Many church leaders bear incredible loads because they haven't mastered the art of raising up fellow leaders and releasing responsibility to them.
—Don Cousins

Growth inevitably leads to chaos. I don't mean the kind of chaos caused by weak administration or poor planning. I mean the turmoil that accompanies action, the disruption that results from change, and the problems that surface from incorporating new workers into a ministry. An organization without this kind of chaos probably isn't making much of a mark. I'll take chaos—with impact—any time over a calm lack of fruitfulness.

While chaos may not be a comfortable state, the inconveniences it brings are a small price to pay for the thrill of knowing one's ministry is making a difference. And when great things are happening in a ministry, people tend to step forward and ask, "How can I help?" They want to be part of the activity—even somewhat chaotic activity—when they see the fruit it bears.

The man who runs our small-group ministry owned ...