Six Steps to Help Your Leaders Grow Spiritually

Leadership: Larry Thomas
Thursday, June 16, 2005

When my daughter, Caroline, was diagnosed with a form of asthma, I thought she would forever be restricted in her physical activities. But one day she asked me to help her learn to run. After discussing the task that she desired to master, we began with learning to control her breathing. Next we added nominal exercise such as walking while concentrating on breathing. As her confidence grew, we discussed the differences between walking and jogging, and soon we were jogging short distances together in the morning.

A breakthrough came when we signed up to jog two miles together at a local church health promotion event. By now, Caroline had learned to control her breathing by concentrating on the task at hand. She had in fact learned to focus her efforts for efficiency.

Armed with her new skill and newly found courage, Caroline asked to join her high school track team. Realizing her medical history, I was concerned that her emotional stability might be challenged if she couldn't win competing with healthy young students. But she insisted, successfully debating through all my challenges, and ran the mile representing the girl's high school track team.

I will never forget the day in Bonner Springs, Kansas when I saw her prepare for the run. She was the smallest girl to compete and once the starter's gun fired, she soon fell behind the other runners. With each step and then each lap, she fell further behind the leaders until she was lapped by the entire field. As a father, my heart was heavy, knowing how it felt to be so far behind, yet she kept on running, slowly and methodically, until at last the finish line was in sight.

About then I noticed that some of the other runners had gone back out on the track and were running alongside her, encouraging her as she steadily closed in on the goal. Other runners and members of her track team had gathered at the finish line shouting words of encouragement and urging her on.

Now my heart was bursting with pride as she steadily drew nearer to her goal, never giving up. As she crossed the finish line that day, I knew that Caroline had conquered a significant hurdle in her life. She had climbed a mountain that would, from that day forward, be a focal point of encouragement.

This didn't happen overnight for Caroline; it happened over time. Similarly, we take our spiritual journeys one step at a time. Caring leaders help individuals take these steps. What is it going to take for you to help those you lead take significant steps of spiritual growth?

Here are six simple ways you can MENTOR those you lead to help them mature spiritually.

1. MOTIVATE them to find a spiritual coach who will encourage them, exhort them, love them -- do whatever it takes to help them go the next step. Help them find a relationship with someone they'll want to meet with at least once a month.

Ask who they would like to spiritually invest in them. Contact that individual and ask them to give of themselves and invest in a young leader. Nine out of 10 times, the other person says, "You've got to be kidding! When can we meet?" And when they meet, they immediately hit it off. Be the catalyst to get the two together.

2. ENCOURAGE them to review their goals and dreams before God, especially in the area of what it's going to take to help them grow in their walks with Christ. If you ask them this question, they'll say something about reading God's Word or understanding God more deeply. If you don't ask the question, nobody else will.

The best way to help them do this is to get them into a Focused Living retreat. If one isn't available, another good way to help them become self-motivated is to lead them through a spiritual health assessment. Then help them set goals based on their own personal assessment of the health plan. They'll look back at you one day and say, "Thank you. I just needed that spark." We all long for a nudge.

3. GATHERING TOGETHER. Never forsake your own gathering together. Just think, if the disciples hadn't gathered in the upper room, where would the church be? While God chose to scatter that circle, remember that Jesus' disciples retreated from the crowds and met together. In the same way, we need to pull away with our leaders -- our church's disciples. When you meet, make sure you always pull out God's Word, because faith comes by hearing the Word of God.

It's important for us to realize that there are different types of gatherings. But it's communal worship that is so important for growing your leaders spiritually. Through these gatherings, you have an opportunity to coach several leaders at once and spend time in prayer. Look for any opportunity to affirm your leaders and pray for them.

4. TELL them what you sense God wants for their life. If you aren't the voice of God in their lives, who will be? They need to hear God's best words and what you sense he wants them to know. Do it through letters and emails as well as through spoken words when you have casual encounters. Listen for what God wants them to know.

I get a text message from a buddy of mine once every three or four days that I save, because he basically writes out a prayer: "Lord, I just sense that what you want Larry to know is this, this, and this." It's a wonderful gift, and I look forward to hearing that special ring on my cell phone that tells me he has sent me a note. Practice giving your leaders notes or cards like these, and remember that timing is everything.

5. ONE-ON-ONES are vital for both you and them. Over the course of the year, get together at least monthly. It's a great excuse to say, "Hey, how are you? How can I help?" And you'll be able to gauge group and individual growth.

If you're a coaching leader of four or more developing leaders, pray for and ask God to identify other coaching leaders to bear the load. It won't always work out, but when you have other mentoring leaders on board, one-on-ones will increase. And this will help new as well as existing leaders grow and go to the next level.

6. RELEASE them to multiply their lives. When you cast this vision intentionally and systematically, you'll see those you lead connect, and you'll see them lead those they minister to reach into their communities for the sake of the community.