The leadership team of Christ the King Lutheran Church, Memphis — the pastors, the youth minister, the principal, preschool director, president of the congregation, the church council and board chairs — constitute the “first line” of leadership, setting the course for the congregation, making recommendations, providing direction and counsel, and generally seeing to it that our clearly stated mission is kept as the focus of all that we attempt and accomplish in His name.
And we praise and thank God for their sacrificial leadership.
We benefit, however, from another line of leaders; those who have the vision, the passion, the drive and commitment, to start something new or untested, to introduce it to the congregation, nurture its growth, draw others into it, and equip them with the tools to “take it and run!” Approval of the “first line” is a must, but it is after that, in the implementation of a new idea, that one of the most important and challenging tasks of leadership takes place.
CTK is blessed with a number of these visionary, “second-line” leaders who have taken their passion for a particular ministry or people, and turned it into a growing, thriving ministry, while spreading their enthusiasm and commitment to others and involving them in the operation and outreach of their dream. Their individual efforts have made and continue to make a strong ripple in the faith life of CTK members and the local and international communities.
Examples of these people and their passions:
- Jackie Brotchner, who through the Stepping Stones ministry, nurtures our widowed members, providing fellowship and Bible study opportunities to that precious group;
- Gary Osing, who encourages the men of the congregation through the Men’s Ministry’s regular Bible Study, fellowship breakfasts and service projects;
- Mike and Cindy Jurgensen, whose passion for the people of Tanzania has led them to raise thousands of dollars to fund regular mission trips during which hundreds of Tanzanian people are brought to Jesus through baptism;
- Johnny Behnke, whose outreach mindedness led to CTK’s adoption of the live-streaming of our services which now reach anyone with access to the internet;
- Kim Goble, who a decade ago began the Children’s Ministry, which today brings hundreds of children and their families to campus each year;
- Genie Swan, who has raised over $20,000 in the past four months through donations and fundraisers in preparation for fulfilling the dream of CTK’s acquiring our “own” Comfort Dog through Lutheran Church Charities;
- Cynthia Schulz, whose passion for helping others led her to offer free life coaching sessions through CTK to anyone in the community in need of encouragement and advice in reaching goals;
- and so many others, who quietly go about serving the Lord and the Church, who would be the last to call themselves “leaders,” and yet who project the quiet authority that God gives those who know His calling and continue to do it with determination, sometimes in the face of a number of odds. They act not in order to lead, but to follow — follow Christ and His command to them to make disciples.
We praise and thank God for their sacrificial leadership.
