...recognize them by their fruits - Steve
Yesterday, in one of the most potent messages I've heard in a long time, Ryan spoke of the importance of being patient in raising up new leaders. We've said it regularly at Emergence--we'd rather see less ministries and less leaders and know that the people in places of leadership are ready.
This is reflected in our Missional Communities. Every semester, leaders are added, as they should be. However, to date, there are only 14 groups. The negative side of that is we don't have as many groups available. The positive side of that is the ones we have are led by leaders we absolutely trust.
Being in worship ministry, we get a lot of people coming in regularly who want to be a part of the bands. It's no secret we've been extremely blessed in the realm of music. I can't say that I know of a more talented and more Christ-centered group of musicians anywhere in the world. Their hearts are pure in their service, and the give their lives to the ministry--both in their playing/singing for God and their time (most Sundays, the band members are at Emergence for over 6 hours). It is--by far--the most time consuming ministry we have, and it is also the ministry most prone to derailments of ego and pride. I've seen it happen many times in music ministry: it easily becomes more about music than ministry. I can, with full disclosure and clean conscience, absolutely state that with the (nearly 40) people serving in our worship and tech teams, it is about ministry.
I state regularly to our teams that they are leaders at Emergence. They lead worship when they are on the platform, but their example leads people off the platform as well. Because of this, they are held to a high standard of leadership.
When someone comes to me and shares about their musical gifts and desire to be in the bands, my first response is always the same: how long have you been at Emergence? are you involved in any sort of community here?
In Matthew 7, Jesus says this to His disciples:
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits."
I am fully aware that Satan wants nothing more than to destroy what is going on at Emergence. Lives are changing, people are coming face-to-face with the Jesus of the Bible, steps of development are being pursued, and people who have never been to church or who wrote it off years ago are walking through the doors every week. All it takes to destroy a work of God like this one is a few wolves in sheep's clothing sneaking in to devour the sheep.
While I may need an additional bass player or drummer, I don't need them enough to place anyone in a leadership position without giving them time to bear fruit in this place God has blessed.
Even with this cautious approach, God has brought servants of all giftings to Emergence to make it what it is today. I'm so thankful for every one of them, and it is a privilege to serve with them.
If you're not currently contributing your gifts to what God is doing at Emergence, pray about how you can be a part of your church. Our hope is to see as many people as possible say "I'm all-in" here. The more people who make that decision--the more we'll all be making ourselves available to go wherever God wants to take this thing.