This is Part 2 of this article. Read Part 1 here.
3. Servant leaders emerge from within the congregation
In Acts 6:3 we read, “Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.” The leaders of the early church were not distant or detached; they were deeply connected to the people they served, much like Jesus, who engaged with individuals on a personal level. They were servant leaders from “among you.”
We are aware of this principle, but if we do not consistently choose to be present with the people, we may unintentionally become distant from them or even exert undue influence over them. This is why many organizations, and perhaps some churches, remain unaware of the needs of the people on the ground: they are rarely present among them. Moreover, when we do attempt to engage, some of us may do so with wrong motives, seeking personal gain or better reporting rather than genuine care for others.
My mother used to experience nervous breakdowns in public places. Whether at a funeral or a wedding, she would suddenly start crying and screaming hysterically, and then she would collapse to the ground. Friends and family members would rush to her aid. She used to tell us how much she disliked these episodes, and she knew that those who rushed to carry her away, did so not because they loved her but because they hated to see an adult on the ground, and felt ashamed especially in the context of a wedding. What she truly desired was for someone to kneel beside her, embrace her, and offer comfort.
We also observe here how after selecting the seven servants, they were presented to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. This demonstrates delegation, the sharing of authority, and significant accountability. It underscores the importance of establishing structures around leaders to protect, support, release them to serve according to their giftings, and hold them accountable. Over the years at Resurrection Church, we have strategically identified individuals whom God has sent to join our church family, assisting them in discovering their gifts and listening to their personal calling, which enhanced the Church’s impact in specific ministry areas and among particular people groups when they were released and empowered into these callings.
Too often, we prioritize our own comfort over the needs of others. Only the local church, committed to its mission, can cultivate the kind of servant leadership that arises from within the congregation. When churches encourage and empower these servant leaders from within to serve their congregations, rather than hiring from without to serve someone else’s agenda, local community needs are addressed, more servants are empowered and the church grows.
4. Leaders should be filled with the Spirit and wisdom and serve the local church
In the same verse, Acts 6:3, we read, “Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.” This is what attracts people to faith. In today’s world, we often find individuals filled with holiness and wisdom who are not given the opportunity to serve in their local churches because some leaders believe they can handle everything themselves. The Middle Eastern culture is particularly prone to authoritarian, controlling leadership. Consequently, these members end up serving elsewhere, depriving their churches of their valuable contributions. While there’s nothing wrong with serving in philanthropic causes, it’s disheartening that their churches do not benefit from their gifts.
I always feel uncomfortable when I hear believers criticizing the church while proudly proclaiming their kingdom-mindedness. After all, isn’t the church the very embodiment of the Kingdom? How can one continuously criticize the people of the kingdom while claiming to serve its mission?
This passage teaches us the importance of church leaders creating space for Spirit-filled and wisdom-bearing leaders to serve both within the church and the broader community. Christian NGOs can greatly benefit the church when they operate under the guidance of church leadership or in collaboration with churches. Money does not grant the right to dominate others, and connections do not entitle one to become a gatekeeper. Donors should directly inquire with local churches to find out whether these NGOs are truly serving the local church or pursuing their own agendas. Likewise, local NGOs and churches should reflect on whether the church is really growing in the cities they serve.
Based on research conducted in Lebanon, measuring the growth of churches across all evangelical denominations over the past two decades, the following findings emerged:
- Most Churches are either plateauing or experiencing a decline in their number of congregants.
- Churches experiencing significant growth in congregational numbers are those actively engaging in holistic community service.
- The significant rise in NGOs contributes scarcely, if at all, to the expansion of the Church in the MENA region.
From these observations, it is noticeable that separating spiritual service (such as preaching and teaching the Word) from social and community work (such as providing humanitarian aid, trauma counseling, etc..) does not contribute to the growth of the Church in our region. The local church should embrace its calling and imitate Christ in providing comprehensive support and holistic care. The primary strategy should be to collaborate closely with the local church without intermediaries. Speaking on behalf of so many pastors, the bride of Christ in the Middle East invites you to come and labor alongside her directly. It’s imperative to shift our giving philosophy towards building capacity within the local church.
Too often, I hear people in the West claim to support the local church in Lebanon, but when I inquire further, nine out of ten mention sending funds to various organizations. This approach is rarely effective. Some funding groups for instance work directly with local churches, as well as other NGOs. And some other partners played a significant role in helping our church grow. Let me give a few practical examples:
Over the past 8 years, strategic partners for provided valuable support and fostered mutual respect while enhancing the capacity of the local church. This support has been evident through various means:
- Offering prayers and genuine care.
- Helping us to assess the ministry’s health.
- Maintaining a respectful communication.
- Providing strategic guidance.
- Investing in training & leadership development, online and social media ministry, crisis relief, church planting, and capacity building and infrastructure.
- Demonstrating trust in the local church’s leadership regarding project execution.
These efforts have enabled Resurrection Church to improve its ministry management and foster stronger relationships with partners. Consequently, the church is better positioned to be a blessing as God has blessed us.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when theological formation happens within the local church (in context of fellowship, prayer, and worship), when holistic ministry is practiced within the local church, when servant leaders emerge from within the congregation and empowered to serve their communities with accountability, and when leaders filled with the Spirit and wisdom serve their local church, the outcome is found in Acts 6:7, The word of God will spread, and the number of disciples [in Jerusalem or Beirut] will increase rapidly, and a large number [of priests, former Muslims, etc.] become obedient to the faith.
However, if we subvert these principles giving people milk instead of solid food, encourage them to travel elsewhere for theological education, focus solely on verbal preaching and don’t feed the multitude or give a single woman a Bible and leave her children starve and sleep on an empty stomach, if we invite zealous missionaries to come from the West, especially those who lack linguistic skills and cultural awareness and rely on them to serve our communities and watch all our spirit-filled leaders work for para-church organizations that thrive instead of serving their own churches as they are diminishing, and rather than delegating responsibility and authority or empowering other leaders, we maintain control over everything. We act as kings and let no one hold us accountable, I am convinced we break the heart of the Father who “placed all things under Christ’s feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:22–23).
I believe there is a better way of doing church in the Middle East!
