Developing Kingdom Leaders – Tom Yeakley

Taking the Mystery out of Leadership

Archive for the month “July, 2026”

27 Jul 2026
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‘No’ Is Not a Four-Letter Word!

The missionary statesman E. Stanley Jones said, “Your ability to say ‘no’ will determine your ability to say ‘yes’ to greater things.”  Learning to say ‘no’ graciously is a skill to be developed as you mature in understanding your God-given design and your calling.

Nehemiah was persistent in declining many invitations to meeting with his opposition.  They then tried to scare him with threats upon his life.  All received the same answer, ‘no.’  (Nehemiah 6:1-14)  Apollos was strongly urged by Paul to leave Ephesus and go to Corinth.  But he said ‘no’ to Paul’s urging, instead promising to visit at a later date.  (1 Corinthians 16:12).  Paul himself said ‘no’ to an open door of ministry opportunity in Troas because he had a higher priority.  He was looking for Titus to bring him word of how his first letter to Corinth was received.  So he said goodbye to Troas and went to Macedonia.  (2 Corinthians 2:12-13)

Even God the Father said ‘no’ to His Son in the garden.  Three times Jesus asked His Father to change the plan and not go to the cross, but His Father said ‘no.’  (Mark 14).

Discerning between good and bad is easy.  But choosing between what is good, better, or best requires guidance from the Holy Spirit.  He will help you discern what is best.  It may be the right choice, but the wrong timing.  Never choose based upon the ministry audience size or the honorarium amount offered. 

And when you decline an invitation, do so with words of affirmation and gratitude first.  Then say, “I’m sorry I won’t be able to do this for you.  I have other commitments.”  No need to explain what those might be – it could be staying home to rest and spend time with your family which also is a real commitment.

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13 Jul 2026

Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing!

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:1-4 ESV

When launching your ministry there is great excitement and zeal to begin building a generational ministry that sends skilled disciplemakers to the ends of the earth.  But as time moves forward, especially with increased numbers of people involved, the clarity of your mission can begin to fade.  Problems arise (they always do) and ‘shiny objects’ flutter in front of our eyes taking away from the laser focus we once had.  How do you  prevent mission drift and a loss of focus on the main thing?

First, you the leader must be crystal clear as to your responsibility and contribution.  You must gently say no to anything that would take you away from this contribution.  Just as the apostles did in acknowledging the importance of daily food distribution to widows, they also affirmed that their personal contribution was a  focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word of God.  They resolved the issue by delegating the solution to others without becoming embroiled in the details of the operations.

Secondly, you must continually cast vision and remind all involved with you about the mission.  As the ministry leader, you are the primary vision caster.  Saying it over and over again will embed not only the vision, but also the values which guide choices resulting in aligned behavior for the mission. 

Train yourself to communicate the mission and vision in multiple ways.  Use stories and metaphors to illustrate key values.  Model these values by your own behavior.  You are working against the natural degradation of the vision with the passing of time.  Remember the adage, “It’s hard to remember why you decided to drain the swamp when you are surrounded by alligators!”  Keep sharing the mission and vision wherever you go. 

Posted in #1 KNOW- How a Leader Thinks and tagged , , , , , ,

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