Have you ever struggled to find the right ministry role for yourself–a place where you can use your gifts and skills to benefit God’s kingdom?
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In this episode, Holly and I chat with Gena McCown about her leadership journey which includes transitioning from the marketplace to the church world. She shares insights on the differences between the two worlds and how she has handled this. We also discuss what to do when your gifts are not recognized or valued in your church or ministry, navigating volunteer leadership, and leading with a chronic illness.
If you want encouragement in finding the right ministry role for yourself or as you lead with a chronic illness, this episode is for you.
This episode is brought to you by the Confident Leader Catalyst. Click here to get on the waitlist or learn more. You can also find the free Confident Leader Stages Quiz here.
Key Points Discussed:
Gena’s life & leadership [4:34]
Marketplace to church world [12:28]
Differences between the two settings
Chain of command issue
When your gifts are not recognized or used within the church [19:33]
Gena’s ministry roles [28:15]
Best practices for volunteer leadership [32:50]
Leading with chronic illness [43:20]
Leaders are learners [53:58]
Key Quotes:
- “We lead better from within than ahead or above.”
- “I always want the people I am pouring into to surpass me one day.”
- “We are losing our best and our brightest because they have these gifts and talents, and they are feeling stifled in the church and unable to use them.”
- “There are spaces that you are not going to be able to change; only the Lord can change their hearts. You can pray for them and not be among them.”
- “Am I in a stage of stay and pray, or am I in a stage of go to grow?”
- “Every leader needs to be looking for and identifying future leaders and building them up.”
- “Bring them into the vision that the Lord has cast; don’t just tell them what the vision is… help them see it.”
- “A lot of people with chronic illness feel forgotten about… we have to still make those people feel valued and wanted and that they have a place in the church.”
- “We have to have compassion. We have to acknowledge that these illnesses are real, that they exist, and this person still has value.”
- “It is really easy to let a treading water moment turn into a quicksand moment.”
Resources & Links:
Gena’s book: Women’s Ministry With Purpose: A Vibrant, Gospel-centered Approach
Episode 60: Glass Ceilings, Sticky Floors, and How to Be Effective as Women in Leadership with Kadi Cole
Our Struggle to Serve by Virginia Hearn
Church Refugees: Sociologists reveal why people are DONE with church but not their faith by Josh Packard, Ph.D. and Ashleigh Hope
The Together Project – Kadi Cole’s podcast
Developing Female Leaders by Kadi Cole
After Class Podcast series on women – Episode 1; Additional episodes in the series
I am Leader by Angie Ward
Worthy: Celebrating the Value of Women by Elyse Fitpatrick and Eric Schumacher
Connect with Gena:
Website
Gena’s book: Women’s Ministry With Purpose: A Vibrant, Gospel-centered Approach
Facebook Page: LeadHer
Facebook Page: Women’s Ministry Council
Gena McCown is a native S. Floridian, married for 22 years with 3 daughters. She serves in her church as a Women’s Ministry Leader, and has written the book Women’s Ministry with Purpose: A Gospel Centered Approach. In addition to serving in her local church, Gena teaches a college course on Women’s Ministry through Christian Leaders Institute and founded the Women’s Ministry Council to provide practical ministry training to women called to leadership.
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This episode is brought to you by the Confident Leader Catalyst. Click here to get on the waitlist or learn more. You can also find the free Confident Leader Stages Quiz here.
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