Leader development
This is a key area of ministry on the periphery. Many local churches in this area completely change their responsibilities for seminaries, which in some cases can result in losses for the church and the trained individual. Certainly, on the periphery we must have a clearly defined multifaceted approach to empowering the next generation of leaders. Of course, the most effective leaders are local leaders, but what should we do when this is not happening or is not likely to happen for many years to come?I’m not a truly local leader (Niddrie), but I’m a leader of the same cultural background. I grew up in a suburb of the north of England and that’s why I know the “suburban culture. “In my ministerial team, I have a group made up of middle-class people from outside (outside the culture), locals and others of the same cultural background. Each of them has their strengths and weaknesses.
? Those out of culture?
They are usually middle-class young people who care about the periphery, but who do not have the experience of life and/or the mentality formed by that culture.
Positive: they are generally very intelligent, good at learning and bring a sense of self-discipline to the team. They may have received formal theological training or may consider doing so in the future. experience of what it’s like to be involved in a full-time ministry, especially in this context. They are almost always strong in their interpersonal skills.
Negative: They are almost always extremely naive when it comes to handling (some) driving situations. They also tend to have a very romantic view of the ‘poor’, and this can lead to depression and discouragement when reality comes. this group is high, perhaps 80% or more do not enter this type of department, however, those who spend the first two years often stay a long time, may have a tendency to paternalism when dealing with local people who consider them less educated, less intelligent or less able to deal with complex theological thoughts than they are. This is almost always evident in the lack of growth of those who succeed and/or discipline because they are often spoiled or overprotected.
Local leaders
This group is the long-term future of working on the periphery. In Niddria, many of our converts are between the ages of thirty and forty (we have a twenty-something foreigner), but regardless of age, many of them have serious mental and mental problems. / or psychological problems. They just weren’t made for leadership positions. They are strong in terms of relational skills with the people of the community, but they will not be the future leaders of the local church on the periphery. This will depend on a 10-year plan (at least). That’s why the church’s ministerial team in the Niddrie community has been engaged for at least 10 years and why, after being independent, we have made great progress since our goal of working with children and young people on the periphery. We have a dynamic department in that area. It is a fact that almost no young man has become Niddrie in the last decade. I am willing to take the risk and say that this situation is not limited to our periphery.
Our future local leaders are around 5 years old now, so we must invest our time, energy and resources to evangelize and discipline them, allowing them to become the next generation of Niddrie-born Christian leaders. As Christians on the peripheries, we need to change the tendency to ‘change for the better’, ‘stay and develop’. We must remain and we must help them stay to build and establish a strong, healthy and vibrant Christian community at the heart of the community.
Leaders with the same culture
We can continue to recruit people from outside the culture while working on long-term goals, but I think we lack a trick in our context when we don’t appreciate leaders of the same cultural background. I currently have two young men on my team, a Scot and an Englishman; both were imprisoned and grew up on the periphery; they have an innate cultural perception and an intuition that cannot be taught; they are courageous when it comes to dealing with local people and have no problem sharing the gospel boldly They have many weaknesses, one of which is not uncommon is a chaotic lifestyle; make mistakes, may lack personal discipline, and may have trouble overcoming stagnation; but they are teachable, intelligent, and absorb biblical teaching and doctrine. Again, they apply the Bible intuitively without anyone having to ask. There are many of these men and women across the country, usually isolated as a wounded finger in middle-class congregations.
Have I lost count of the number of calls I receive from churches in the country I am referring to? Who came from a “difficult situation”? (read prison and / or drugs) and do you have difficulty integrating into the church? (read? We don’t know how to deal with this guy and he would probably be better off with you?). At some level, churches like this should stop complaining and just deal with the situation. Would it be great for every church in the country to have at least two people out of one? Difficult situation? and learn to care for it biblically. Not only that, but to discipline them and take risks by giving them some leadership responsibility. The point is that once you get out of a “difficult situation”, the danger is that you become the “official witness”. of this church, reserved for evangelistic events, but not really seen as a potential leader. Am I saying that to cool down middle class folks without? Problems? and you don’t have the same luggage? (Examine yourself!) At Niddria, one of the ministerial areas that I would like to develop is a face-to-face training course for leaders of this culture, in order to better disciple, equip and send each one of them to the thousands of communities. in need across the country. We could do a lot of damage to the kingdom with this strategic training approach. I think it may be a key area as we try to make up ground in many of these places.
This is a topic I want to write about, including the treatment of financial problems in this approach. However, in partnership with Porterbrook Training Material, I believe that the future can be very good for many of our peripheries in Scotland. structured through this type of leadership, adapted to our specific needs. What our communities need are young and strong Christian leaders from all walks of life, working together, united by Christ, and advancing toward the kingdom of God in some of the most disadvantaged parts of our country.
Pray for us as we reflect and work on these ideas in collaboration with others.
By: Mez McConnel. © 2013 20Seemas. Original: Keys to progress in the housing project (1)
Translation: Fabio Luciano Review: Yago Martins © 2016 Faithful Ministério All rights reserved. Website: MinistryFiel. com. br. Original: Gospel on the periphery?Principle 4: Developing Leaders
Authorizations: You are authorized and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format, provided that the author, his ministry and translator are no longer no longer modified and not used for commercial purposes.
View other publications in the series
? Gospel on the periphery? Principle 1: Living in Community?Gospel Periphery – Principle 2: Prioritize the Ministry of Reconciliation?Gospel on the periphery? Principle 3: Developing Skills?, Gospel on the Periphery?Principle 4: Developing leaders, gospel on the periphery? Principle 5: Listen to the community?Gospel on the Periphery Principle 6: Developing the Community? Gospel on the Periphery Principle 7: Planting or Revitalizing Churches?Gospel on the Periphery Principle 8: Avoiding Paternalism (15/06)