In 1975, early in my YWAM career and pretty early in YWAM's history, Pam and I were allowed to go to Brazil and begin our efforts to pioneer our mission there. I was 24 and she was 21.
We weren't given a job description or told what to do, but we were given a rich foundation of teaching on the character of God and on the values this produces in our lives. We knew and trusted our leaders and had a good understanding of YWAM's general goals. We had received deep, practical teaching on how to get our guidance from God.
With this foundation, decisions regarding details in our adaptation to the Brazilian reality were left to us. We tried to recruit and train people who could function under similar liberty in the context of healthy relationships, and who could take creative, effective initiative. There were many difficulties and setbacks, but now there are something like 1,500 Brazilians in YWAM.
The broad structure and decentralized nature of YWAM is very effective as a strategic posture that produces innovation and initiative, but this value goes much deeper than that. It comes from the very nature of the Body of Christ.
Jesus taught that wherever two or three are gathered together, He is present (Matt 18:20). He gives no hint whatsoever that a certain level of leadership is necessary to legitimize such a meeting. His teaching is very minimal, describing relationships that are horizontal and democratic. Any two or three believers can enjoy His presence, including His power, love, guidance, and the mind of Christ. Why can’t two or three make quality decisions according to His will? Must they have a headquarters that has to initiate everything or set narrow parameters? Of course not!
Jesus cautioned us very strongly that we should not see leadership as the world does (Matt 23:10; Jn 13: 12-17, 1 Pet 5: 2,3). He gave this warning because there is something in mankind that wants to give the responsibility for decisions over to leadership. There is also something in leaders that finds such control over people seductive.
It seems like Jesus' vision of leadership has nothing to do with authoritarian control and everything to do with the transmission of values, inspiration, motivation, and teaching. That's much harder than imposing control, but pursuing Biblical leadership is certainly worth the extra effort.
The concept of the universal priesthood of believers (Rev 1:6) is behind our deep respect of people's freedom to pursue the dreams that God has given each one. It's so good to belong to a movement where such respect and freedom is guaranteed in our foundational values, within the protection of shared values and eldership.
Most innovation happens in companies with 25 or fewer employees. With over 16,000 staff, YWAM can become a centralized monstrosity or it can continue to produce hundreds and thousands of free initiatives. We will fulfill the dreams that God has for us as a mission to the extent that we are able to release and support the enormous creativity and insight that will always be there in the people who God gives us. I believe that as we continue to set them free to seek His face, they will find thousands of ways to see His will done on earth as it is in heaven.
Jim Stier is YWAM’s Americas Field Director
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