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Mobilization
Basics
Page
2 — Characteristics of a Mobilizer
What are the characteristics of a mobilizer? Consider a sample listing:
- Needs
to be able to be a servant.
- Desires
to see laborers raised up to finish the task of world evangelization.
- Possibly
has the gift of encouragement and exhortation.
- Is
“apt to teach”—but may be more effective in recruiting others
to teach.
- Speaks
in front of groups without (too much) fear.
- Leads
others well—although he or she may not know it.
- Has
a general heart for the world, possibly focusing in on one people group.
- Sees
the priority of waiting and mobilizing others as well as going.
- Is
part visionary—seeing what can happen as God matches empowered believers
with key opportunities of ministry.
- Is
part implementer—driven to see visions become realities.
The
first characteristic listed—having a servant heart—is critical.
Mobilizers must first win the right to be heard before being allowed to speak.
One mobilizer moved to a new town and joined a church because he felt it was
God's will. But he soon found that the pastor had a reputation of not allowing
individuals like himself to have significant opportunities for mobilizing.
Realizing this, the mobilizer went to the pastor with this question: “Pastor,
how can I serve you in this church?” Within a year, he had won the pastor's
heart and was free to mobilize in any way he saw fit.
Many
mission zealots unintentionally squelch mission interest with guilt-riddled
diatribes, or more and more impassioned pleas for money for a broken, dying
world. This can be dangerous. And the most dangerous zealot of all is “the
mobilizer with an attitude.” This is a sincere believer who thinks he
or she will motivate churches into broader vision by shaming them into action.
In fact, Larry Walker of ACMC has listed some characteristics of the mobilizer
with an attitude.
A
note to fanatic mission mobilizers: Notice that we're not saying that anyone
with a low commitment level to mission vision has no commitment or a low commitment
to Jesus Christ. Many solid believers who are, in their understanding of Scripture,
thoroughly committed to Christ may evidence very little mission commitment.
It's often a matter of not receiving clear teaching on God's heart for every
people group that results in low mission commitment. It's not that non-mission-minded
believers don't love Jesus as devoutly as mission fanatics.
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