Delegating to develop future leaders

In Exodus 18:13-26, Moses is given a large task of caring for the 600,000 Israelites plus their families.  The main part of this passage is how Jethro (Moses’ father-in-law) saw that the responsibility in ‘ministry’ that Moses was carrying was too much and that he was not serving the people well. Jethro asks Moses, “Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?"  In verse 21 Jethro advises, "select capable men from all the people-men who fear God, trustworthy... and appoint them as leaders...".  What Jethro suggested was delegation and the art of sharing leadership.

You may not be able to relate to Moses who could have been responsible for leading up to 3 million (counting women and children) Israelites in the wilderness.  You may be thinking, ‘I would be so grateful if there were 10 people to lead in this ministry!’  Your need is more to learn how to help develop others into leaders who will lead with you in your local ministry on campus and who will carry on the ministry after you graduate.  I think Jethro’s advice of delegating to share leadership works just as well in helping to develop new leaders for your local ministry as it did in helping Moses not to burn out in carrying out the overwhelming task that God had called him to do.

One simple way of developing new leaders or involving people new to your group or ministry is through delegation.  Delegation helps to increase the commitment level and the vision of others for serving the Lord and serving the ministry. Delegation is about helping to develop others to lead.

Here are some thoughts and questions to keep in mind as you think about developing new leaders:

·         Who are some students that seem faithful, available and teachable? (Look at 2 Tim. 2:2)

·         Do these students sincerely want to walk with the Lord, even though they may be spiritually young?

·         What are some activities that you could ask others to be involved in? (hanging up posters, coming early to help prepare the room for a meeting or Bible study group,  bring snacks, be in charge of an icebreaker game, go out to do surveys and share the gospel, help to lead a prayer time, etc)

·         What are some areas of strength/giftedness that these students seem to have?

·         Think through the ministry activities you have for each week.  What can you ask another believer in your group to do in order to involve others?  Challenge them to do it, give them some overall direction and watch to see how faithfully and how well they carry out their responsibility. 

Try challenging some students to some specific activities now if you aren’t already doing so.  As they follow through on those things, ask them to do more and begin to involve them in the greater vision of the ministry. As they contribute to the ministry, their ownership and commitment to the mission on campus usually increases.  And new leadership is raised up to continue the vision for the building of the movement for years after you leave.  You will have left a continuing legacy and God’s work of bringing the gospel to the lost students at your campus will be carried on!