1 QUOTE

“To be the best, you must recruit the best.”

- Dr. J. Robert Clinton

1 NOTE

In 2005, I had the good fortune of being a very small part of the USC football team chaplain ministry. I loved going to Bible study, praying for and pastoring players, and trying to be hospitable (while not committing an NCAA violation). I learned so much from Coach Carroll and how he recruited his championship roster. One major value was competition. In one home visit a top rated wide receiver’s parents asked for a guaranteed starter role. Coach Carroll‘s philosophy was always compete and the best see the field. The parent insisted they would sign if guaranteed to start. Coach Carroll stood up, shook hands, thanked the family for their time and said USC would not be a great fit for their son.

In Acts 9, Barnabas is the master sponsor who bridges Saul into the Jerusalem Church. In Acts 11, Barnabas is sent to Antioch, the first Jewish and Gentile church. Most leaders would have immediately immersed themselves in the new ministry role. But not Barnabas! He immediately hit the recruiting trail, hitting the recruiting trail to Tarsus. I wonder what Barnabas‘s criteria was in his own mentoring selection process. Luke never tells us what he saw in Saul, but we see from his actions that Barnabas wanted Paul with him in Antioch badly. The trip from Antioch to Tarsus was 20 days. Barnabas had not seen Saul for many years. Imagine the drama, confusion, joy, and wild sense of adventure when Saul opened up the door and saw his old friend Barnabas.

The impact of the Antioch church is indescribable. Antioch is where Barnabas trained Saul. Together, they designed the first multi-ethnic church staff team, fulfilling the Pentecost vision. In Jerusalem, the disciples spoke many languages. In Antioch, the disciples lived out multi-culturalism on a church staff team.

1 QUESTION

Do you have a criteria to identify and recruit young leaders to your Kingdom work?

Until Next Tuesday,

John