The Martin home is getting ready for the arrival of our 3rd daughter, Holland Hope. She is expected to arrive in early June and I’m so excited that I am excited. Yeah, I know that sounds weird, but with our first two daughters I was extremely nervous throughout the pregnancy and delivery. With Holland I am a lot more relaxed and more excited than nervous. I guess after having experienced the miracle of birth twice I have a reassured trust in Christ’s protection and will for our family.

I have also noticed that each time we have a baby my perspective of ministry changes. As a newlywed I was working countless hours and had huge aspirations of being the greatest within student ministry. After Sydney Grace was born I realized the overwhelming responsibility of being a Dad. I started cutting the overtime down and began prioritizing and setting boundaries between the Church and my family.

When London Faith was born, about 4yrs later, I began to internalize that it really doesn’t matter what I do for a career. At 18 months the saddest part of her day is when I say bye in the morning, and the happiest part of her day is when I walk through the door that evening. The girls running to give me a hug screaming “Daddy, Daddy!” with huge grins on their faces reminds me of the love Jesus has for me and my calling to demonstrate that love to them. The only thing that matters is how much my girls know that their Daddy loves them unconditionally, will protect them with every fiber of my soul, and how important it is for them to see Jesus living through me.

As Holland Hope begins to make her arrival “ministry” is beginning to gain so much clarity. Church ministry happens with or without my efforts. Jesus is in the life changing business and I am in awe to be a simple tool that He chooses to use from time to time. My calling, purpose, and ministry is centered on raising my girls to fall desperately in love with Jesus. If I can’t lead our home to fall in love with Jesus how could I expect a church to follow. A leader should be a living example and let Jesus take care of the details. Regardless of where the Holy Spirit has me or sends me to serve my awesome wife and precious daughters will be with me, therefore they are first! The most important thing my daughters can experience is a Christ centered home that believes in the power of the Holy Spirit, the unconditional love of Christ, and the Fatherhood of God.

For some people reading this post these perspectives may seem radical, warped, or a little over the top. You are completely free to have your own assumptions and opinions. (just as I a free to place mine on my blog) You are also completely entitled to be absolutely wrong! Jesus entrusts me (not the church) to lead my family to Him everyday, and if I can’t do that then He definitely will not trust me to lead the local church toward Him. It’s the fathers responsibility to show the Fathers love at home first!!! Let that last sentence sink in….

There are 3 major characteristics that every leader must have to influence others and gain trust.

1) You must engage…

People need to know that you’re “with” them. Your speech and actions must be an investment into the lives of those you lead. No one will follow a leader that is not sharing life (the good, bad, and ugly) alongside them. All people want to identify with a leader, therefore you must give them the opportunities to share in your life as well.

2) You must equip…

Are you the person others lean toward for the primary vision, resources, challenges, and questions that produce positive change? If not, then you’re probably not the leader.  When people are sinking they need a leader to throw them a life saver not a cement block. If you are going to equip others you must know where the gaps are and how to fill them in the organization and the person. You must be visible, knowledgeable, accessible, and in rhythm within your organization and its people.

3) You must encourage…

You really never know what someone is personally going through. A true leader has invested personal time into those he/she leads and can read there emotions. Great leaders can see the best in people and bring it to the surface even when a person is at there worst. They can inspire people with words, attitudes, and actions. When all hope is lost people turn to those who can find and create it. Be the person who provides hope in a crisis and when all the odds are against your people!

Extra: As governor, Nehemiah says that he didn’t take advantage of food and land allotments that were allowed him due to his office, because there was already such a great burden on the people of his province. (Nehemiah 5:14–19) In the face of Jerusalem’s destruction Nehemiah (one of the shortest men recorded in the bible) brought hope to his people by leading them to rebuild the walls in just 52 days. Each family repaired/guarded the wall that was in front of their home. Nehemiah, on the other hand, rolled up his sleeves and repaired some of the nastiest areas of the walls himself. The unclean areas others would not have ever touched.  May we all strive to learn from great sacrificial leaders like Nehemiah.