GOING FORWARD

Organization of all kinds cannot succeed without astute leadership.

Meaning of ASTUTE

sharp, shrewd, smart
[adj] marked by practical hardheaded intelligence

Good leaders will plan and utilize careful research. They will find ways to skillfully motivate followers toward properly set goals. that have been targeted well in advance.

Going forward addresses the issues of strategy in the ministry and what it takes to carry it out. Dr. Philip M. Mc Donald ( who specializes in planning and development) challenges pastors and missionaries to adopt a carefully devised plan before plunging into their God-given task.

We live in a a day when adequate leadership is hard to find. Churches look almost in vain for men who are prepared to accept the challenge of aggressively leading and organizing a congregation to reach a community for Christ. This work of missions face a dearth (deficiency, lack, scarceness, scarcity, want)

The Scripture abound with examples of leaders who were strategic thinkers. They were able to see the grand design, the over-all design of God's will for their times.

In the Old testament, Solomon stands out for his wisdom and ability. While his father, King David was the military strategist. King Solomon was the political and organizational strategist. Solomon used his wisdom and knowledge in designing the temple. He then exercised his leadership ability by mobilizing a work force to execute his design.
An outstanding NT strategist is the apostle Paul. He followed a systematic approach to evangelize key cities located at strategic crossroads of the Roman empire. Paul's approach automatically distributed the gospel. As people passed through these cities on their journeys, they heard the Word of truth, accepted the Christ and continued on their way of spreading the Good News. Paul not only evangelized but he also mobilized his converts to plant churches all over the Mediterranean world. He was a mentor to younger men such as Timothy who in turn trained other leaders for more churching planting works.
Just as Israel needed a wise king and in the early church needed a zealous church planter, the ministry today needs Christian leaders who are strategic thinkers and dynamic mobilizers.

The purpose of this is to present an approach to developing strategy in the ministry and carrying it out. This approach requires two sets of skills of the Christian leader.

First, he must develop his thinking and planning skills. This is the task-oriented side of the model as the leader analyzes the environment, makes strategic choices, develops long-range plans and compiles them all in the form of a master plan.

Second, the leader must use his interpersonal skills to motivate his followers in the direction chosen. This is the people -oriented side of the model in which the leader's strategic plan s are understood, approved, followed and implemented by people involved in the ministry.

Strategic leadership, as defined here is the marriage of the principles of strategic planning skills and the principles of effective leadership.
Without the balance between the strategic planning skills and leadership skills, the Christian leader will not reach his full potential. Planning without leadership is dead, as master plans only collect dust if not implemented. Leadership without planning is dead, as ministries aimlessly along.

Full-time Christian leaders face a crossroads We live in a world undergoing dynamic change. Unless we take hold of the future, our churches could decline and our mission could shrink. Time is a crucial commodity. As one missionary so aptly stated concerning the politically unstable country in which he serves, "Jesus is coming soon and the communists may come first - we have to get going!"

# posted by mom eden @ 9:23 AM