http://www.servingbread.net/2007/12/04/leadership-insight-20-ministry-of-absence Thoughts, Musings, Reflections, and Ramblings of a campus minister, father, husband, and a Jesus-follower Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:44:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 http://www.servingbread.net/2007/12/04/leadership-insight-20-ministry-of-absence#comment-8868 Jessica Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:08:37 +0000 http://www.servingbread.net/2007/12/04/leadership-insight-20-ministry-of-absence/#comment-8868 In my own leadership, I've seen that this is really true. Over LAUP, I began to intentionally practice the "ministry of absence" and would leave my team by themselves at various times to see how they would step up and take risks without me, the leader, being present. Almost 100% of the time, with some direction given prior to leaving, and good debrief afterwards, the experiences were very good for their growth, and they learned things that would have been much harder to learn with me being there. It is definitely always a faith challenge for myself though, as I like to be in control as a leader, and the "ministry of absence" makes me feel utterly out of control and completely reliant on God. In my own leadership, I’ve seen that this is really true. Over LAUP, I began to intentionally practice the “ministry of absence” and would leave my team by themselves at various times to see how they would step up and take risks without me, the leader, being present. Almost 100% of the time, with some direction given prior to leaving, and good debrief afterwards, the experiences were very good for their growth, and they learned things that would have been much harder to learn with me being there. It is definitely always a faith challenge for myself though, as I like to be in control as a leader, and the “ministry of absence” makes me feel utterly out of control and completely reliant on God.

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