Spend time building a community

"leaders can easily type cast people, boxing them in to a role that gives them no potential"

It was said that the core of Horatio Nelson’s talent for leadership was that he made his officers and men feel as if he had faith in them, and depended on them. Taking his captains into his confidence, not only engendering personal loyalty, quickly and permanently, but also created an atmosphere of trust and cooperation.

Jesus came to Galilee where some fisherman was casting their nets into the sea. He saw in them men who he could disciple. He called out to them “Come follow me”, and at once they left their nets and followed him. Time with Jesus was going change these men from fishermen into leaders of a massive church In Jerusalem that would spread throughout the world.

For these guys they weren’t going to be diarised into a weekly discipling time in Jesus study, but be with him in virtually every situation he encountered. They saw how he prayed, healed the sick, offended the legalist, loved the poor and outcast. They found themselves involuntarily discipling each other, as they upset each other with naked ambition. A community was being formed on the road. So much of their learning was asking questions, often when they had not understood Jesus, or had said daft things.

I love being with people, exposing them to the cut and thrust of life. Explaining why a certain person responded in a seemingly inappropriate way. Showing how leaders can easily type cast people, boxing them in to a role that gives them no potential. Eating, drinking, praying, laughing & exhorting, in this environment community is formed and peoples life’s are challenged and changed as they interact with one another.

For us in Christ Church Manchester we need to spend time building the church community, so we truly become a family and an army. It will be out of this we can empower people to reach their communities as we pray, work and serve one another.

(You can now follow Colin on Twitter)

Spend time building a community

It was said that the core of Horatio Nelson’s talent for leadership was that he made his officers and men feel as if he had faith in them, and depended on them. Taking his captains into his confidence, not only engendering personal loyalty, quickly and permanently, but also created an atmosphere of trust and cooperation.