You’re More Important Than You Think

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.  MARK 4:35-36

After an exhausting day of ministry, Jesus tells his team that he wants to go to the opposite shore of the Sea of Galilee. He’s so tired that he falls asleep in the stern.

You know the story:

A furious squall hits.

The disciples freak.

Jesus calms the storm.

The disciples freak. Again.

But before all that, there’s this curious line: There were also other boats with him.

I was fairly familiar with a megachurch that had over 25,000 attendees and had even spoken there once. When their beloved and well-known pastor left after accusations of sexual indiscretion, the church was devastated. In just a few years, attendance dropped to 7,700—nearly a 70% decline.

The median attendance in American Protestant churches is around 60, so imagine suddenly having only eighteen people in the seats.

You would be more than a little concerned.

Lately, I’ve sensed a general tiring of church leadership emphases and related books. Maybe the genre is oversaturated. Maybe readers feel leaders themselves are too highlighted. Maybe it doesn’t feel spiritual enough. Or maybe all we need are better discipleship systems.

Could be.

But most of us have had both healthy leaders and mediocre ones. Good bosses and bad bosses. Israel’s flourishing rose and fell on the spiritual maturity and competence of its kings.

Face it: leadership is critical. And when it fails, the results are ruinous.

And it’s not just the leader’s life that’s wrecked when he or she morally collapses, or is removed for spiritual abuse, or misappropriates finances, or has some major breakdown of integrity.

There are other boats with them.

That particular megachurch’s influence was far-reaching. There were more than a few boats with them. It wasn‘t just the people in the church who were hurt. Because of their global reputation, secular pundits had a field day piling on. A Kingdom witness was damaged.

But this is all relative. Because no matter your church size, there are other boats with you.

Leaders, your spiritual and emotional health is crucial. The moment you feel something slipping, go get help. Swallow your pride. None of us is bulletproof. Talk to someone. Even Jesus wanted his three closest friends with him in Gethsemane. This was a dangerous time for him, and he had a critical choice to make: “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Healthy leadership, no matter the context, is critical.

Before you make a choice that could wreck your life, your church, and the lives of people you may never even know—people watching what you do—ask for help. Please.

There are other boats with you.

Dave Workman | The Elemental Group

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The Elemental Group’s Church Scholarship Initiative is designed for churches that want to impact their communities but lack the resources because of context or circumstances. The six-month Pathway program is a comprehensive development and coaching program for church leadership teams. Our generous Kingdom-minded donors have made it possible for under-resourced churches to receive proven help at a minimal cost. Click here for more info.