Our team is committed to bringing you resources to help you be the best leader you can be during this time of crisis. Pastor Dave Bruskas, Campus Pastor at The Village Church in Fort Worth, TX, will held a short conversation to provide encouragement to pastors and church leaders.
Today, Pastor Dave reminds us of how to lead well through a crisis with four encouraging tips.
1. Before you can lead anyone else, you must learn to lead yourself
The Apostle Paul talks about his concern for the church and the strain he feels for those he leads. As Christian leaders, we feel this anxiety and desire for our communities to thrive. When you add a crisis and a lack of resources, you feel this strain even more. As we all move into roles that stretch us out of our comfort zones, we can find comfort in Paul's perseverance and dependence on faith during stressful times.
2 Corinthians 11-24-28 ESV
"Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. "
As a Christian leader going through a crisis, you can lead well by remembering and teaching those around you:
- Jesus is redemptive
- The Church has always emerged stronger
- You are sufficiently resourced
2. Be a living example of trusting God
In 1st Timothy, we're reminded to be an example to those we lead as Paul talks to Timothy about the challenges of leadership.
1 Timothy 4:12-13,15-16 ESV
"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers."
3. Be Bible men and women during trying times
The biggest struggle people face right now is not the virus but despair. What we can offer right now is the timeless truth of God's word. Take advantage of technology to continue connecting and inspiring those around you and look for new, unique ways to encourage each other.
4. Keep a close watch on your life and doctrine
First and foremost, it's important to keep watch on your own soul. Make sure you're in good shape before trying to lead others. Do so by:
- Reading scripture
- Praying
- Weeping
- Prioritizing physical health
As a leader, it's hard to remember to take care of yourself first when you're caring for those around you. However, to succeed as a leader, you must put your own metaphorical mask on first and then take care of those around you.
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