Stepping Into Leadership

October 8, 2026

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

We all want our church to be a thriving community where we are fulfilling the unique calling God has placed on our collective lives. We want to see people growing in their faith while at the same time reaching new people in the faith. This is, I think, why many churches resonate so deeply with the image of a tree whose roots are going ever deeper into the soil while its trunk and branches are spreading ever higher and farther. The only way this happens, of course, is if the tree is healthy, and the only way for it to happen with the church is if the church is likewise healthy.

There are lots of ways to look at church health, but I want to mention two key aspects of it. The first is “people knowing and fruitfully serving in ministry roles consistent with their spiritual gifts and passions.” The second aspect is a profound reliance on and presence of the Holy Spirit. People combining their spiritual gifts and passions with a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit unleashes the church to be a transformative force in the world and in the lives of those around it.

I’ve been thinking about these things a lot lately, especially as we are now in the process of nominating people to serve in leadership roles next year in our church. Your nominations team and I have been praying about who we believe God is calling into those positions. For me the key criteria are simple: We are looking for those who are growing spiritually and who have the time and willingness to serve. If one doesn’t have spiritual maturity along with a willingness to use one’s gifting, then any other skills or abilities become much less important.

I believe wholeheartedly that Leeds First Methodist is poised to live into a new level of flourishing in this time, but, for that to happen, we must individually and collectively step into those spaces where our giftings and our passions intersect, and we must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in every way. For some of you, that means stepping into leadership roles.

My good church, in this moment, would you join with us in praying for God to stir the hearts of those who will lead? Would you pray for God to give wisdom and discernment to our Nominations Team? And would you pray that God would put yeses on the lips of those He calls?

Grace and peace,
Brandon

Ian Dunn and Stephen D. Elliott, Engage the Spirit: The Journey Into Purity, Power, and Passion (Seedbed Publishing, 2026), 10.