“George, you don’t stay at one church too long, do you?” came the query from a young lady, who had become a friend in the church I was serving. I knew my answer, but asked, “What makes you say that?”

“Well, you are a change agent. You create change, then you can move on once the church is moving forward. My response, “I never take a position unless God calls me to it. I never enter a position thinking of a timeline other than retirement. If God moves me before retirement, fine, I will follow. But if not, I am here until I retire or God calls me home.”

I held positions in the corporate world deemed, “manager”. While I learned a lot in those positions, manager was not my calling. My desire is to be a leader led by the Holy Spirit.

I am not a self-proclaimed leader, I simply trust in following the leading of the Holy Spirit. God has allowed me to part of some spectacular experiences in the lives and ministry of others. I am eternally grateful for each of those experiences. Yet, I do not for one second believe that “I” did anything to bring about those wonderful outcomes. To God alone be the glory – Always!

Leadership in the church is not relegated to the Pastor alone. We are all leaders in some respect and area of the Christian life. In the church too often, our leaders have been commissioned to be managers, not leaders. Others have taken on the role of manager, leaving the leadership seat dormant. Let’s look at some of the differences between managers and leaders.

Manager                                     Leader

Reactive                                      Proactive

Control                                        Create change

Hoards information                 Communicates openly

Self-preservation                     Team player

Respect demanded                Respect earned             

The boss                                     Mentor

Transactional                            Transformational

Maintain order                          Guide toward a shared vision

The list goes on and on. I trust you see the differences. In what areas above do you see yourself as more manager than leader? In what areas do you see yourself as a leader but recognize the need to grow? What will you do this week to become the Christlike leader God intended? May you follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in becoming a more effective, Christlike leader.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.