Ready, Willing & Able
While we have a young, outgoing, and gifted pastor, he is not who is going to grow our church. His credentials are amazing. He is beyond competent. Yet, that is not what will grow the kingdom. As Kyle said, “Churches don’t grow on the charisma of one leader. They grow with the competency of leaders
who shepherd new leaders.”
And there is the rub!
We have been told for so long to be ready, willing, and able. The reality is we only need to be willing. God will get us ready. He will make us able. We should be relieved. We are only responsible for one out of three.
And yet, it is hard. Hard to go into a ministry knowing we aren’t prepared. Hard knowing we are way out of our comfort zone. We are fearful, anxious, and humbled. That is exactly where God wants us. His Spirit will provide the rest.
It is tough for me to wrap my mind around this. I am definitely more comfortable when I am prepared for a task. Or when I feel competent for the task. I remind myself that transformation can only happen when we are out of our comfort zone. So, the things that I am comfortable doing are not necessarily the
things I should be doing. It sounds as though if I am so comfortable doing something, perhaps it is time to mentor someone else into doing it. Perhaps it is time to pass the torch, so to speak. At least I could be starting the process of mentoring, shepherding, discipling – whatever term you want to use. I need to be willing to do that.
As I think about being ready, willing, and able, I realize that my responsibility – that of being willing – is sandwiched between what the Holy Spirit will do – ready and able. How comforting is that? God surrounds us, envelopes us in His Spirit. He is the one that will grow his kingdom. One willing person at a time.
-Terri
Terri Venetta lives in Johnston where she enjoys gardening, canning, antiques, watercolors, wool rug hooking, reading and, most of all, her grandchildren
