Written by Matthew Parker
In 2011 I accepted a leadership role with G.O.D. Int’l: I was going to be the lead manager of the Latin American regional team.
In many ways, this was the role I was looking for all through my young adult life. I knew leadership in cross-cultural ministry was my calling. What I didn’t know was just how much personal growth I still needed. The learning curve is real, even if you have been called by God to do something.
The first way I needed to grow was in my knowledge of how Jesus led. In my Bible classes at The Institute, I learned about how Jesus saw leadership. In Mark 10:45 Jesus flips the script on leadership by saying, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The Son of Man put the needs of others before his own. There was a time when I thought leadership would provide personal autonomy to do more of what I wanted. But I have learned that leadership in the Kingdom of God requires leaders to prioritize the needs of those they serve.
The second thing I needed to grow in was my ability to take correction. This lesson culminated during a youth conference in the winter of 2017. Our team was putting on a Bible conference for Salvadoran students and a team of students from the US who traveled with us to El Salvador.
The logistics for such a conference were massive. In trying to organize our team, the Salvadoran youth, and accomplish all our goals for that week, I overlooked some things. I received a lot of questions and corrections, and it seemed like every turn I was having to learn a new lesson. The trip was a success, but I took all those corrections personally.
Even though the trip was a success, I struggled with feelings of failure. Towards the end of the trip, I went to my boss, founder of G.O.D. International, Gregg Garner and asked him to remove me from my role. I had determined, without any other council, that since I was making mistakes and missing details, I was a failed leader.
Following God’s calling requires growth, and that growth takes work and getting honest feedback.
In hindsight I can see how short-sighted and dramatic I was being, but at the time, it was a personal crisis. Gregg helped me see that what I was feeling was the tension of leading like Jesus and putting others’ needs before my own. Just because I had to learn and grow in my capacities as a leader, it didn’t mean I was failing. He told me that I could step down if I wanted to, but that I could also choose to accept my calling and continue to grow in it.
I would say that conversation with Gregg is one of the most impactful lessons I have learned in ministry. My mentor, Bible teacher, and good friend had laid it out for me: Following God’s calling requires growth, and that growth takes work and getting honest feedback.
I have maintained my leadership responsibilities with the LA Regional team to this day. And I continue to grow and improve. I have learned that finding ways to improve and grow can actually bring peace and wholeness, not turmoil. We can live in the truth, remain humble, and keep learning.
Matthew currently leads a team that serves regularly in Latin America, where we are striving to empower the local community through furnishing a youth center, offering sports camps for kids, giving educational seminars on health care, farming, and more. It’s our goal to raise $250k before December 31st in support of these efforts. Will you join us?
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