Guest blog - Wes Henson, part 2

We’ve all been there: you need another camp sponsor, or another Middle School boys small group leader. But how do you find them?

Years ago I found myself in need of a female camp sponsor. I was serving in a small church in a small community and the task ahead of me was tall. So I set out to find a female camp sponsor. I don’t remember the names of everyone I asked, but I do remember the number: 9.

The ninth lady I asked finally agreed to go to camp as a sponsor. That means I got 8 no’s before I got a yes. But I kept asking. This may feel like a failure, but the lesson was waiting for me.

More recently, over the last six years, I’ve almost tripled the number of adults we have serving in the ministry on a weekly basis with one principle: sometimes you have to dig through the “no’s” to find the “yes”. Put another way, every “no” is a step closer to the person who will say “yes”.

Leadership development does not only pertain to students. Adults need leadership development as well. But a willing adult leader is better than a gifted but unwilling adult leader.

So be willing to dig to find the yes’s, and you’ll be well on your way.

Wes Henson