LEAD: Equip | Unleash the Unseen in Your Leadership

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

Austin pulled into the church parking lot a few minutes late as usual. A couple families were filing in through the front doors, but it wasn’t anyone he recognized. Another long-time volunteer leader looked over and smiled as she shuffled by heading toward the building’s side entrance. Austin turned the ignition off and sat for a moment to collect his thoughts. “Would this be ‘the day’?” he thought. His anxiety level began to spike. It gave him just enough adrenaline to get out of the car, but not quite enough to walk toward the church. Austin’s heart just wasn’t in it anymore.

Not long ago he was responsible for leading most of the ministry. Now, Austin was just another small group shepherd. His final resignation from serving in children’s ministry was well rehearsed, though he wouldn’t need it if he ran into the ministry director. She always seemed so happy, and saying “no” to someone who’s in such high spirits is harder.

Deep questions raced through Austin’s mind faster than he could answer them. “What happened to me? What’s holding me back? Where did my passion go? How can I make it through one more day? Does all this effort really matter in the end?”

Shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders, Austin grabbed his Bible and his curriculum. He slowly walked into the church, down the hallway, and to his usual classroom. With just enough energy to muster a smile, he greeted the kids and parents, apologized for being a little tardy, and sat down to lead his little tribe of third grade boys. For Austin, it turned out to be just another day in children’s ministry.

Half-hearted leadership isn’t real leadership at all.

Yet, there are leaders in roles everywhere who question their worth, commitment, and purpose all the time. It happens in homes, businesses, schools, churches, and yes, even in children’s ministry. When this thinking starts to spiral downward, it can become debilitating. It impacts the individual and the people he or she interacts with. Feeling uncertainties as a leader is normal, but it doesn’t have to do damage to human hearts. There’s a better way.

YOU can to learn to unleash the unseen in your leadership.

What Austin forgot was that his activity in ministry is impacted by his attitude not tied to it. Who he is in the Lord’s eyes matters more that what he does. His God-given character, calling, and competency make up the core of his leadership, and everything is designed to flow from that healthy center. By staying connected to Christ in community with other disciples and leaders, Austin can explore what’s really going on inside his heart as a child of God and leader of His people.

Beyond visible skills that need to be developed, there are unseen aspects of leading that must be addressed first. And, to be honest, you need skills for this side of leadership as well.

So… How can YOU learn to unleash the unseen in your leadership? How can YOU grow in lifelong discipleship with Christ as you lead others of all ages to do the same? How can YOU discover, and effectively apply, the principles that will guide your heart and your steps as you lead? 

LEAD is a new leadership development experience by Awana that teaches essential ministry skills for Children and Youth Pastors, Children’s Directors, Awana Ministry Directors, Club Directors, and anyone who wants to grow in leadership abilities. This and future generations need leaders like you engaged in disciple making over the long haul. Like a tree is fueled by nutrients below the forest floor, you can tap into what’s unseen so God can unleash your leadership.

Click here to watch the promo video, visit Awana.org/LEAD to learn more, and register for a LEAD experience near you today!