\u201cGod\u2019s sovereign searching of our hearts, and then His call to leadership,<\/p>\n
are awesome to behold. And they make a person very humble.\u201d<\/p>\n
-Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder-<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Allow me to start this article by reciting a poem entitled \u201cThe Pastor\u201d:<\/p>\n If he\/she is young, he\/she is considered to lack experience<\/p>\n But if his\/her hair is gray, he\/she is considered too old<\/p>\n If his\/her family is big, he\/she is a burden on the congregation<\/p>\n If he\/she doesn’t have children, he\/she is not worthy of being an example<\/p>\n If his\/her wife\/husband is active, he\/she is accused of wanting to assert himself<\/p>\n If not, his\/her wife\/husband will not support the Pastor’s ministry<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If he\/she preaches while reading, it’s very boring<\/p>\n If the sermon is out of your head, it’s a sign that you haven’t prepared yourself<\/p>\n If the sermon has a lot of examples, it is not Biblical enough<\/p>\n Otherwise, the sermon is too high<\/p>\n If the sermon is long, it makes people sleepy<\/p>\n If his sermon is short, he\/she is a lazy pastor<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If he\/she fails to please someone, it means he\/she is hurting his congregation<\/p>\n If he\/she tries to please everyone, then he\/she is a sycophant<\/p>\n If he\/she is outspoken in the truth, he\/she is considered offensive<\/p>\n Otherwise, he\/she is considered a coward<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He\/she must be wise like an owl<\/p>\n Brave as an eagle<\/p>\n Humble as a dove<\/p>\n Willing to eat anything, like a canary<\/p>\n He\/she must be an economist, politician, fundraiser, marriage counselor<\/p>\n An authoritative, friendly taxi driver<\/p>\n An accomplished orator and wise shepherd<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He\/she had to see everyone get sick, everyone gets married, and everyone dies<\/p>\n He\/she has to mix with children, teenagers, young people, and even the elderly<\/p>\n He\/she must be good at speaking and writing<\/p>\n He\/she is a servant who must be humble, as well as an authoritative leader<\/p>\n ===================================================<\/p>\n I had difficulty finding the source where the poem was written.\u00a0But the poem is very familiar to pastors within our denomination. It vividly portrays the dilemma a pastor faces in serving a congregation. All eyes seem to be fixed on him\/her. Everyone appears armed with a pen and assessment board, ready to jot down comments about the pastor’s leadership. Regardless of what he\/she does or says, it’s as if there is a predetermined template for evaluation. Positive actions seldom receive acknowledgment, while any misstep is met with repeated judgment. The expectations placed on a pastor are undeniably high, verging on the pursuit of perfection.<\/p>\n What is depicted in the poem, sooner or later, can make a pastor experience pressure, fatigue, and ultimately burnout. For this reason, a pastor needs peace that comes from God. A pastor needs to have the ability to find that peace. Warner and Wilder give some good advice, \u201cOur ability to live at peace is directly related to our ability to be single-minded. One way to get your thoughts on the same page with God is to create a checklist of beliefs that feel true when your negative emotions are at their peak and begin to talk to God about them.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/p>\n If a pastor has difficulty finding peace with God, then his\/her ministry and leadership will become chaotic. Mediocre leaders tend to focus on problems and results rather than relationships.[2]<\/a> This will bring them to a worse situation, \u201cConsequently, they value results and solutions more than relationships. This tends to leave them isolated, overwhelmed, and operating out of a motivational system in the brain that virtually guarantees their pace will not be sustainable.\u201d[3]<\/a> Experiencing a loss of peace can precipitate emotional challenges within an individual. The contemporary landscape reveals a notable struggle among leaders and pastors in effectively navigating their emotional well-being. According to Warner and Wilder, individuals in leadership roles, particularly pastors, who encounter difficulties in emotional management are classified as “sandbox leaders.” They write, \u201cSandbox leaders are grown-ups in positions of responsibility whose lack of emotional maturity creates catastrophic consequences for their unsuspecting followers. The higher a person rises in leadership circles, the more devastating the impact of sandbox leadership can be, such as Churches split, affairs occur, leaders burn out, boards feud with staff, a trail of wounded people gets left in the dust.\u201d[4]<\/a><\/p>\n Warner and Wilder used the research on the working system of the human brain which consists of fast and slow tracks. The results of their research show that the determinant in decision-making in the fast track in the human brain is identity. They explain, \u201cWho we are determines what we will do and identity operates faster and more powerfully than choices.\u201d Transformation within a person can occur when the combination of identity and sense of belonging strengthens. This combination is described in the term R.A.R.E, Remain relational (belonging), Act like yourself (identity), Return to joy (being glad to be together), and Endure hardship well (using hard times to bring us closer).[5]<\/a> A pastor needs to always discern his\/her calling so that his identity and sense of belonging become more deeply rooted. When these two elements are strengthened, a pastor or leader can find the direction and purpose of his ministry, even during difficult times, and guide the people with complete certainty. Warner and Wilder described this in a blunt statement, \u201cThis is who we are and this is how it is like us to act.\u201d[6]<\/a><\/p>\n The interesting thing in Warner and Wilder’s writing is that they include the element of intimacy with God as an important part of the RARE leadership concept. They write that leaders cultivate our “spiritual receptivity” by practicing the presence of God.[7]<\/a> According to them, God designed humans to be able to build a relationship with Him. \u201cGod designed us for relationship with Him. It would make no sense if our brains were not crafted by the Almighty to facilitate the experience of His presence.\u201d John Calvin says human beings have a sense of divinity (sensus divinitatis<\/em>), a sense that makes humans able to have a relationship with God.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n Assuming the post of pastor or leader has substantial hurdles. The introductory poem in this article vividly depicts the inherent challenges that those in such positions face in front of the congregations they serve. Nonetheless, an excellent leader who constantly cultivates closeness with God may overcome these problems and evolve into an effective leader, assuring the ongoing efficacy of their leadership or service. \u00a0\u201cWarner and Wilder explain, \u201cEffective leaders are set apart by the maturity that shows up wherever they go. Their maturity serves as a catalyst for everything they do. It helps them focus on the right issues and make sure they are giving their conscious attention to the right things.\u201d[9]<\/a> Presuming a leadership or ministry role is inherently difficult, but this book aims to make every aspect of leadership and ministry a source of visible, vocal, and holistic joy. This book endeavors to assist each pastor or leader in consistently embodying the qualities and integrity crucial for effective leadership and ministry.\u00a0 Therefore, let\u2019s always serve and lead with care, stay humble, and dare to be RARE.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder,\u00a0Rare Leadership: 4 Uncommon Habits for Increasing Trust, Joy, and Engagement in the People You Lead\u00a0<\/em>(Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2016), 185.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder,\u00a0Rare Leadership<\/em>, 25<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Ibid, 41-42.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n [7]<\/a> Ibid, 113.<\/p>\n