How to Be a Christian Leader

The One

If you are a follower of Christ and want to lead others in His direction, you have to be willing to follow His example. First and foremost, you have to be able to love all people without limit. You have to be willing to go into dark places and shine the light of God’s hope. You have to be brave and bold enough to stand up for absolute truth and refuse to be swayed by popular rhetoric. You have to know the Bible, as you can't teach someone something you do not know yourself. You have to have the heart of a servant and want to give the best of yourself to communicate God’s love to a hurting world.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Know it

   Know the Bible. To lead someone in his faith, you have to be rock solid in your own. You do not have to attend seminary, but you do have to have basic knowledge of the Bible. Some churches have Bible instruction or other training classes on counseling and other areas in which leaders may be needed. Determine which denomination you wish to become affiliated with and learn its particular doctrine. There are many different branches in the Christian tree and their views vary greatly. For instance, if you like a glass of wine with your dinner, you'd be more suited to a Lutheran or Episcopal Church that allows drinking alcohol versus a very strict Baptist church that frowns upon it. Finding a group that mirrors your own beliefs will cause less stress down the road.

2. Live a life above reproach. You want to live your life in such a way that you can be a Christian leader without embarrassing God or shaking someone else's faith. If you have any secret vices, work and pray to purge yourself of them before getting into a leadership position. Whatever happens in your life reflects on the God you claim to represent, and on the church you are involved with. Make sure you are willing to make the personal sacrifices necessary to live up to very high moral and spiritual standards. Most churches you apply to will conduct a background check, so if you have a complicated past, admit it up front and provide character references and evidence of your changed life.

3. Be real. Share your own story of how God has worked in your life, and don't gloss over the bad parts. Nothing is as powerful as the story of a changed life. Lots of people can present the facts, but if you say this is who I was before I knew God, or this is what I have been through on my way to God, and people can see evidence of a changed life, that is compelling. People want to follow a leader who inspires and who has been where they are. Your story gives them hope.

4. Volunteer for a ministry you are interested in leading. Becoming actively involved before assuming leadership so you know if it's a good fit.

5. Hit your knees

   Pray daily. Being a Christian leader means staying connected to your source, which is God. Just like in any good relationship, open communication is key, so make time daily to spend time in God's presence. Pray with others, too. Learning to pray aloud in public is a necessary skill for a Christian leader.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice humility. People may put you on a pedestal when you are in a leadership role, but you know yourself well enough not to believe your own press.

• If you wish to become an ordained minister, ask your local church for seminaries they recommend for that denomination.

• If you wish to counsel people, certain states require you to obtain a Christian Counselor's license.

• Don't assume you have to be perfect to lead. You only need to be one step ahead to lead.

Resources

• Bible Gateway