Pioneer Christian Monthly - April, 1998

Re-Focusing Leaders - But Why?
Jim Moerman

Introduction

Chances are excellent that your pastor is--or soon will be--part of something called a "Re-Focussing Network" in your classis or region of the country. Currently, 17 of our Regional Synod of Canada pastors are busy "Re-Focussing" their lives and ministries, with another 17 (or so) starting later this year (all the Lord willing).

What exactly is a Re-Focussing Network? Why is it so vital that 100% of our pastors participate? And what in the world do our pastors do there for those six-hour monthly meetings?

To answer that question, I'd like to share with you an article written by Dr. Terry Walling, who is one of the two architects of the Re-Focussing Networks System. Please read it carefully so that you can better support and pray for your pastor in this enlightening, life-changing process.

Save Your Shot For The Epaulet Men

In his book Dying for Change, Leith Anderson recounts an important incident in the American Revolutionary War that applies to leaders in today's church: "In 1777, the battle of Saratoga was fought. Some believe that skirmish was the turning point of the Revolutionary War. On the eve of the battle, patriot troops recognized that the British regiment had more soldiers, more gunpowder, more muskets, and more shot.

"Daniel Morgan of New Hampshire was commanding this ragtag group of farmers known as 'Morgan's Rifles.' He met with his men the night before the battle and said to them, 'Don't waste your shot on those who fight for six pence a day. Save your shot for the epaulet men.' Morgan's point was simple. Patriot troops could not afford to waste their limited shot on the ordinary soldier. Instead, they were to target the officers, the ones with the epaulets on their shoulders.

"This strategy devastated the British. By the second day of the battle, the British officer ranks were decimated. The British regiment still had plenty of men, fire power, and supplies, yet they surrendered to the patriot troops. The States of America went on to win the war. To this day, officers are no longer identified on the battlefield because the principle is true: as goes the leader, so goes the battle."

This illustration provides a vivid picture of what is occurring in churches throughout the Western world. Leaders are being taken down right and left by the enemy. Programs and human strategies do not counteract the roaring lion who seeks to devour and destroy the officers of this spiritual battle. Ministry today is a declaration of spiritual war.

The Battle for the Church

We live in the post-Christian era. Society no longer considers the church a place to address the needs of today's world. Church is viewed by many as irrelevant and out of touch.

To move into intentional mission ministry, we must change. But change is very often painful. For churches to transition into a new era of ministry, courageous, godly leadership is paramount. The fate of your church will rise and fall on the courage and spiritual integrity of its leaders. Leaders must focus themselves before they can refocus the local church. Pastors and church leaders must take the initiative to help strengthen their personal walks and clarify their own direction and calling if they are to lead their churches into battle.

The Re-Focussing Leaders process has been created to help leaders become more focussed in their lives and leadership. It seeks to understand how God shapes a leader and provides a road map for God's unique direction in an individual leader's life. These insights help leaders withstand attacks on them and their ministries.

Re-Focussed leaders minister out of a commitment to character-based leadership. They wage spiritual battle with spiritual weapons. They are capable of stepping beyond their current circumstances to discover God's unique, strategic role for their lives and ministries.

The Re-Focussing Leaders Process

Re-Focussing Leaders is a leadership development process designed to help leaders recognize the ways God has been shaping their own development. Re-Focussing Leaders helps them build on past lessons to plan more effective ministry. Mentors help them.

The Re-Focussing Leaders process is based on Dr. J. Robert Clinton's research and writings. Dr. Clinton, professor of leadership development at Fuller Seminary, has studied over 700 historical and contemporary Christian leaders. He has discovered principles of effective godly leadership. His research seeks to discover how God shapes character.

This leadership development model is a three-fold, eight-step process. It seeks to identify lessons and values from the past development of a leader through the creation of a personal timeline. It then seeks to assist that leader in charting a future direction that is in line with that past development through the creation of a personal mission statement. Finally, its helps a leader ensure ongoing development through the identification of personal mentors.

Conclusion

So be sure to encourage your pastor in his involvement in this vital ministry. It is very demanding in terms of the extra time required to prepare and participate, but it is also demanding emotionally as the character-developing experiences of life are carefully examined.

One more thing--you should know that the Re-Focussing System can also be applied to consistories and congregations to help all of us understand God's call more fully in our particular contexts. But these steps come in Year Two and Year Three.

In the meantime, pray for the "epaulet men"!

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