Raising up leaders who aren't afraid to fail.

I can remember the first time I stepped into a pulpit, not to preach, but to give an announcement.  I was terrified.  I was not almost paralyzed because I was afraid of public speaking, my entire life I had been in situations that called me to be in from of people and speak, no what was so terrifying for me was the thought of failure.  I knew I would never live it down in this situation if I was less than perfect. Less than perfect communication for this minor announcement would not be tolerated.  I had seen and experienced how others in my position and higher had failed to communicate and were raked over the coals for it.  I did not want that to be me, so, paralyzed with fear of pitch forks and torches, I stumbled through my announcement feeling like I had just committed the most unforgivable of sins.  From that moment on I avoided the pulpit, even for announcements, like the plague, because in my mind I was given one shot and I blew it.  The thought of actually getting up in a pulpit to preach a sermon was out of the question.  I had always been able to stand in front of youth to teach, have conversations, and do Bible Studies, but the idea to be in a sanctuary and bring the Good News of Love and Grace of Jesus Christ was out of the question for me. In the first several years of my ministry neither myself or any of the youth I worked with was ever encourage to take the pulpit in any fashion.  I know I am not the only person working in ministry who has experienced this injustice.  I will admit I did not have a desire due to my own experiences and what I saw others go through, but an invitation would have been welcomed. I would have considered the invitation, and I can not tell you what I would have said. The opportunity to even say "no" would have been better than nothing.  Dare I say the opportunity to say "yes" and then fail would have been better than no opportunity at all. It wasn't until I was thrust into the pulpit at a previous church that I truly understood, regardless if I succeed or fail miserably, I have the opportunity to bring the Good News of Love and Grace of Jesus Christ.  I ask, what can be better than that?

For the last several years of ministry I have not only had the opportunity to occupy in my own pulpit, my colleagues pulpit as a guest, and now sharing a pulpit with my Sr Pastor. I am truly grateful that I am given the opportunity to fail, because without that I can not grow and improve as a pastor.  I would be a total hypocrite if I did not practice this in my own pulpit with the youth and young adults of my past and current church.  Once a month our youth lead a service on Sunday evening that our entire congregation is invited too.  Immediately after the closing prayer the first time we held this service, I had a 13 year old young man rush to me and ask, "Can I preach the next time we have this service?  I believe God has put a message on my heart and I want to share it!"  Excited and humbled I absolutely said "yes" and gave him some instructions, tips, tricks, and unending encouragement! A few weeks later his time came and this young man brought the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Was he nervous, yes.  Was he shaky, yes.  Was he perfect, no, but who is?  What he did do was preach a sermon to a room full of his peers, elders, family, friends, and  handful of people what had not stepped into a church in many years.  This young man has a calling on his life. Is it to be a pastor?  At this point that is for him to search and find out.  At this point he has had an opportunity to explore that calling.  He had an opportunity and guess what, he didn't fail!  He succeeded because he had the courage to step up and lead.

I do not care what you do for a living, how old or young you are, how educated you may be, how successful or important you think you are, you are there because someone gave you the opportunity to fail. Who are you giving the opportunity to fail?  With failure comes an opportunity to learn and grow.  If we begin to raise up leaders who aren't afraid to fail, we will raise up leaders who aren't afraid to think outside of the box.  We will raise up leaders and empower them to be creative and courageous. We will raise up a generation of leaders who will revitalize, grow, and empower the church in ways we could never dream of.

 I am not saying you should expect people to fail, but if they don't have the opportunity to try, they can't fail and more importantly, they can't succeed.  There is only one person who has ever walked this planet who was perfect, and I am sorry, that it is not you or me.  As leaders, as pastors, as  people who care about our future, let us begin to give people young and old the opportunity to fail, because guess what?  They might surprise us and succeed.​

Go out a equip, empower, and encourage those around you to do something great!