{"id":23528,"date":"2019-06-19T12:13:50","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T19:13:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=23528"},"modified":"2019-06-19T12:13:50","modified_gmt":"2019-06-19T19:13:50","slug":"dirty-and-difficult","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/dirty-and-difficult\/","title":{"rendered":"Dirty and Difficult"},"content":{"rendered":"

A fitting conclusion to our required reading for this program, Mining for Gold by Tom Camacho, encourages readers to draw out the best in those they lead. Mining often occurs in ordinary \"\"looking environs and frequently requires entering the depths to bring out the precious metal. This is a powerful metaphor to put into practice in the work of Christian leaders. Camacho reminds that it is frequently not those who appear to possess overt gifts and abilities that God desires to use. He says, \u201cIn our churches, businesses and Christian organizations, we can often lose sight of this clear pattern of God: He chooses to use the ordinary and unqualified. We look for the brightest, the most qualified, and those with the greatest skills. Like Samuel, we would have chosen Eliab, not David. In many ways we have lost the awe of Christ living in His people. We have forgotten God\u2019s pattern to move powerfully through ordinary people.\u201d[1]<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The work of those often deemed ordinary is not to be overlooked. In fact, these are often those most necessary to achieve high purposes. The effort to help others be all that they were created to be is ultimately what the Church is meant to be about. However, too often those in leadership become consumed with their own thriving and pursuit of their own goals and fail to empower those around them. Again, Camacho reminds readers; \u201cThe power of the Coaching Leadership Process comes alive when we move beyond thinking in terms of our own thriving and we choose to help others thrive.<\/em>\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

Once again, I believe this is significant when it comes to connecting with emerging generations. Far too often I have had to remind church leadership that youth ministry is not working with the future of the church. The future of the church is not yet born. Children and young people represent the church as it is not as it will be. I am convinced that one of the forces working against young people remaining attached to faith communities after high school is that they never felt they were accepted as full participants. My perception continues to be that much of what is done in youth ministry settings is little more than babysitting, working toward the adult agenda of keeping kids involved but quiet. Even the Apostle Paul recognized the powerful influence emerging generations are meant to have on the church. He exhorts Timothy; \u201cDon\u2019t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity<\/em>.\u201d[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

A thriving student ministry with a full calendar of programing and attendance numbers worth bragging about is no guarantee of a vibrant faith experience for these same students as adults. In many ways if there has been limited \u2018Mining for Gold\u2019 by leadership in their lives before they\"\" graduate from High School they are far less likely to wait around for it as adults. In fact they may be far more inclined to adopt what Camacho calls the \u2018Orphan Mentality\u2019 believing that; \u201cI\u2019m on my own. No one is there for me. It\u2019s all up to me. I have to take care of everything by myself. No one is there to help me and guide me in my journey. Deep inside, I\u2019m terribly afraid of failure, rejection and being alone<\/em>.\u201d[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Though it is unlikely that they will be erudite enough to express their feelings in these clearly explained terms many are communicating with their feet. I am convinced that the best of Camacho\u2019s work is not simply about developing leadership, but the full body of Christ. Mining in the lives of all those with whom we minister, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or perceived value to our ministry goals necessitates that; \u201cWe learn to see the whole person\u2026and get the big picture of who they are\u2026We look for their unique God-given passion and design, and help them find their sweet spot. We are not just interested in their skills and how they can help our organization accomplish its goals. We are interested in their well-being and that they flourish<\/em>.\u201d Ultimately, we are to help each other develop into the man or woman God created us to be that God\u2019s plan would be accomplished.<\/p>\n

That is the Church I desire to be a part of. That is the leader I continue to strive to be. Mining is dirty and difficult work. Sometimes the \u2018pay-off\u2019 is slow to be realized but if it means playing a part in helping others, particularly young people, find their God given purpose and potential then I\u2019m all in.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

[1]<\/a>Camacho, Tom.\u00a0Mining for Gold: Developing Kingdom Leaders Through Coaching<\/em>. Chicago, IL: IVP, 2019.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a>Ibid<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a>1 Timothy 4:12 New International Version<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a>Camacho, Tom.\u00a0Mining for Gold: Developing Kingdom Leaders Through Coaching<\/em>. Chicago, IL: IVP, 2019.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A fitting conclusion to our required reading for this program, Mining for Gold by Tom Camacho, encourages readers to draw out the best in those they lead. Mining often occurs in ordinary looking environs and frequently requires entering the depths to bring out the precious metal. This is a powerful metaphor to put into practice […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1555,1571,35],"class_list":["post-23528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-camacho","tag-discipleship","tag-leadership","cohort-lgp8"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23528","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/98"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23528"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23528\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23531,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23528\/revisions\/23531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}