Sometimes leaders come in unexpected packages.

Toward the beginning of 2023, I had three separate conversations with three different women in our church. Each of them brought up in one way or another that they desired to learn how to write a sermon.

Not exactly the emerging leaders I was looking for.

From a strategic perspective, I’ve always been encouraged to invest in younger leaders. Not that the older generation is unimportant, but it does makes sense that with limited time and resources, we should focus on raising up those emerging leaders who will be able to influence people for Jesus for decades to come. So, what was I supposed to do with these three women? Two have grandkids and all three are old enough to get a discount on their breakfast at IHOP.

There were younger people in the church I wanted to develop. There were other leaders to which I thought it would be smarter to devote my time. But after praying, I couldn’t shake it: God was clearly asking me to invest in these women.

Before long, I was meeting with the group in an upstairs classroom at the church, teaching them my approach to sermon development (an approach influenced by both Andy Stanley’s Communicating for a Change, and my dad, who is one of the best preachers I know).

They each completed the three-month-long class last fall, having written a sermon of their own. Each of their sermons reflected countless hours of prayer, Bible study, writing and re-writing and re-writing again. Now, whether they share at a mid-week service, a special event, or a Sunday morning, they each have a message burning in their hearts that they are ready to preach.

I am excited to see what comes next for them. But I’m also walking away with a new resolve: I want to invest where God is calling me to invest.

When God leads me to people I wouldn’t normally gravitate to, invest anyway. When it’s surprising and seems to contradict my leadership strategy books, invest anyway.

If you look at who Jesus called and invested in, His choices surely shocked a lot of people. When you look at who I was when He chose me, that was pretty shocking too. I’m so grateful Jesus didn’t cater to the opinions of others and chose me anyway. I’m also thankful for ministry leaders like my dad, my mentor Steve Moore, and my long-time pastor Gary Khan. When God prompted them, and even when my potential was hard to see, they invested anyway. 

Levi Thompson

Levi Thompson serves as the lead pastor at Desert Streams Church in Canyon Country, CA. Following a life-changing encounter with God at 17, Levi became passionate about facilitating transformative experiences with God for others and inspiring them to pursue their God-given destinies. Levi enjoys sharing life’s adventures and the ministry journey with his wife, Katie, and their two children, Noah (13) and Mia (8). 

By LeAnna McIntyre 

I have always enjoyed the story of Esther from the Bible, an unexpected hero for her people. An orphan girl just living her life, Esther found herself appointed queen of a whole kingdom. She exposed an evil plot, and because of that her people were saved. 

However, I did not relate much to this orphan girl in my younger years, and I don’t know how much I even tried. I am no queen. I simply was raised in a Christian home with parents who loved the Lord. I loved God and wanted to serve Him. I remember crying to my mom when I was young because we had heard a beautiful testimony of a woman whom God had rescued from drug addiction, and I didn’t know how my testimony could show God’s love that powerfully. 

I tried to fly under the radar. I am a wife of twenty-eight years to a wonderful husband. For years I was a stay-at-home, homeschool mother to four boys. I volunteered at our church in youth ministry, worship, and kids’ ministries. I just loved people and loved God.  

I attended Pacific Region’s Discover Ministry School simply because I wanted to serve better and know God in a deeper way. I had spent more of my life feeling insecure than confident. Pastoring was not something for which I was aiming. But when the opportunity came to lead our church, God gave me a passion for His Word and a love for the people in our community. I jumped in, afraid but wanting to do what God had for me. I am now surrounded by people who encourage me and support me, and God is doing great things at our church. 

At first, many people quoted to me Mordecai’s words to Esther: “Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14, NIV). And then someone told me that I had said “yes” when others said “no.”  

Now He is showing me that I am His Plan A for the call He has on my life. It’s a crazy thought, but I am coming to know and walk in it. I have learned a few things happen when you understand that you are God’s Plan A. 

First, you begin to look toward Him in a new way. If I am God’s plan A, that means He put me here. I am not an afterthought. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that He knows the plans He has for us. His plans are not for our harm, but rather to give us a hope and a future. 

Sometimes we read that verse and forget that the hope of that plan coming about comes from God as well. So, we must get close to Him, close enough to hear His heartbeat and recognize His voice. When things do not open up like we think they should, when they don’t come as fast as we would like, being close to Him keeps us from bitterness because we are not shaken by the things of this world. We are led by Him.  

Second, our boxing gloves come off. When you understand you are God’s Plan A for the purposes He has for you, you do not have to fight for that position. God is the one who called you; people did not give you that call. If you are called by Him, He will open doors and close doors as He sees fit. I do not want to walk through any door that He did not open. We must be careful to guard our hearts and not let bitterness or frustration motivate us to kick doors down or throw a fit in the hallway as we wait on Him. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Everything flows from what is in our hearts. What kind of ministry or purpose will you walk out if you get frustrated and start punching down doors? One that is grown from a place of bitterness will not speak Jesus to the nations or even our neighbors. God’s timing is perfect, so we need to follow that timing to truly walk out the purposes He has for us. 

