Ministry Leadership is an exercise of serving people: An exercise is an act of practical application, or a “working out.” The exercise of ministry leadership, therefore, is more than theory. It is a realized act, existing in performance. Ministry leadership concerns its performance with giving aid to others in the form of physical and spiritual guidance and provision. Ministry Leadership is modeled after the character of Christ. Christ served with humility- doing nothing out of vain conceit but living an ‘other-centered’ life. Christ also served with integrity- expressed in a resurrection life reborn through the recreating work of the Holy Spirit. Christ also served with love for everyone- including neighbors and enemies- by caring for needs, protecting against injustice and laying down one’s life as demonstrated by Christ At it’s core, ministry then is a servant exercise, one in which a person cares for and tends to others as Christ did:
a. with humility, doing nothing out of vain-conceit but instead living a life focused on the welfare, both physically and spiritually, of others. This sort of depreciated ego does not imply a depreciated sense of worth or value for those exercising ministry leadership, but rather that one is living out their true value by considering others better than themselves.
b. with integrity, expressed in a resurrection life that has been reborn through the recreating work of the Holy Spirit. Integrity urges the ministry leader to live according to the calling of being a follower of Jesus.
c. And with love for everyone, including neighbors and enemies by caring for needs, protecting against injustice and laying down one’s life as demonstrated by Christ.