Notes and Thoughts from Empowered 21

By Charles Scott
This morning we attended the PCCNA meeting as a prelude to the Empowered 21 conference (which began tonight at 7:00 pm). Pentecostal/Charismatic leaders from around the world met at 7:00 am for early morning breakfast and fellowship at the First Watch Restaurant. It was great to connect again with a dear friend of the PCG, Bishop Jerry Macklin of the Church of God in Christ.

At 8:30 am we convened in the plenary session. Dr. Paul Leavenworth presented a case study on “Leadership Development.” Here are a few highlights:

• “The problem today is not a lack of leaders but undeveloped leaders.” Wayne Cordeiro
• Leaders emerge out of discipleship pools.
• Home-grown leaders ought to be raised up to fill needed positions in existing churches, church plants and missions.
• Establishing a leadership pool for both the future and for expansion requires intentional mentoring, sponsoring and coaching of younger, emerging leaders.

Here are some thoughts and questions from this section:

• What is a young leader?
• What is an emerging leader? How long does it take to “emerge?”
• When it time for a leader to dismount and make room for a new leader?

Discussions and opinions abound on these thoughts and questions, but the over-riding issue is the "how" of moving from theory to practical. The proverbial “When God says it is time” does not provide a model we can implement. This leaves us with a sour taste of more talk and less action, and it often comes down to the preference of the leader or those who vote in the leader.

What are your thoughts? How can we better raise and install leaders?

The small group discussion was a bit limiting due to lack of overall direction. Some progress was made in a couple of areas, namely the role of leaders with emerging leaders. Here are some highlights:

1. Intentional Identification – How are emerging leaders identified?
2. Intentional Embodiment – How are emerging leaders embodied in the organization?
3. Intentional Investing – How are we investing in emerging leaders?
4. Intentional Integrating – How are emerging leaders integrated in the process?
5. Intentional Interaction – How are systems of interaction with emerging leaders in place?

A highlight of lunch was an appearance by Ted and Gayle Haggard. Ted Haggard issued an apology to the PCCNA leadership for the shame, reproach and difficulty his actions brought to each member. He expressed that he has truly experienced grace and love from God, his wife, his children and the Body of Christ. It was a moving moment as Ted and Gayle expressed that marriage is for life, that God’s love never changes and that the blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin.

The afternoon session featured a presentation by Ron Luce. Ron challenged Pentecostal leaders to continue the fight for the next generation. He stressed the drop-out rate in the church and the imminent dangers facing this generation. We must be diligent to know the conditions of our flock, and youth are part of our flock! This is a great challenge and one that we are moving on in with partnership with Ron.

We will send you more notes from Empowered 21, along with the insight from Messenger College students, PCG leaders and pastors and the moving of the Holy Spirit.