TITLE

CCM leadership has begun training for next year.

I've heard a good bit of speculation of who they might be, who would make a good leader, who should or shouldn't have been asked, who and who is not ready to lead.

I was asked to give my insight on one of the candidates to determine whether he was a good choice.  Thats cool because I will give my best insight on the good and bad attributes of a person in this situation.  But before I even got into that I told Travis that there are maybe 2-3 people in CCM who are ready to lead their peers and that last year, I was not one of them.  I know its really bad, but when I was asked, I think my pride had decided that I would accept the position even before I had prayed about it.  Maybe I was a decent choice considering the other options?  But I don't even know about that.  Well I guess other people who were asked regarding candidates were maybe a bit too excited that their friends would have such an opportunity to serve that they may have overrecommended them (in my opinion).  And of course I'm very excited for the one whom I recommended (and warned) CORE about.  But some of these people may play a very large role in the growth or otherwise for some young Christians, and thats not to be taken lightly.

Well those who were asked have accepted their positions and CORE can't revoke the offer based on my opinions.  I'm not going to try to get people to quit, but I think I will do my best to let leadership know what they're getting into.  I trust God and His plan, so no matter how things work out, I know He is in control and things will work out to His glory, even if I don't understand how.

But I will share with the new leadership my experience with small group this last year.  How it has been a great opportunity and challenge for me.  These three boys have been a great encouragement and challenge to me.  I have found more motivation by increased responsibility, I've grown in love, in knowledge, and even understanding.  Yet I've failed over and over to properly prepare for our meetings.  I've failed to be the example these boys need.  I've let my pride get the best of me.  I've taught with ignorance and out of pride.  I've stuggled with not being good enough.  I've been extremely discouraged by a lack of maturity in all of us.  I've just been discouraged.  I've felt bound by the expectations of CCM over God's will for me.  Even more than before, I don't think I can lead my peers.

But this is where I am, where God put me, and in His sovereignty, where He wants me to be.  I may not be the best leader and I will probably continue to fail but I won't be defeated, I will be more diligent and more obedient.  I may never get to where I'm supposed to be but I need to at least work towards that direction and by God's grace and the work of the Spirit in me, I might be able to glorify His name, even if just a little bit.

That all being said, a title is not much of anything.  Realistically, my boys are just if not more influenced by their class, the other upperclassmen, their churches, and other things I probably don't even know about.  I've told some before and I believe even more now, through the ineffectiveness of my own efforts, that those who don't have titles are sometimes leaders much more so than those who do have titles.  Leadership is best done through example, and that example is seen in the time that is spent with the younger brothers and sisters.  Some will spend much more time with these brothers and sisters than I will.  So I pray that none of you would reject your leadership because it doesn't come with a title, that you would all strive to lead your younger brothers and sisters.  That's what we're called to do and I am sure that you will also grow in your faith from that time invested.

I wish I had more time

Sorry that was stinkin long but theres really so much to consider when it comes to leading younger Christians, the fantasy of leadership, the reality, the consequence, the calling, the blessing, the difficulty, encouragement and discouragement, and so much more