SHOWING APPRECIATION
TO CELL LEADERS
What ministry title in scripture best approximates the
ministry performed by a Cell Leader? Elder or Deacon? Perhaps one of the five titles
mentioned in Ephesians: Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Teacher, Evangelist? Or, what
about Shepherd? Servant? Other titles to be considered could be Counselor, Comforter,
Advisor, etc.
The point is this: the ministry of a Cell Leader from time
to time may involve all these areas. This person may be the first one at a
family in crisis, the first mentor of a future missionary, the one who
intercedes into the night for those in the home group.
It involves a significant sacrifice of time to lead a cell,
a restructuring of priorities to put the needs of the families of the group
ahead of leisure activities. Consider also the commitment of the spouse and
even the children as they release this person to serve month after month.
I shall never forget the first trip to Seoul in 1963 to
visit Pastor Yonggi Cho. Among other things I discovered was that he had just
taken by the busloads all the Cell Leaders of the church to a seaside resort
for a multi-day “Thank You” event. This annual time with the Pastor was a great
blessing to those who had served so faithfully.
When I went to Singapore to help build the Faith Community
Baptist Church cell ministry, we budgeted from the start a special annual event
for all Cell Leaders, taking them to a seaside resort in Malaysia. In addition,
personalized gifts were presented. 24 years later, I still unzip the little
leather case of nail clippers with the church logo we gave to each person. In
addition, there were significant awards at this annual event for the Cell
Leaders who had multiplied their groups several times and those who had brought
the most new believers to Christ.
While we averaged about 2 ½ years of service before cell
leaders either took time off or were promoted to be responsible for overseeing
5-6 cells (Cell Supervisors) or moved to a pastoral position (Zone Pastor), we
had many who chose to remain a cell leader year after year, often seeing
several generations of “daughter cells.” These were given special honor. I
noted in a recent article by Pastor Mario Vega that they had just honored a
woman who had led a cell since the founding of the church!
For unsalaried cell leaders, their greatest “rewards” are
not going to be a special annual retreat or banquet or trophy or pin. It will
be the lives they have invested their prayers and hours to mentor and inspire.
This is the gold, silver and precious stones that they will be rewarded for
when they meet God at they enter into His eternal home and hear Him say, “Well
done, good and faithful servant!” But a congregation that recognizes the
faithful service of its cell leaders will prosper!
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he
cannot lose.”
