By Frank Damazio

LEADERS PRAY WITH INTENT = Leaders who pray intentionally ask for mighty things to happen in the church and through the church. They pray for enlargement, for spiritual expansion and for the harvest of souls. Praying leaders see more than others see, they see farther than others see, and they see before others do. Praying leaders are great builders!

LEADERS SPEAK LIFE = Leader intentionally speak positive words about the church. They reject negativity, critical attitudes and disloyal words that tear down the church in any way. Proverbs 18:8 teaches that “The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body.” We need to keep our spirits clean dan free from any and all destructive words. We are builders, not destroyers.

LEADERS LOVE THE CHURCH = Leaders who build the church love the church and attend church strategically. They do not just go to church services, they go with an attitude of ownership, helping to make the service spiritually successful by fervent participation in prayer, worship and ministry to people.

LEADERS CREATE A COMMUNITY SPIRIT = Leaders who build the church intentionally create a spirit of community. People are looking for community – that emotional, spiritual atmosphere where they can do life together. Leaders who build the church know the value of connecting people to people and building genuine community. When people connect to this atmosphere, their lives are transformed and they will impact their world.

LEADERS DON’T BUILD ALONE = Leaders who build life-changing churches intentionally partner with other like minded church builders. Life-changing churches are built by people, not by professionals. Every person is a minister of Christ and for Christ. We are all implementers of God’s plans and we partner with all the people God is using. We build the church so that the church becomes the equipping station for people.

LEADERS CHOOSE A LIFESTYLE OF SERVICE = Leaders intentionally choose a lifestyle of service to the church. Leaders who are convinced the church is worth giving their life to will make decisions to create a lifestyle that makes room for serving. To serve the church, you have to make time to serve, which necessitates a decision to change your lifestyle. Decide to take time to be trained, mentored, prepared and involved.

Roy Lessin’s words are to be heard and practiced: “A godly leader finds strength by realizing his weakness, finds authority by being under authority, finds direction by laying down his plans, finds vision by seeing the needs of others, finds credibility by being an example, finds loyalty by expressing compassion, finds honor by being faithful, finds greatness by being a servant.” Leaders who are faithful and fruitful servants of the church are people who have learned sacrifice and are willing to be stretched spiritually and emotionally, allowing new capacity to increase their levels of participation. (See Isaiah 6:8, Matthew 6:33, Romans 12:1-2, Phillipians 3:13-14)