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Confidence in Christian leadership is being grounded in the Word.
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).
Defending your faith is not always easy, whether you are a leader or not, but if you have taken time to think about what you are going to say, it may be easier.
A few years ago, LWML introduced a wonderful devotion book entitled Hope Notes (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2015), written by six former LWML presidents about hope. Reading these devotions can help leaders focus on what kind of defense they can give when asked about the hope that they have in their Lord Jesus Christ. The devotions are uplifting and encouraging and will help each person prepare her heart and mind with words of Christian hope.
Another way to prepare your defense is to actually write it out and practice it. Think of six words that describe your life with Jesus Christ. Write a statement of faith that includes those six words. Practice speaking your faith statement out loud in front of a mirror so you can hear how it might sound to others.
Above all, pray for the Holy Spirit to bless you with the words that your listener needs to hear and have faith that your hope in the saving grace of Jesus shines through with gentle and respectful words. Others will know and understand your sure and certain hope of eternal life, and God will be glorified.
God's Blessings,
2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members
Christina Bean Elaine Engelman Jennifer Gierke Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory
Confidence in Christian leadership is being grounded in the Word.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6–7).
Several years ago, Richard Carlson wrote a book entitled Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and It’s All Small Stuff. This very popular book helped millions of people come to the realization that whatever happens in our lives will be as big or as small as we decide to make it.
About 2,000 years ago, Matthew wrote these words: Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Matthew 6:34). God doesn’t want us to worry or be anxious about things. He’s got it all under control. The big stuff, the little stuff, and all the stuff in between.
As leaders, we sometimes deal with some big stuff, and we often deal with a lot of little stuff. When we pray about our situation and give it all to God, we have the confidence that He will take care of it.
God's Blessings,
2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members Christina Bean Elaine Engelman Jennifer Gierke Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory
Posted on February 14, 2023 2:48 PM
by
Patti Miller
Confidence in Christian leadership is being grounded in the Word.
Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come (Mark 13:33).
According to Roget’s Pocket Thesaurus (1961), synonyms for “on guard (guarded)” are watchful, vigilant, and wary. When the words of Mark 13:33 are read, a vision of a sentry on guard duty often comes to mind, but that vision can sometimes be discouraging. Even with the best discipline, no one can be on guard, vigilant, or aware all the time. A recent sermon resonated when this verse was described as “continuously training.” While it is true that no human can be constantly alert for the devil’s attempts at sabotage, leaders can practice continuous training in order to be better prepared to keep the world’s evil at bay.
What does continuous training look like?
Pray without ceasing — individually and corporately — with printed words and with prayers from the heart.
Worship in church in order to hear God’s Word taught and to receive His forgiveness through the Sacraments.
Study the Bible within a group and with individual devotions. Mustard Seed Devotion: The Race of Faith is a good training tool.
Establish a routine of prayer, worship, and Bible study that fits your lifestyle and exercise it regularly.
While it is impossible to literally keep awake at all times, Christian leaders can be vigilant in their faith training, always depending on the Holy Spirit to help them be ready to give an account of their hope in Christ Jesus until they are called home.
God's Blessings,
2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members Christina Bean Elaine Engelman Jennifer Gierke Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory
Posted on January 12, 2023 9:14 AM
by
Patti Miller
Confidence in Christian leadership is being grounded in the Word
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Psalm 32:11).
As leaders, it can be easy to get bogged down in the work of running an organization. Meetings, projects, schedules, and to-do lists fill our calendars. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with it all.
When those feelings start to creep in, we need to take a step back and remember why we are serving in the LWML. We have the privilege to joyfully proclaim Christ, support missions, and equip women to honor God by serving others. What a blessing and an honor to serve our Lord in this way!
It may be easier to grumble about our to-do list, but let’s be sure to take time to rejoice and give thanks for this amazing mission we are on. The apostle Paul tells us to Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice (Philippians 4:4). When we choose to find the joy in our work, we can Serve the LORD with gladness! (Psalm 100:2).
God's Blessings,
2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members
Christina Bean Elaine Engelman Jennifer Gierke Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory
Confidence in Christian leadership is being grounded in the Word.
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand (Proverbs 19:20–21).
Listening to advice is not always the easiest thing to do. As women and leaders, it is often our task to make plans and solve problems. We’ll think about it, pray about it, think about it some more, and come up with a plan. It often seems easier to just take care of it and not ask anyone for help. It may be easier, but it doesn’t always work out well.
Seeking advice and wisdom from other leaders helps us to keep things in balance and provides us with a different perspective. Other women will have different experiences that have provided them with knowledge of things that you might not have thought of. We are blessed in the LWML with many generations of women who have served the Lord. Seek them out when you are working on a plan. Use them as a sounding board for your ideas. Ask them to pray for you when you need wisdom. Rejoice with them when a plan comes together and works well. Give thanks to God for the blessing of these women in your life and His kingdom!
God's Blessings,
2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members
Christina Bean Elaine Engelman Jennifer Gierke Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory
Confidence in Christian leadership is being grounded in the Word.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26).
Being any group’s head cheerleader isn’t easy. Keeping everyone else organized and on track, working together, and sharing the team spirit can drain a leader’s cheerful reserves. As leaders, we sometimes have thoughts like this:
“I don’t want to go to another meeting or help with another project. I am so tired of doing the same old thing over and over.”
“I just don’t know what to say to help her anymore.”
“The meeting was a total disaster! Nothing was accomplished and it seemed that more than a few feelings were hurt.”
When we have those types of thoughts, that is when we have to go back to our Source of cheer — the Giver of grace and forgiveness — and let the Holy Spirit intercede for us. As we turn all our frustrations, disappointments, inabilities, and inadequacies over to our loving Father, that negative space can begin to fill with hope, renewed strength, and a willing spirit. We can look beyond our plans to God’s bigger plan of redemption and ask for guidance, praying for new ideas, helpful solutions, and renewed focus to reach His ultimate goal — salvation for all.
God's Blessings,
2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members Christina Bean Elaine Engelman Jennifer Gierke Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory
Confidence in Christian leadership is being grounded in the Word.
“Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Mark 10:15).
It is hard to understand the concept of childlike faith until you have held out your arms to a child you barely know, and he comes to you. The child instinctively believes you will do what is best for him. As a toddler learns to walk, he may be more hesitant to take your hand, but he still trusts you not to let him fall. A school-age child will ask many questions and expect you, as the adult in his life, to know the answers. Sometimes you do but don’t think the child is ready to fully understand the answer, so you say, “We will talk about it when you are older.”
All of those steps are examples of the kind of childlike faith God wants us to have in Him. They are also the kinds of examples He would have us set as Christian leaders. As infants in the faith, whatever our chronological age may be, we instinctively know that God — our Father — wants what is best for us. As we continue our faith journey, we hold our Father’s hand by hearing His Word and receiving His gifts of grace and forgiveness through the Sacraments. The more we study, the more questions we have, and the more we pray for answers. Sometimes those answers come in the form of a timely sermon or counsel from a Christian friend, but sometimes our Father says, “We will talk about it when you are older — when you are more mature in your faith.”
during the times we don’t have answers that we must rely on our childlike faith. That is when we hold tight to our Father’s hand or fall into His arms and trust Him to lead us through the present darkness, knowing that, in His eternal light, we will have all the answers we need
God's Blessings,
2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members Christina Bean Elaine Engelman Jennifer Gierke Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory
Posted on September 08, 2022 12:21 PM
by
Patti Miller
