Some are better than others in finding and using “leaders” (disciples who make other disciples). John Wesley excelled in this area. Howard Snyder in the Radical Wesley writes, “One hears today that it is hard to find enough leaders for small groups or for those to carry on the other responsibilities of the church. John Wesley mastered the art of finding the gem in every person.Wesley put one in ten, perhaps one in five, to work in significant ministry and leadership. And who were these people? Not the educated or the wealthy with time on their hands, but laboring men and women, husbands and wives and young folks with little or no training, but with spiritual gifts and eagerness to serve. . . Not only did Wesley reach the masses; he made leaders of thousands of them.”

My survey of cell leaders confirms the strategy of Wesley. I discovered that the potential to lead a fruitful cell group does not reside with the gifted, the educated, or those with vibrant personalities. The answer, rather, is prayer and hard work. I discovered that male and female, educated and uneducated, married and single, shy and outgoing, those gifted as teachers and those gifted as evangelists, equally multiplied their small groups. The anointing for cell multiplication doesn’t reside with a mysterious few.

Who really is comfortable anway with the “normal” type leader anyway? Calvin Miller is his book, The Empowered Leader: 10 Keys to Servant Leadership, writes, “But I am convinced that great leaders are rarely normal, well-adjusted people. Frankly which of us is not a bit tired of normalcy anyway?” (27)

I personally think it’s extremely refreshing to watch our extraordinary God work powerfully in very abnormal people! How about you?

Joel