years as the Senior Pastor don’t you think people would begin to trust your heart? Maybe give you the benefit of the doubt if they aren’t sure why you are doing something? For many, NOPE!
I have loved, served, given, led, and poured my guts out for, to, and with people here in Knoxville; yet still some never come to the point of trusting. Motives are maligned, methods are mocked, and the list goes on. I guess some people will never trust – just another lesson for leaders. We can do all we can and they will never want to follow or trust. It is the lot in life for the leader. If we can’t take the heat…you know the rest.
I long for the day when the Church is able to trust the pastor and leaders. I’m not talking about no accountability, just trusting of heart and motives. Let the leaders lead and if they are NOT trustworthy, fire them or go to another church. If you are a leader reading this – just know this is a part of the journey.
Thank God for the ones that trust and make leading enjoyable!
God said in Hebrews 13:17: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” Lots of church members will face an unhappy Lord for disobeying this verse.
Yours to count on.
Pastor
9 Comments
You are certainly LOVED. God trusts you to give you another cercumstance to identify with Jesus. You are being conformed to His image. Thank God for the Spirit of the Living God, who is teaching you all things through these trials. Jesus went through the same “heat”. Love ya & praying for you. Linda Challoner
Linda, Thanks so much for your comment it means a lot.
Hey PC,
Just a thought. As a person who has been betrayed by the human man who gave me life, in the very deepest possible sense, let me just say that it is not just you, or pastors or church leadership that most of us don’t trust . . . it’s everybody. Look back over just the past decade, at the spiritual leaders who have turned out to be SO untrustworthy. What is left that we can trust . . . death and taxes? An old joke, for sure, but something to think about. We look at everything around us nowdays through a lens of mistrust, we can’t trust our jobs or employers, our banks, our home loans, our spouses, our leaders, our country, etc. And it’s bound to spill over onto our spiritual leaders. You have set a very high standard, and you have shown yourself to be completely trustworthy . . . but you too are human. Who of us hasn’t been betrayed at some time or another, some of us many times, by someone we believed to be completely trustworthy, crushed to find that person had feet of sand and a heart that was divided.
I pray that you are able to lead without grief. I pray that FPC is faithful in following your leading. I pray for you and Michele every day, and I TRUST God’s anointing on you, a human man seeking to follow His leading. There is no doubt in my mind that you are anointed. And for this reason satan is going to come after you like few others he craves to destroy. And you know, probably better than most, how subtle he can be. You are human. BE ON GUARD!
I pray for the people you surround yourself with, who lift you up and hold you accountable, for their courage and boldness in approaching you and speaking up if something seems amiss. I pray for your wife, who supports and cares for you so deeply. I pray for your children who show your leadership in everything they say and do.
I pray for the vision God has given you for FPC and anticipate with such excitement the days ahead. But remember to let yourself be held accountable. You have such a tender heart and soul for the people God has placed in your care. Keep it tender. We all love you so much and would do most anything for you. I lift you up to our Mighty God and trust HIS vision and His anointing, and I TRUST that you are obedient and humble in your calling. I trust you.
Thank you for giving your very life for our little group we call Faith Promise Church. I pray God’s favor will continue til HIS vision is complete in you and in Faith Promise Church. Again thank you for letting me say what was on my mind. Don’t despair.
In Christ,
Sandi
Sandi, WOW great insight. I couldn’t have said it better. Thank your for your commitment to Jesus and His kingdom. I hope many read your comment. I am so glad you are on the team. Thanks and I love you.
Hi Pastor,
I have been following your blog for a bit now. It is always thought provoking but this one touched me. I am in a unique position of having been around you for all these long years. One thing that has never, ever, crossed my mind has been if we could trust you or your leadership.
I have come to think that when the church, myself included, fails to trust the leaders, maybe we need to look within ourselves. For a very long time, I was angry at God for the difficulties that life has brought us. Your sermon last week was exactly what I had fought against for so long. I came to realize that I didn’t really trust that God knew best or that He is good. But that was a sin within myself, never your leadership or teaching.
When we, as sinners, hear things that bother our spirits, we tend to squirm away. And it’s much easier to say that our pastor/church is going in the wrong direction, etc, than looking within our hearts to see where the problem really lies.
Please don’t be discouraged. Our family has no doubt that you are where God intends you to be and that the church is heading in the direction God intends it to go. You allow us to question, and don’t expect us to blindly follow, for which I am grateful. You lead us and give us the reason you feel God is leading that way. For me, that builds trust, it doesn’t tear it down.
From one who has been (in a very small way) in a position of leadership, and as a pew sitter, I know that being a pew sitter is much easier. I am so grateful that you are in the position you are in. You are a great man of God, a called man of God, and a great leader to your church family.
Always remember how much we love you, Michele and all the leadership at FPC!
Phyllis
I trust you Pastor.
That conference clearly had a big impact on you.
I believe that God is motivating you. Enough said.
Thank you!
They should have named you David. Because you are definitely a man after God’s own heart!
Phylis, Love you guys, thanks so much. I’m not discouraged but this is just a hard part of leadership. stand strong!
Pastor Chris,
Was Peter’s inability to trust Jesus the reason that he wasn’t able to make it all the way over to his boat while walking on water, or was it a matter of altered focus?
I think the human baggage that any person brings into their leadership style presents weakness that can be exploited by Satan. Certainly, sowing doubt into your staffers is an effective way for Satan to disrupt momentum and attempt to splinter an effective team.
We all lose trust and focus from time to time in ourselves, our leaders, and our purposes. The best leaders find a way to keep faith in their teams, and to motivate in the face of uncertainty.
You do an outstanding job leading our church. When disappointment arises as you say NO to various ideas and programs, keep motivating and encouraging. In my opinion, that’s crucial to the team retaining the confidence to keep reaching and growing without restraint.
Take care,
Danny