How do you recognize a good leader? And how are you growing as one?
At our church, we’ve hired staff from a range of ministry contexts—small, medium, and large. What I’ve learned is that the size of someone’s previous ministry is not a reliable indicator of their leadership ability. Beyond assessing a candidate’s character, competence, and chemistry, there’s one quality I’ve come to value more and more: resourcefulness.
Faithfulness and Resourcefulness
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. A master entrusts his property to three servants: to one he gives five talents, to another two, and to the last one. The first two servants double their master’s money, while the third buries his in the ground. The third servant is rebuked, but the first two are commended with the words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
Every servant of Christ longs to hear those words from our King. In this parable, Jesus connects faithfulness with fruitfulness—and the two are not in competition. Yet we also know that turning faithfulness into fruitfulness is easier said than done.
What if faithfulness isn’t only about perseverance, but also about resourcefulness?
It’s easy to overlook, but the parable tells us how the faithful servants increased their master’s estate: “They went at once and traded with the talents” (v.16). In other words, they were diligent and shrewd with what they were given. They made a plan and took action.
In the movie Ratatouille, Chef Gusteau lived by the motto, “Anyone can cook.” In the same way, I believe anyone can become a resourceful leader. We may not all be the most gifted preachers, visionaries, or strategists, but we can all learn to be resourceful. And in my experience, resourcefulness often becomes the pathway to fruitfulness.
The Need for Resourceful Leaders
Regardless of a church’s size or budget, the body of Christ needs resourceful leaders. As much as I value the training provided by our seminaries, many of the real questions of ministry can’t be answered by a systematic theology or a Greek lexicon.
Questions like:
- How do we establish church membership and governance?
- How do we hire staff and train officers?
- How do we practice church discipline or navigate conflict?
- How do we lead through a building project?
- Or more recently, how do we shepherd our people through a pandemic or political division?
When the demands of ministry exceed our experience or expertise, it’s a signal to lean into the practice of resourcefulness.
The Practice of Resourcefulness
Twenty years ago, Asian American pastors often looked to majority-culture churches for models of ministry. We read their books, attended their conferences, and followed leaders like Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, and John Piper. Later, we learned from the likes of Tim Keller, Mark Dever, and Andy Stanley.
These voices have been incredibly valuable for my leadership formation, and I still learn from them. But anyone who has tried to apply ministry philosophies across cultures knows that what works in one city or community may not work in another. Context matters.
Today, resourcefulness might look like a quick Google search or even a prompt on ChatGPT. Technology can be a powerful tool, but only if you know what you’re looking for. As the old adage reminds us, it’s not the arrow but the archer.
Still, the most powerful expression of resourcefulness is found not online, but in relationships. Proverbs 11:14 tells us,
“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
I live by that verse in ministry and in life.
Years ago, I was meeting with a financial planner to discuss life insurance. The options were overwhelming, so I asked her, “What do you do for your own life insurance?” She smiled—because the question got to the heart of wisdom. Sometimes, the best insight comes not from a book, but from a person who’s walked the path before you.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably already resourceful when it comes to books, podcasts, and blogs. I want to encourage you to lean into the multitude of counselors God has placed around you. This is especially important for Asian American leaders because our treasury of wisdom is largely unpublished. The only way to access this resource is over a call or cup of coffee. We must do the work of reaching out to counselors and colleagues.
Two Barriers to Resourcefulness
Let me close by naming two barriers that often keep us from becoming more resourceful leaders.
1. Reluctance.
Many of us hesitate to ask for help because we don’t want to burden others. We assume everyone is too busy, or we fear rejection. But in more than twenty years of ministry, I’ve never had someone turn me down when I asked for their wisdom or perspective. I wasn’t asking for favors—I was asking for insight. People are usually honored to share what they’ve learned.
2. Pride.
We’ve all heard the joke that men don’t like asking for directions because doing so admits they’re lost. The same is often true in leadership. Many pastors are comfortable venting their frustrations about ministry but hesitate to ask for help. The truth is, no one has it all figured out. The resourceful leader has the self-awareness to admit this and the humility to seek counsel.
Conclusion
What questions are you facing in your leadership? Do you feel that the tasks at hand exceed your experience and expertise? I encourage you to practice resourcefulness by seeking the wisdom of others. Asian Americans are currently leading during a very special season. As a whole, we are no longer blazing trails or entering into uncharted territory. Someone else has gone before you, having walked a similar path that you’re currently on. They would love to share their story and pour into yours. May the Lord continue to raise up leaders who are faithful, resourceful, and fruitful—leaders who trust that God can multiply whatever is placed in their hands for the sake of His kingdom.
This article is part of the Leaders’ Line blog, written by various leaders and geared specifically toward those serving in leadership. Our email newsletter goes out twice a month. In addition to Leaders’ Line articles, each newsletter includes news and notes curated especially for ministry leaders. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox.