What great wisdom that Gary writes. Every commander who's outpost is
struggling needs to read and heed this advice. I also say to each Sr
Commander to look inside your self and check your level of passion for this
great work. If God were to give you the commanders you need but they had
your spirit or attitude would you have to say no thanks.
Let me share a testimony of an answered prayer. In Nov 97, I thought I
would be finished in Rangers. We only had a couple of committed commanders,
the SA and Buckaroos. The Pioneers were going nowhere. I was trying to do
Trailblazers and be Sr Commander as well and then I hit bottom. A personal
family crisis caused me to step down for a time to decide if I was going to
continue. It was a classic case of burnout. I came to the conclusion that
the failure or success of our outpost was in God's hands, not mine. I came
back with the understanding that I would not be Sr Commander and a group
commander again. As a matter of fact I was placed by God to be the Sr
Commander and that was the only job I was going to do. I prayed "Lord teach
me the leadership skills I need to lead this outpost.
Then on Jan 11th, 1998 I read Matthew 7:7 which says; Ask and it will be
given you. I prayed and wrote this in my bible next to that verse; "On this
date, 01/11/98 I have asked God to send a vision to our Royal Ranger men and
to give us laborers." Remember it is His field and we are only laborers.
Now over a year later we have five age groups of boys with 11 active
commanders. We are about to go to Pow Wow next week with at least 33
campers. There is so much more excitement than we have ever had. I really
can't begin to tell all the good things that God has done.
I read in the bible a couple of weeks ago where I wrote that prayer. It
impressed on me how faithful God is to His word.
As far as my part goes, I have worked harder than I ever did before. The
difference now is the passion I now have knowing I am only doing what He
wants, not what I want.
Michael asked the question; How do you motivate commanders. I say start
with yourself and stay determined. The fire will attract others. Just keep
it burning.
James Styles, Sr Commander
Outpost 45, Huntsville, Al
In a message dated 6/7/99 3:15:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
writes:
<< In a message dated 06/06/1999 4:27:45 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< I'm trying to find "job descriptions" for leaders - maybe something with
detailed expectations. Anyone have any ideas? Senior Commanders, any ideas
for motivating commanders?
Michael G
>>
===============
Mike,
Don't know if this answers your question, but here goes...........
I'm not a professional motivator like Victor, nor a visionary like Duane,
nor
am I the best organizer.
I've been a Sr. Cdr. now for almost 3 years and I'm still not comfortable
with the job but....apparently......God is comfortable with me
there.........so............
The only thing I've tried to do is take as much of the Admin duties as
possible off of my leaders. At present we are without an Outpost Council so
that makes for a heavy load of paperwork but God is giving me patience and
perseverence.
I want my leaders to concentrate on ministering to the boys.
I have broken off some tasks for them to perform but they must enlist the
boys to partner with them to accomplish.
We had a model campsite competition at Sectional PowWow. I put our TB Cdr.
in
charge, he in turn put a GMA in charge of co-ordinating and planning.
The boys did great. 5 man team (I Challenger, 2 TBs, 2 Pioneers).
90 minutes to put together a campsite from scratch and serve 5 tinfoil
dinners.
They even lashed together a gravity shower. In fact all the lashing had to
be
done with NO precut wood. They were also tested on basic Ranger knowledge
and
Scripture memorization.
They won First place!
The TB patrol also won the skills trail competition ( where each patrol is
tested as a patrol on teamwork and skill in the 5 basic Ranger
disciplines-compass, first aid, ropecraft, toolcraft, firecraft)
Let's hear it for the Spitting Camels of Outpost 59!
The Commander's job? He just imparted the vision. THEY made it happen.
The Pioneers got 4th place in theirs but they had 3 first-timers out of 5.
They had fun and learned each others' strengths and weaknesses.
I've tried to impart vision to my leaders and encourage them to make the
program/ministry work for "their" situation.
The vision I've imparted? 400 boys and 100+ leaders. Boys hungry for God.
Leaders ministering instead of commanding.
We've been blessed with our own dedicated Ranger area. We don't have to
share
our rooms with anyone. We moved into an already built facility (previous
tenants - the largest Baptist church in our area) and pastor asked each of
his department heads for input on their room needs. I guess I just got bold
and asked for our own area. I gave him a letter stating my dreams for the
outpost, I sold the vision.
So I said, "Guys, the rooms are yours, decorate and design them for Rangers."
I wish you could have seen their faces.
My point is this (gotten from our Youth Pastor by the way-a GMA, Buckskin
Frontiersman, who BTW just accepted the position of Sectional RR Chaplain):
Definition of leadership - the art of imparting VALUES upon another through
the power of INFLUENCE.
THREE LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP
1. POSITION - People follow you because they have to. Because of your
position. We have a lot of leaders in this area (myself included) who never
rise above this or (Praise God, like me) God brings them to an understanding
of what He wants in a leader. A lot of guys with military training do this.
It's what they're familiar with.
"Because I said so!" This works short term and as long as the leader is
there. There is no long-term effectiveness and when you're gone they play.
2. PERMISSION - People follow because they want to. A lot of good leaders
who
hang around long enough and are sincere in their love for God and kids reach
this level. Their concern is for the kids not the project. Shiny trophies
are
nice, they are, we've got a whole wall full of them, the two-legged kind are
what's important to the Master Ranger. Get THEM excited, and the shiny ones
will show up in enough numbers to keep everybody happy.
3.PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT - People follow you because of what you have done for
them personally. They are indebted to you because of your impact. This does
not require charisma or training. Starts in the heart not the head. This
leader empowers.
Jesus modeled this most effective leadeship style- the style with the
greatest influence- by SERVANT leadership.
Sr. Cdr.? You want to excite your leaders? Invest in THEM. Pour your life
into THEM.
Be their SERVANT.
Cdr.? You want to excite your boys? Invest in THEM. Pour your life into
THEM.
Be their SERVANT
I know. Man, that's the same thing I hear all the time. Well, maybe that's
because it works.
But commander, that's so general and vague.
That's right. Let me paraphrase Paul - work out your own outpost vision with
prayer and encouragement, for it is God who works in you to will and to act
according to His good purpose.
I've told my leaders my heart.
I don't care if we ever win another uniform inspection, another skills
competition, etc. , I want souls. I want Revival. We get trophies to go with
these, hey great.
I'd rather show up at the last PowWow with lots of souls and few trophies,
than lots of trophies and few souls.
And when I say 400 boys, I'm not talking about church kids. I want Rangers
to
fuel Church growth, not the other way around.
We've got an outreach planning meeting on Wednesday. Pray for us.
Ad Dare Sevire,
Gary "Burn'n Heart" Rothwell
Sr. Cdr.
Outpost 59, Potomac District
Warwick Assembly
Hampton, VA >>
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