What characteristics are needed for the leader or pastor in the 21st century. Depending on who you ask you may find a variety of answers. Some would say the leader for the future will be technologically savvy. Maybe some may say he needs to be relevant with the times. Some have suggested, at least to reach the younger crowd, he must dress down. Wear blue jeans and lose the tie. The answers to that question are all over the map. Call me crazy but I think that the answer to that question actually lies within the Bible. Go figure?
I was recently at a training that we offered and heard a great presentation from Rev. Barry Whitworth, Team Leader for Church Planting for the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania and South Jersey. He said that they look for a church planter to be AED. As he described AED I realized that the characteristics they are looking for in a church planter are the same characteristics needed in pastors and leaders if they are going to lead their church into Kingdom work in the 21st Century.
Let me describe AED:
A is Apostolic. Now what does that mean. It means to have a mindset and life style of a Missionary. (see Acts 17) Pastors have viewed themselves as administrators, CEO's, and professionals to name a few titles. We call ourselves senior pastors, lead pastors, teaching pastors etc . . . While that is all OK. What we really need to call ourselves is missionaries. The Apostle Paul was always going where the people were and exposing them with the realities of the gospel.
E is Evangelistic. (2 Timothy 4.1-8) Why do we think our people will share their faith if we are not doing it? We have a great excuse, "I don't know any lost people. I am always dealing with church people." The truth is we are too busy doing church stuff in our sanctuaries and offices that we haven't developed relationship with lost people. We rarely have or take the opportunities to meet lost people. (let me refer you back to A)
D is Discipleship. Call it what you will, mentoring, discipleship, equipping. Just do it! I firmly believe the reason that 70-80 % of established evangelical churches are in decline or death is because we have not been discipling. But what method do we use to do that? Not the way we have been doing it! Go back to the Scriptures. Look at the example of Jesus, Paul, Barnabas and see Paul's instruction to Timothy (2 Timothy 2.2). That will be a great place to start.
This is a great challenge to us but if we are to see revival, Pastor it will have to begin with us!
I was recently at a training that we offered and heard a great presentation from Rev. Barry Whitworth, Team Leader for Church Planting for the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania and South Jersey. He said that they look for a church planter to be AED. As he described AED I realized that the characteristics they are looking for in a church planter are the same characteristics needed in pastors and leaders if they are going to lead their church into Kingdom work in the 21st Century.
Let me describe AED:
A is Apostolic. Now what does that mean. It means to have a mindset and life style of a Missionary. (see Acts 17) Pastors have viewed themselves as administrators, CEO's, and professionals to name a few titles. We call ourselves senior pastors, lead pastors, teaching pastors etc . . . While that is all OK. What we really need to call ourselves is missionaries. The Apostle Paul was always going where the people were and exposing them with the realities of the gospel.
E is Evangelistic. (2 Timothy 4.1-8) Why do we think our people will share their faith if we are not doing it? We have a great excuse, "I don't know any lost people. I am always dealing with church people." The truth is we are too busy doing church stuff in our sanctuaries and offices that we haven't developed relationship with lost people. We rarely have or take the opportunities to meet lost people. (let me refer you back to A)
D is Discipleship. Call it what you will, mentoring, discipleship, equipping. Just do it! I firmly believe the reason that 70-80 % of established evangelical churches are in decline or death is because we have not been discipling. But what method do we use to do that? Not the way we have been doing it! Go back to the Scriptures. Look at the example of Jesus, Paul, Barnabas and see Paul's instruction to Timothy (2 Timothy 2.2). That will be a great place to start.
This is a great challenge to us but if we are to see revival, Pastor it will have to begin with us!
