Recently we hosted a summit for leaders who serve in our state convention offices (Southern Baptist). Selma Wilson, our vice-president and leader of B & H Publishing Group a division of LifeWay Christian Resources shared 10 valuable lessons with us about being women in ministry in a mostly male ministry world. She has gained the respect not only of our leadership at LifeWay but across the Southern Baptist convention nationally. God has not only used her in powerful ways, but she has done it as a woman, and with grace that models leadership for us all.
This is part of a series of posts discussing these 10 points one at a time. You will be blessed as we all were when she shared them with us. Again, here are all 10 points in a list.
1. Be Yourself
2. Prepare to Lead
3. Love the People…Build the Team
4. Respect the Past (People, History, & Work)
5. Listen & Learn
6. Find Your Leadership Voice ( And Use It!)
7. Be Seen and Heard (Communicate, Communicate, Communicate)
8. Submission & Leadership
9. Humility & Leadership
10. Perspective…It’s not About You!
Today we will look at #10: Perspective…It’s Not About You!
In the Lord ’s Prayer, we are taught to say in every prayerful situation, "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever" (Matt 6:13 HCSB) Does that remind you about this last leadership lesson for this series?
It never has been about us, but sometimes we get that out of perspective, don’t we? The thing is, we’re just not that important. We need God’s perspective on the ministry He has called us to. Selma said, “our significance is only that we are a part of His story.” What a privilege and honor, but also a humbling thing to comprehend.
Why would He use us? We aren’t that gifted or smart! Again, it’s NOT about us, it’s about His work THROUGH us. Our only response when He calls, is to obey immediately and in His power.
The last 3 lessons we have covered: submission, humility and perspective, all go hand in hand. When we truly get that it’s about His Work, His Kingdom, His fame and His power, we just become His vessels that He pours His strength and love through to others. Wow! Do you ever just stop and think about that?
Another thing about His perspective is that it’s always focused on the eternal. Selma challenged us to think about our life situations on a scale of 1-10 and realize that most of what we toil over is really only a 1 or a 2. The things that are a 10 are things like our marriages falling apart, and people not knowing Christ, things that concern the Lord and His bigger perspective.
God’s perspective is always bigger than ours, but He is so good to us to allow us to see glimpses of it as He works through us.
I pray that these Lessons on Leadership for Women from Selma Wilson and my thoughts on each have been a challenge and encouragement to you as a woman in this world of ministry.
Remember in a man’s world, they need us and we need them. Be all God has called you to be as a woman, as a leader, and as a woman of God! Serving in a man’s ministry world can be difficult,but God will bless what you do for Him!
Other helpful Resources:
Jesus on Leadership, Gene Wilkes
