Church work is “brutaful” — beautiful and brutal at the same time, Ed Young Jr. said.
“Church work is the highest calling but it is hard work … and there’s a brutal side,” Young told those attending the Monday night dinner focused on the structure and process of his Fellowship Church, Grapevine, Texas, where he serves as senior pastor.
He planted the church 20 years ago “in a room about this size,” he said, looking around the banquet room at Vaughn Forest Baptist Church, Montgomery. What started with 30 families has now grown to more than 20,000 members. The church also has four satellite campuses (three in the Dallas area and one in Miami).
Using Nehemiah’s experience in Nehemiah 1–6 in which he struggled to build the wall of Jerusalem, Young said there are eight “brutaful” concepts that are vital for leaders as they direct church work.
First is the law of investigation. Nehemiah, the “ask master,” modeled this concept, Young said. “We should ask the right people the right questions to get the right answers. … Obviously we should ask God first.”
Second is the law of preparation.
“Nehemiah prayed and prayed,” Young noted. “Leaders don’t do anything until they pray. Then they step out and do something, and they pray along the way.”
Young also explained that once Nehemiah began building the wall, the intensity of the opposition — “the enemy” — increased.
“God gives us ‘the’ target but once we go after the target, we become ‘a’ target,” Young said, noting the spiritual warfare that comes along with a believer’s attempt to “ramp up” his or her spiritual disciplines.
Third is the law of multiplication.
Delegation is key but it is vital that the person be “investigated” first, Young said. Each person receiving delegated duties must be coached and equipped, he said. “Delegation without investigation is an abomination. It is merely relegation.”
Fourth is the law of ovation.
Nehemiah was always encouraging people, Young explained, noting a leader’s energy should be spent cheering on those who believe in the vision, not trying to push those who are not on board. “You want to work with the workers … swim with the swimmers. Stay away from the bottom feeders.”
Fifth is the law of “hateration.”
“Whenever you begin to build the wall, you will have people who slurp that haterade (a combination of hate and Gatorade),” Young said. “You will face an opposition. But the brilliance of Nehemiah is that he did not stop what he was doing.”
Noting it is unproductive to try to change the opposition’s mind, Young said, “Quit wasting your time. … You aren’t going to change people’s mind. If [Nehemiah] had stopped and chased down the haters, he would have shrunk his vision, his message, his opportunity.”
Sixth is the law of determination.
“Build the wall … stay above the fray,” he said, pointing to Nehemiah’s example of being determined. “Stay there and do what God has called [you] to do.”
Seventh is the law of simplicity.
“We get things too complex,” Young said. “I would challenge you as church leaders to keep your structure simple.”
Eighth is the law of elevation.
“Nehemiah stayed on the wall,” Young noted. “He did not trade insult for insult. Just take the high road. … There’s no opportunity without opposition.”
Share with others: