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As a boy my father announced to me one weekend that I was tasked with borrowing the neighbor's Toro mower and mowing our lawn. I was stoked about using this amazing machine.
After completing my task and a short lunch break, I reported back to Dad for my next assignment. He told me to fill the mower's gas tank, hose it down, and dry it off. I was okay with washing it off, but was a little confused about filling the tank since I had filled it before mowing and now it was about the same level as when I picked it up. I was thinking this was a little overboard, it's just a mower. However, when Dad said to do something, you did it. After my labor passed Dad's keen inspection, I set off to return it.
All the way back to the neighbor's I tried to figure out what the big deal was. On my return is when I learned a simple lesson that changed me forever. Matter-of-factly, Dad said, "You always return something you have borrowed in better shape than you received it." Since that day I never leave a tank half empty, a car dirty (inside or out), or an oil-change left undone. It is now part of my DNA to return something I've borrowed in better shape than when I received it.
One of our top priorities as team leaders should always be to "return" God's servants in better shape than we found them.
What does this have to do with anything technical or leading volunteer teams? It has everything to do with it. One of our top priorities as team leaders should always be to "return" God's servants in better shape than we found them.
A number of years ago I had a leadership role overseeing the technical teams at a church. I hired a young, passionate professional to head up our video department. I'll call him Patrick for this story. Patrick was a tremendous addition to the team, and as his leader and mentor it was my role to facilitate Patrick's success. I helped remove any obstacles that hindered his performance and supplied him with the needed tools to grow his area of the ministry.
One story I will never forget, and one that dramatically changed the way I lead, occurred around Patrick's three-year mark when I transitioned off staff and moved out of the area. A few months after leaving, I was on the phone with Patrick talking pieces and parts about video. Shortly after I hung up I felt the Lord ask me a question.
"After three years of your leadership in Patrick's life, does he look more or less like my Son, Jesus?"
Perplexed, I responded, "Lord, he's got a job that people would kill for."
Again I heard, "... more or less?"
"But Lord, he has more frequent flier miles than any of his friends or family."
One more time the Lord asked, "... more or less?"
"But Lord, he has equipment that the network affiliates don't even have."
With gentle firmness and for the last time, He asked, "Does Patrick look more or less like my Son, Jesus, after your leadership in his life?"
With my head down and my spirit broken my answer was, "less."
Patrick had all that the world wanted--the perks, the travel, the gear, and the influence. But after three years under my poor leadership he looked less like Jesus. It was about the event or the service, not about what was happening in Patrick's heart or life.
God wasn't concerned about the stuff Patrick was gaining. His desire was for how his heart and life were being transformed. This is the reason God put Patrick in my care. I helped build his resume, but fell short on helping Patrick look more like Jesus.
My heart was convicted and I made a covenant with the Lord that day. I told the Lord that if He allowed me to be in leadership again I would do everything possible to care for, lead, and return a person back to Him in better shape than I found him (filled and clean). This continues to be my No. 1 goal as a leader.
Later that day I called Patrick back and requested to meet with him in person. He willingly met me half way at a Wendy's somewhere in Indiana, where I described my God encounter and the covenant I made with the Lord. I asked Patrick for his forgiveness for not leading him closer to God during our time together.
God has blessed me with many other leadership opportunities. The most recent was a yearlong consulting opportunity at a large church. When I began my leadership with this new team I shared about the leadership lesson I learned through Patrick. When my commitment came to an end, I received several encouraging notes several ending with, "... and I look more like Jesus!" There is no greater thank you than knowing I fulfilled the task God had given me.
I pray you will be challenged to lead your teams in a way that after your influence and care is finished, they will look more like Jesus, not less.
It's not about having bigger programs, more gear, more influence or better systems. The goal is to "return" them back to their Owner in better shape than you found them.
