KINDLE Servant Leaders

The blog will often have posts that are related to the KINDLE Strands and Practices. These are four strands and 20 practices (five practices in each strand) that help develop Servant Leader Skills. To see a current copy, click here: SPO-Version02. But don’t get too attached—they’re under revision! We’ll share the new set as soon as they’re available.

KINDLE Strand: Leadership of Leaders

KINDLE Practice: 4. Spur One Another
Challenge others to develop as servant leaders

I’ll never forget Maundy Thursday 2010. We have a tradition at our church of stripping the altar at the end of the service in preparation for Good Friday’s stark observance of Jesus’ death. For us that means a variety of volunteers who make their way to the altar up a side aisle, while Scriptures are being read and remove everything: paraments, candles, flowers, Bible, communion vessels…everything, carrying their item down the center aisle and out. There is a beautiful rhythm to it and it is very meaningful to those who participate. I “train” the volunteers right before the service—and as a leader here’s what I love about it:

• We have volunteers who regularly attend all three of our worship services (good stuff when those worlds collide)
• It’s a great thing for a new person to do because it’s easy AND meaningful
• It is cross-generational (more good stuff when THOSE worlds collide)

There is a finale to the stripping of the altar. Once everything has been removed from the altar and the Scriptures are completed, a child walks up the center aisle holding a Crown of Thorns high above his/her head and places it on the center of the altar. I don’t know why it’s so beautiful, but it is.

Did I mention that I’ll never forget Maundy Thursday 2010? Here’s why: the boy that agreed to be our Crown of Thorns carrier was Ian. Ian has autism. He and his family came to our church several years ago after being directly/indirectly asked to leave other churches because they were “distracting” in worship.  His family sits in the front row at worship—I love that– and he brings a “twirly” to help him get through the service. They are an every Sunday family. Although Ian has rarely looked me in the eye, and his voice is always very low and hard to hear,  I just love him. His mom thought he could handle the Crown of Thorns just fine, and I did too.

We practiced before the service– I walked with Ian to show him the way. I asked him if he understood and he nodded his head.

The end of the service came. The altar was empty. My hands were on Ian’s shoulders at the back. I gave him a gentle nudge and whispered, “OK, Ian—it’s time. Hold the Crown of Thorns up nice and high. Go ahead.” And he did. He walked slowly and deliberately for about four steps. Then he stopped and turned his head around to me, still holding the Crown in the air. “Maybe he’s not going to make it,” I thought. “But he’s still holding the Crown up. Should I rescue him from this? Should I go walk beside him?” My mind was racing with possibilities for handling this situation.

I smiled as big as I could at Ian. I nodded my head. I mouthed: “Yup. Good job.”

Ian turned around and started back up the aisle. “Whew,” I thought, “that’s all he needed.”

Not so fast.  He took three more steps. Turned back to me again. Head nod, smile, “Yup. Good job.” Three more steps. Same drill. Three more. More encouragement. Into the chancel. Stop one last time. Look back. Smile. Nod. “Yup. Good job, Ian.”

Most priceless of all was what happened after Ian gingerly placed the Crown of Thorns on the altar. He turned around and GRINNED for all he was worth at his accomplishment.

When he got to the back of the church I said, “Ian, can I hug you?”

“Yesssssss,” he said as loudly and clearly as I’ve ever heard him say anything. And hug him I did.

Was Ian a servant leader that night? Indeed he was. His special march to the altar in honor of his Savior invited every worshiper to honor Jesus, too. It was a great honor to spur Ian on that night. And I learned from Ian that it is OK to stop every few steps and check to make sure I’m on the right track. I feel sure that God would love it if I would receive His love and encouragement for every step of the way.