"Leadership Through Love"
My latest book,
Steve Martin
The world needs leaders. Oh, there are plenty of men and women who want to have the power, fame and fortune, but how many of them are really leading because they love people and want to serve them out of a heart of true love?
There simply are not enough good leaders. Especially ones that our sons and daughters can and should follow after.
Several years ago a
friend of mine for over 24 years, Indira Persad, spoke these words to me, “Steve, you need to write a book on
administrating.” I passed it off, thinking that no one needed to read another
book on administrating, or on leading.
A while later, in church on Sunday,
May 13th, 2007, (Mother’s Day in the USA), I sensed the Lord speak
to me that it was time to write this book. This would be for the sake
of those who are now leaders in all fields of work, administrators and office staff in ministries and
businesses, and for those who earnestly want to walk in the calling that the
Lord has for them in leadership and discipleship training.
I believe this book will be even helpful to pastors, business
owners, and other leaders, to further understand those they lead, and who
assist them.
It will be an encouragement for the "average Joe or Jane", who simply want to do a good job, on the job.
For over 37 years of my life, my position in businesses and church/ministries has been given to being the office manager, the manager, the administrator, the Director of Operations & Finance, or the guy who “wore all the hats and got the job done.”
Often during those years I wanted to be “the man” at the top, the one who called the shots, steered the ship, or set the policies. Or the one who traveled the road and airways, while others sat behind the desk doing the 40 hours instead of me.
But the Lord has clearly shown me that my role was very vital to those who did those things, and though I longed to do what they did at times, they could not have done their job if I was not doing mine. I was to do what I had been gifted and called to do.
Where would churches, ministries or businesses be without the administrators, the directors of departments, or the executive secretaries and administrative assistants? Those organizations who have them know their value. Those who don’t may or may not realize what they are missing.
Read some of these concepts I learned along the way, if you too desire to lead in a godly manner. This is for those who believe they have the gift of administration, and seek to better use it; or for the one who simply works in an office, retail business, or any position where good character and work ethics are desired, and want to improve. This will help.
Take a moment and look over the chapter list below. Look at which I will be sharing over the next weeks, one chapter at a time. And see what you might glean from some of the words, to make them active in your life. I think you will find some very practical and useful lessons for yourself.
I love to share, what the Lord has taught me, with you. And so, as I call them, following are some “adventures in administrating” – practical and actual situations, joys and sorrows, with persistent diligence, in order to express the gift that I have been given from Him, for the sake of His kingdom.
May the Lord encourage you as you read my thoughts and what has worked for me. I hope the stories and suggestions will impart to you further measures of blessing, for those you support and also to those you give direction to.
Be blessed in your leading and serving. Faithfully use the gifts that He has bestowed within you, for His purposes in all the earth.
Ahava (love in Hebrew) to you,
Steve Martin
P.S. If you'd like to get this via e-mail, to save each chapter in your InBox, please request with a message to me at loveforhispeople@gmail.com. You are welcome to share this at will. In fact, please do! Thanks very much (todah rabah in Hebrew)!
1. A
Gift for His Purposes
- The Early Years
2. Use
the Tools You Have, But Not the Staff
- Treasure the people, while
digging the foundations
- Do unto them
as you would…
- Bless and
curse not: honor those who serve with you
3. Right
Man (or Woman!) for the Job
- All are
created equal – make the most of this!
- If the Shoe
Fits, Have Them Wear It
4. Train
and Let Loose
- It IS Who
You Know and Are Known By
- Hire To Complement Your
Strengths
- If you are
weak, then they are strong
5. Burn
Candles At Both Ends? – NOT!
- Rest and
Sabbath Days
- Trust in Him at
all times
- We all are
given 24 hours each day
6. The Visionaries Need You!
-
They dream it - you make it happen
-
Head Won’t Get Far without the Neck
(or heads will roll)
7. Field
Trips and More!
- Staff
Retreats
- Birthdays and
BBQs
- After Hours
8. It
Doesn’t All Depend On You
- The Lord is
the Rock – Not You
- Whose
strength - yours or His?
- Key Staff to Lean On
- Trustworthy managers and assistants
9. Practically
Speaking…and Walking
- Handle each
piece of paper once
- File so you
can find it!
- Early morning –
before the others come
10. Meetings –
Time-manger or Time-waster?
- Do you
really need all those meetings?
- Why Morning and
Mid-Week?
- Prov. 24:6 “By wise counsel…multitude of
counselors
11. Acknowledge
Him in All Your Ways
- Heart of
Thankfulness
12. Another
Man’s Vineyard
-
Follow & help fulfill their vision
-
Faithful with another’s
-
Learn and growth until your time
-
The proper way of moving on
.jpg)
