Charismatic Renewal Services – Boston

Leadership with Mark Nimo

May 17, 2008

Mark gathered leaders from Boston area prayer group leaders into God’s presence in a period of joyful praise.

Brazilian, Anglo, Hispanic, Nigerian, Ugandan and Haitian prayer groups were represented.

We were reminded of Matthew 6:5 where Jesus called us away from anxiety and to trust in God to move in all situations. Leadership will always lead to anxiety; this leads to attitudes of pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps and doing it by ourselves.

Sometimes we must try to not take ourselves to seriously. “You will never feel adequate,” he cautioned.

People in prayer groups are hurting. Broken people come. The Lord restores you so that you can become a channel of healing for others. He likened channeling of God’s healing power to our use of jumper cables when a car has not power to start itself.

He urged our prayer groups to be places of safety. People should have a freedom to share and not be judged. God meets you in your context … where you are, but he wants to move you beyond to become closer to him.

Followership: If we haven’t learned to follow our shepherd, people will not follow us. Conversely, to the extent you have not gone, you can not lead.

Discipleship involves mentoring. As we learn from our mentors, we can go and give to others.

Three current attitudes that draw people away from Christ:

- Individuality

- Hedonism – pleasure seeking

- Minimalism – settling for less

Three dangerous (but good) prayers:

- Change me, Lord.

- Use me, Lord.

- I want to be Holy.

Because God hears and answers prayer, these requests will likely move you out of your comfort zone. Open your eyes and listen to the needs of people. As in Christ’s example we must wash each other’s feet.