A word from heaven.

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Professional Leaders

Let's talk about the idea of professional leaders today.

In the ever so efficient and increasing demanding Singapore society today, being professional is often hailed as a necessity to survive in the market place. Professional give people the impression that they are aloof, they are suppose to be emotionally disengaged with you. they are suppose to achieve a very specific aim in your life and after that you'll not see them again. That's professional.

Sometimes we bring this attitude into the church. When our sheep have a certain issue, just like a doctor, we whip out a certain tried and tested teaching or an advice that we have used on our ten previous sheep without much thought.

When our group grips in anticipation about a upcoming ess, we take a step back and refuse to be part of the emotional roller coaster. When we have gone through a certain season for the 10th time (E.g. Matric Season or Christmas) We become so "experienced" that we reuse whatever attitude, skills, principles we use in the past. It is almost as if we have become indifferent to our ministry. We become so skilled in doing things that we lose the human factor.

This is especially so for leaders so stay back in the ministry. I have already sent off 2 generations of NS guys and i am currently taking my 3rd and 4th generation in the ministry. It is like a cycle. People come and go and basically i can write a syllabus for them and i don't have to worry for the next 10 generations. i just have to reuse whatever i did in the past, whatever i taught in the past, say whatever i said. Good life eh? But i'm afraid that will take all the kick out of the ministry. We'll not be able to bring the ministry forward in any way.

My point is that at the end of the day, we cannot be so seasoned that we become emotionally disengaged from our group because we do not want to go through the sucky feeling of having to get your hands dirty again.

You want to protect yourself from the emotional roller coaster of leading a group to a new frontier. You want to prevent yourself from having to go back to God once again feeling helpless and inadequate. You are just contented with being where you are.

Whether or not you are a leader or not, my call to Christians as well, are we becoming so old bird (Lao Jiao) that we no longer want to feel the kick in the ministry. Do we say to ourselves that the chionging days are for the students and the newer Christians. Wait a few more years and their fire will die down. Hey, can i challenge you to not think like that? you're never too old to chiong for God all over again. Don't become a professional.

Pastors and full time church staffs, it is important to know that what you are doing is not a regular 8 to 5 paying job. After 5, any counseling session will go to my answering machine. I function on a 5.5 day work week. I disengage myself totally when this person have ended off the series of counseling sessions. His well being is no longer of my concern. I only do what is required of me in the portfolio.

Your heart is at the center of your ministry, not your skills set. Once you lose that, it may be time to rethink why are we here in the 1st place.

We want to be good at doing something. But never professional. amen!

Regards,

Jie Hui, Stephen

Labels: Leadership

The kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

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Sunday, August 24, 2008