An encounter with Jesus doesn’t always mean someone is quickly transformed into a world-changing leader. We see this through Saul’s life in Acts 9.
What was the change that happened between the intense persecution Saul inflicted on the Church in verse 1 to the peace and multiplication of the Church in verse 31? Saul was initially turned around because of a life-changing encounter with the resurrected Jesus. But that’s not all. Immediately, God sent Ananias to establish foundations, then Barnabas to provide leadership mentoring, and finally, a church community.
While none of us will ever be the next Apostle Paul, we can all be like Ananias and establish foundations for new believers. We can all be like Barnabas and share our platform with an emerging leader. And we can all be part of a church community that provides a place of belonging for emerging and established leaders.
And, there you go, the ABCs of empowering leaders: Ananias, Barnabas, and Church Community. (Or maybe the ABCCs.)
