Energized Leaders

Today, let's continue reflecting on Sunday's sermon. Yesterday we looked at the concept of energized people; today we'll review Pastor Steven's comments regarding energized leaders.

If there is going to be strength in any community, there must be strong leadership present. The apostles did not remain in the upper room after the Holy Spirit empowered them. As leaders, we have a mandate to go out into the "front lines" of the world and make disciples of all nations. The apostles were present and active in the early church: present in Jerusalem, present in Antioch. And they reproduced themselves by instituting other leaders: evangelists, deacons, elders, bishops. Leaders begat leaders, and the church grew in strength and numbers.

If there is going to be diversity in any community, there must be diversity present in the leadership. This comment is actually a combination of what was preached Sunday morning and the prophetic word we received on Sunday evening. The church in Ephesus reflected mixed leadership: there were men and women in leadership roles, and the leaders also reflected variation in levels of experience- that is, less experienced leaders were allowed to preach and hold positions of authority, and were discipled by more experienced leaders (for example, the Acts 18 and 19 references to John's disciples being instructed in the way of Jesus Christ).

Pastor Steven expanded on this idea of diversity during Sunday evening, when he implored the congregation (comprised largely of Jamaican immigrants) to make room for worshipers of other racial and cultural extractions. As you can imagine, there was a particular and palpable resistance to the prospect of Bronx Bethany no longer being identifiable as a "Jamaican" church. But God has a way of breaking down idols, and for some congregants Bronx Bethany as it exists today has become an idol. Watch out.

My friends, let's not forget- this is the LORD's church. God has begun expanding our pastoral staff: one-third of our pastors are Latino (Pastors Publio and Marta). That expansion will continue as God increases the diversity of His leaders, as a model of the diversity that will appear in the laity. And it will appear soon.

Bronx Bethany, are you ready? God is.