Try this on for size…You are are the “go-to” volunteer at church, and the Pastor approaches you one Sunday after the service, “We are looking to hire someone to help lead our team. You have served faithfully for a long time, and I am hoping you will consider joining us full-time.” And just like that, your life has changed. What was once a hobby has become something different with new levels of accountability and responsibility. Neither of those are inherently bad, but they do bring with them a wealth of new challenges. How we choose to view those challenges can determine our longevity, our usefulness, and our level of joy.
As a mid-level leader, we are placed squarely in between four personalities (Leaders, Team, Musicians, and Technicians), each with unique needs and goals. Over the next series we will be identifying some of the blessings and challenges associated with Leading from the Middle.
Series: Leading from the Middle
Leading from the Middle: Recognizing the Personalties
Leading from the Middle: Leadership
Leading from the Middle: Team
Leading from the Middle: Musicians
Leading from the Middle: Technicians
Leading from the Middle: Identify the Pitfalls
Leading from the Middle: Prepare your Heart
Leading from the Middle: Pursue One Another
Otherwise Occupied has been a number of things over the years. For a season it had an evangelism emphasis. For a season it was a Church and Media related blog. Most recently it sat dormant, waiting for an inspired use of the URL. Despite the changes in content and focus, the name and its origin has continued to have staying power.
Shortly after moving to Dallas, we had the privilege of being a part of our very first “small group”. We were together for 2 years. I can imagine no greater experience, than to have had this group of friends be our first foray into the “community” experience.
In that group, we would often have a time of worship through music. One guy played guitar and I played my djembe. By no means do I fancy myself a percussionist, but I had a drum, and I brought it. After one such time of worship it was brought to our attention that all the “hand-raisers” were “otherwise occupied”. Those hand-raisers were the guitar player and myself (Ryan).
I am in no way deluded enough to believe that I have achieved the pinnacle of what it means to follow hard after Jesus Christ, but wouldn’t it be a beautiful picture of Worship, if were where too busy being Christ’s “hands and feet” that we lacked the opportunity to do something as petty as raising our hands?
I am still a hand-raiser, but by God’s grace, I am finding that I have fewer opportunities to raise my hands because I’m busy serving family, friends and community for the cause of Christ.
Blessings,
Ryan and Kris
