"What I want you to know about me as a leader."

MIN 5310
Jenn Blackston
jennifer.mcgarvey@mailbox.ciu.edu
"What I want you to know about me as a leader."
1-6-11

 I have served in various leadership positions over the years and have learned so much about myself and how I relate to others in a team setting. I will share about two of my experiences serving on a team in a leadership position. One took place in undergrad and the other took place during my second year at Columbia International University.

 When I was in undergrad at Toccoa Falls College, I served as secretary of our Students Missions Fellowship group. It was a student led organization and our primary focus was on global and local missions. We helped students who were planning on going overseas for summer mission trips and internships by raising money through different events. We encouraged students who had gone on mission trips and/or internships before to share with our group the things the Lord taught them while they served him overseas or locally.  It was a positive experience for me serving on the team and I especially appreciated the times we would spend in prayer together as a team. We prayed for the students going on trips, but our main focus was praying for one another. Praying together on a regular basis really brought us together and we functioned better as a team when we took the time to uplift one another in prayer. I was one of the team members that observed everything that was going on around me and often kept quiet during meetings. I am grateful for the friendships that were formed as a result of serving on that team. I am still close friends with a few of the team members I served with and I am grateful for our mutual encouragement.

When I was in my second year at CIU, I served as Communications Coordinator on the Grad Life Counsel. We referred to ourselves as the Grad Life Leadership Team. Our primary purpose as a counsel was to provide opportunities for the students in the Graduate School and Seminary to bond through various activities and chapel services. As Communications Coordinator, it was my responsibility to keep the students and faculty informed of what was going on and also to encourage them in their walks with Christ. I love to write and so it was fun for me to write the weekly emails keeping everyone in the loop. I especially loved incorporating Scripture and prayers to help encourage the student body and faculty. Activities are important,but even more important are the relationships formed among students and also their relationships with the Lord. As a team we definitely faced our share of struggles, both within our team and also external situations that took place in the day to day moments of being in seminary. It took us awhile to bond and to learn how to trust each other both as team members and friends. There were times when I honestly wondered if we were going to make it as a team.It took time, but gradually we began to better relate to one each other and in so doing, we were then able to lay a better foundation and began to thrive as a team. I discovered that I am concerned about how everyone is feeling in the group, not just with accomplishing a task. I have a tender heart and I want to make sure that everyone is doing ok and feeling included in the group. It was normal for me to check in with teammates who seemed to be struggling and also to pray with them. We prayed together as a team and I also prayed with one of the girls on a regular basis outside of the group. We were able to be a source of encouragement to one another and we also held each other accountable concerning our attitudes. As a result of praying together, we formed a close friendship and to this day, she is still one of my best friends. Another thing I discovered about myself is that I can become intimidated by people who have dominant personalities. I am often afraid to speak up for fear of being shut down by my teammates. I am afraid of the rejection that could follow if I dare to share a concern or even an insight. I was challenged my one of my teammates to take the risk of speaking out. She also struggled speaking up and so we helped each other in that area. A few times I mustered up the courage to share and found it to be not as difficult as I imagined it would turn out. I grew more confident in speaking up when I had a concern and my teammates appreciated my feedback. I know that is an area where I still could improve and with the Lord's strength, I know I can gain more confidence in that area.

During my time serving on the Grad Life Leadership Team, I became more confident in my abilities as a leader as I allowed the Lord to use the position and my teammates to sharpen and encourage me. One of my favorite experiences serving on the team was when I had the opportunity to lead the entire school in prayer on one of the Prayer Days. One of the things I am most passionate about is prayer, both personal and our intercessory.  Our team was asked to lead one of the Prayer Days. The President of Grad Life asked if any of us wanted to lead the prayer time. I told him I would pray about it and get back to him. I took about a week and spent time in prayer and I also sought counsel from a few close friends. At our next meeting, I informed our president that I would like to take on the challenge of leading the school in prayer. It proved to be both an encouraging and challenging responsibility. I planned and prepared and made sure I was prayed up. I wanted to be prepared; at the same time I wanted the freedom to change things around if the Holy Spirit led me in a different direction. I was humbled and honored to serve the school through the avenue of prayer. Our team really came together that day as we did the things we are gifted in and we also knew the Lord was working in our hearts. I am so thankful for the lessons learned as a result of being on the team. It has been one of the highlights of my time at CIU, so far, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to serve in that capacity.  

I look forward to more leadership roles in the future and I anticipate great things as I trust the Lord to continue his work in my life in this area. I am excited about being in this class and growing as a leader. I want to be faithful as a believer and as a leader. I desire to grow in confidence as a leader as I learn how to risk rejection for the sake of sharing a concern or insight. I always want to be a leader who cares about others serving alongside with me and to encourage them through talking and praying with them. I believe my concern for others aids my ability to be a good leader. I believe a good leader serves those around him or her with grace, encouragement, loving feedback, and sensitivity to the Spirit working in the group. The Holy Spirit is ultimately the One who guides and directs believers and we must heed His counsel in our lives.