One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned since we started Center City Church in April of 2010 is how to patiently lead toward our vision. When God put the dream in our heart to start this church, it included some pretty amazing things that I could see for our church family. But everything happens in seasons, stages and phases. As we walk through these seasons, stages and phases, God’s intention is for us to continue to learn and grow.
For the past several months, I’ve been thinking deeply about the structure of our church as an organization. As we continue to grow, how do things change? How do we continue to develop leaders that can run with this vision that God placed in our hearts?
As I have continued to learn as the church grows up, I have one phrase that continues to go through my head: one step at a time. That’s how we get to where we are going. One step at a time. Building upon each season. Learning what works and what does not. Learning how to lead in the midst of changes and challenges. One step at a time.
As I’ve taken this approach, I’m realizing a powerful leadership principle: the church is growing as I am growing as a leader. The more that I learn to let go and place this dream in the hands of others, call out and develop leaders, the more that it looks like God’s church and not mine. I love that reality.
One step at a time. And one day we’ll look back at a thousand steps and realize that we’ve changed the world along the way. If you are working toward a dream or a goal, realize that it probably won’t happen quickly or easily. Put one foot in front of the other and stay faithful to the task at hand.
For now, it’s back to work. One step at a time.
