Redemption Boulevard A Multicultural Worship Ministry

How does your leadership work with other women and men that serve under you? 

I always have felt that I am a servant to God’s people, rather than they serve under me. As a leader, I want to serve by facilitating their reconciliation with God, while being mindful of the influence of perspective, inclusivity, adaptability, intentionality and communication on culture.

How do other leaders, elders, and pastors affirm your leadership role?

Dictionary.com says that affirm means, “to state positively; maintain as true” (2012).  A person can refer to me pastor or teacher, but that doesn’t necessarily affirm my leadership role.

The most significant affirmation of my leadership occurred not long after I was ordained and started teaching at ANLI. I was in a car accident, and subsequent injuries made it difficult for me to do many common tasks.

My pastor and church family lifted me up in ways that I’ll never forget. – They interceded for my healing, surrounded me with support and adapted my ministry routines. Just as Aaron and Hur put a stone under Moses and “stayed up” his hands so he could lead the battle (Exod. 17:11), so too did Lighthouse members hold me up to affirm my office.

The result was that I felt valued and continued in my pastoral and teaching duties. This type of support is not unusual for our church. We affirm individual roles by loving, edifying and respecting each other, and come together as one, co-laborers in Christ.

I’ll always remember this as a leadership lesson on how to create an inclusive environment to realize one’s calling. By doing so we set the conditions for unification of the body of Christ and celebration of the diversity of God’s chosen. This exemplifies Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17:21-23:

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

References

Bernard, D. (1997). Spiritual gifts. Hazelwood, MO: Word Aflame Press.

Dictionary.com (2012) Affirm. Retrieved January 3, 2012, from http://dictionary.reference.com/

browse/affirm

Lighthouse Church of All Nations. (2012). Lighthouse vision statement. Retrieved January 3, 2012, from http://thelighthousechurch.org/vision.php

McDonnell, D. (2001). Women in the New Testament church did what? Retrieved January 3, 2012, from http://www.churchofgoddfw.com/monthly/did_what.html

Porter, J. (2000). Leading Ladies: Transformative Biblical Image. Philadelphia, PA: Innisfree Press, Inc.

© 2012, Peter Park. All rights reserved.

How does the authority of Scripture affect the way you worship and do ministry?

Scripture, as the inerrant Word of God, tells of the authority that comes from Jesus, through the indwelling of His Spirit. “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” (Col. 1:27).

It’s the power of Christ within me that equips me for ministry and His Spirit that guides my actions as a leader. Luke 10:19 says, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Invoking the name of Jesus makes demons take flight, breaks hindrances in life’s journey and releases victory in leadership for Kingdom building.

The Word says “And, whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. 3:17). Whether, in worship or ministry I want to exalt the Lord and give glory to His name.

How does your leadership role work with the pastor of your church?

Lighthouse is a bridging the gap church. One of its characteristics is the inclusive culture for leadership that opens equal opportunity to both men and women to fulfill their mission in Kingdom building.  Truly, church members live out Gal. 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (English Standard Version).

The church intentionally structures spiritual formation on three fundamental principles at the core of our vision statement:

(1) To provide “a life-changing experience with Jesus Christ, translated into loving relationships with others and service to our fellow man; (2) to “equip and empower people to become Christ-like in character and maturity, releasing them to fulfill their life mission” and (3) to support the elect to “use their gifts and abilities for the cause of Christ in their local church, in their community, and throughout the world” (Lighthouse Church of All Nations, 2010). You can see these principles in action in the different aspects of ministry.

My pastor sets the tone for these principles by supporting all congregants to walk in their purpose. He encourages, supports and respects everyone in their calling. Most importantly, he gives room to grow and learn.

From Lighthouse’s assistant pastors to volunteers, each one ministers as a whole in their different gifts, being “likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Phil. 2:2b King James Version).

© 2012, Peter Park. All rights reserved.

What does Scripture say about women serving in the church?

I have long held an interest in women in biblical leadership roles. My first exposure to the topic was through Jeanne Porter’s book, Leading Ladies: Transformative Biblical Image. One of Dr. Porter’s premises in her book is that “many women are leaders whether they are named leaders or not” (2000, p. 13).

After reading the book, I wanted to uncover the different female leaders in the Bible to learn each of their unique functions throughout the Old to the New Testaments and understand its application in contemporary society.

As I studied women serving in the church, I learned that every believer is critical to the body of Christ. “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Eph. 4:7 King James Version). – The New Testament shows the roles women played in the Gospels and early church.

Women played a part in missions, gave financial support, functioned as church patrons, opened their homes and supplied resources to ministry gatherings. They boldly followed their purpose in Christ, having different spiritual gifts according to God’s will.

What does Scripture say about women serving in leadership roles in the church?

God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Scripture supports both men and women in leadership roles in the church. First Corinthians 12:7, says that, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

Along with this passage, Eph. 4:11-12, tells that the Holy Spirit provides spiritual gifts for ministerial office, “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” Just as the Bible shows men in offices in the five-fold ministry, indeed, it cites women as well (Rom. 16:1-3; 17:7; Acts 2:18; 18:18-26; 21:8-9; Luke 2:36; Rom. 16:3-5; 2 John).

© 2012, Peter Park. All rights reserved.