Imitate Me

I was a youth pastor for one of the fastest-growing churches in the nation, and our team had thought of a way to reach every high school student in the area. It was a unique and good plan. Our youth group’s future would entirely revolve around this initiative, for which my assistants and I had taken eight months to develop a strategy. I’d shared the vision with our youth group, and they embraced it.

I discovered that it was contrary to my pastor’s heart. He asked that we not execute the program. I argued with him for about twenty minutes, but he didn’t budge. I finally shut my mouth when I could think of nothing else to say—but I was furious. Our whole vision was built around this program. We had to completely start over. How would I tell our twenty-four leaders and the entire youth group? They’d worked so hard.

Devastated, I went to Lisa for comfort. After rehearsing my frustrations, she sweetly countered, “Well, John, it looks like God is trying to teach you something.” Now I was angry with both my pastor and my wife.

I thought, My pastor and my wife must be totally blind. I felt alone and frustrated and was inconsolable. Could this really be happening? At one point, I even thought it was a nightmare—that I would soon wake up and all would be normal again.

In that moment, God spoke so clearly to my heart. He said, Son, when I judge you for your time of being a youth pastor, I will not judge first how many young people you won to Me. I will first judge how faithful you were to the man I put over you.

Those words riveted me, but not nearly as much as His next statement. He firmly said in my heart, You can win every high school student in the entire city to Me and lose all eternal credit and rewards for your labor because you were unfaithful to your pastor.

I suddenly began to tremble in holy fear. I immediately repented and asked for forgiveness.

I called my pastor and did the same with him.

A few days later, I walked into the meeting with my leaders. Now that I had a holy fear burning in my heart, I had a skip in my step, a twinkle in my eye, and a spark in my voice. I said with great enthusiasm, “Guys, I’ve got great news! Our lead pastor has spared us from birthing an Ishmael. He has declared that what we’ve been working on is not in the direction he wants this church to go, so we’re scrapping the program!”

They all immediately responded with joy. Some smiled, others high-fived each other, and the rest gave a shout of approval. They each caught my heart because I’d finally caught my pastor’s heart.

I learned that God was more concerned about my character than my results. He wanted a firm foundation in place before He would entrust Lisa and me with our own mission.

My dear friend, you are a leader too. If we walk in His ways, God has promised leadership opportunities to all His children.

Learn from me—so you, too, can advance in kingdom responsibility.

Respond

Recount a time when you and a ministry leader disagreed on direction.

What did you do? What was the outcome?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, forgive me for times when I’ve disappointed You when dealing with others. May I keep my mind, heart, and focus on You and Your plan.