Esther trusted God in the process. She was in the palace; she was queen; but she was just herself. You do not see her fighting anyone or forwarding her agenda. When she was told of the plot to kill her people, she fasted and prayed and instructed others to do so as well. She could have tried to kick down the door of the throne room, but without God’s favor and timing in that moment, she would have died. She was careful to be led by God. She was obedient to His voice even in the timing. 

What I wish I would have known earlier is that we are all a little like Esther. We are all being raised up for “such a time as this.” God could have put us anywhere in the timeline of the earth, and He chose now. We are God’s Plan A for this place in time. We get to walk in obedience, get close to Him, and watch Him work out the good purposes He has for us. I cannot wait to see what He has in store next! 

About the Author

LeAnna McIntyre serves at The Bridge Open Bible Church in Eugene, Oregon, where she has been lead pastor for the past two and one-half years. She has been married to her husband, Scott, for twenty-eight years and is the mother of four boys. LeAnna is passionate about prayer and worship and loving people well.  

To listen to LeAnna’s interview with President Randall Bach about her journey from fellow church member to lead pastor, go to Better Roads-LeAnna McIntyre

  

By Melissa Stelly 

I have this thing that I do that may be considered quirky, something I do in many situations but especially when faced with something I don’t want to do. I pause, then say to myself, “Tomorrow’s Melissa will thank today’s Melissa.” 

I know it sounds weird but bear with me.  

When I am staring at a pile of dishes in my kitchen sink late at night and my body is telling me to just throw down the dishcloth and go to bed, I shake my head and declare, “Tomorrow’s Melissa will be so happy to not wake up to this!” And indeed, the next day I grin as I walk into a clean kitchen and give silent tribute to the sacrifice made.  

Tomorrow’s Melissa IS grateful. 

Or as I hold a freshly baked scone in my hand, I set it back down and state, “Tomorrow’s Melissa will be thankful today’s Melissa said no to this yummy, delicious, sugary goody.” Actually . . . that rarely happens, so I shouldn’t even use it as an example. 

Another facet of tomorrow’s Melissa is reflecting on the path Jesus took me on to get me to the place I am today. I can see her now, yesterday’s Melissa, plugging away at life with vim and vigor. I smile indulgently as she works full time while going to school, marries an incredible man and has beautiful babies, works alongside her husband in ministry, and energetically fulfills her calling as mother to three girls.  

But that smile quickly fades as I watch her struggling with doing “ALL OF THAT” in her own strength or at least trying to execute it in her own strength. I shake my head as I see how much worry consumes her thoughts, how that worry and fear becomes a barricade to fully trusting in the Lord and His mighty power. So much worry! So much fear!  

Don’t waste another moment on fear or worry. What a snare of the enemy! Sidestep that trap and confidently smile as you trust the Father who cradles you in His very capable hands. Shake it off, cast it out, don’t go digging back in the garbage after the Lord takes out the trash! 

If tomorrow’s Melissa could just reach across time, she would gently still Melissa’s harried thoughts and tell her to pause and take a deep breath – truly pause, truly breathe, and truly realize that she was never called to do “all of that” in her own strength or in her own knowledge. I would remind her of the verse that reads, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9, NIV) and assure her that the Lord has beautiful steps plotted out just for her and that her course is good and blessed and fruitful. It is nothing she must work out; it is nothing she has to worry about. In fact, I would address the worry and the fear that often plague her sleepless nights and chase her through the day and tell her that fear has no place in her life. Jesus completely has it covered. He is in control of the medical diagnosis, the financial instability, the job opportunities, and her relationships.  

HE determines her path; HE provides for all her needs; HE is the only one who can heal, who can control, who can protect, who can sustain the precious lives that she treasures so much.  

He only asks for her to trust Him and follow Him.  

And He only asks for you to trust Him and follow Him. So cast aside the worry and the wringing of hands. Go forth in the strength of the Lord and not your limited ability. Take deep comfort and joy that the Lord’s purpose will prevail every single time in every single moment and in every single way. Allow the Lord to be the lifter of your head and the conductor of your steps.  

Don’t waste another moment on fear or worry. What a snare of the enemy! Sidestep that trap and confidently smile as you trust the Father who cradles you in His very capable hands. Shake it off, cast it out, don’t go digging back in the garbage after the Lord takes out the trash!  

Today’s Melissa will be so grateful if you do. 

About the Author

Melissa Stelly serves as the executive pastor at Turning Point Church in Spokane, Washington, alongside her husband, Josh Stelly. She has attended Turning Point for 32 years. She is the mother of three daughters, adores camping, hiking, and adventuring, is a voracious reader, and considers Mt. Rainier one of the greatest accomplishments the Lord created. Most days in her free time you will find her curled up with a good book or taking a long walk.