Exceptional Leaders

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Posted on: Nov 13, 2011

SEED FOR TODAY

We hear the word “exceptional” a lot these days in describing certain people. Things like “an exceptional athlete,” “an exceptional artist,” “an exceptional business leader,” and etc.  In my devotions this morning I came across two men the Bible describes as exceptional leaders.  Listen to these words:

“Not one person in this entire census had been counted in the previous census taken in the wilderness of Sinai! For all who had been counted then had died, as the Lord had decreed when he said of them, “They shall die in the wilderness.” The only exceptions were Caleb (son of Jephunneh) and Joshua (son of Nun). (Numbers 26:64,65, Living  Bible)  Wow! Of the hundreds of thousands who had died off only two of them, Caleb and Joshua, were identified as the “only exceptions.”  This leads us to a very interesting question.  What made these two men exceptions to the rule of death and failure in the wilderness journey?  Might be a good idea to go and study their lives again and discover what makes “EXCEPTIONAL LEADERS.”  Intend to do that myself.

STRENGTH FOR TODAY

It is easy to give into the loud voice of the majority.  In the above mentioned incident had Caleb and Joshua gone along with the “majority report” that verse would never have been written,  they would never have been remembered as “exceptional,” would never have received their inheritance, and would have never witnessed the crumbling of the walls of Jericho.

STAMINA FOR TODAY

My word to you today:  “Hold on to what God has put in your heart. Don’t be influenced by those who would talk you out of it, and keep on showing up everyday.  You will be remembered by future generations as “EXCEPTIONAL!”

STORIES FOR TODAY

The more I work with our WME members I am awed by the fact that we have “EXCEPTIONAL LEADERS”  all over the world.  I am actually writing this article in a hotel room in New Orleans.  This morning we celebrated the 5th anniversary of a new church, WestPoint Church, pastored by Steve and Becky Smith.  After Hurricane Katrina had forced them to leave they made a decision to return, start a completely new church and this morning we celebrated with a capacity crowd, three times larger than before Katrina.  Now, that’s exceptional!

Two weeks ago I attended a special banquet in Joplin, Missouri, site of one of the most devastating tornadoes in history.  One of our members, Ron Harris, connecting WME with Extreme Makeover, who promised to build seven houses in seven days.  Ron took the challenge, organized fund raisers and raised $100,625.000 dollars from WME. The 7 families all lost everything in the tornado. The money was divided equally and each family received the money which will take care of specific needs such as taxes for the houses, utility bills, medical bills, clothing, and food.  Now that is exceptional!

For the last month, Stanslav Hart, one of our members who lives in the Czech Republic has been traveling among our American churches promoting his book, “The Story of an Exchange Student”  which tells the story of his conversion from atheism and communism.  He has now planted two churches in the Czech Republic which has a Christian population of only .03%.  He did not offer the book for sale but gave people an opportunity to donate with all proceeds going toward the building of a church for his new congregation which has had to meet in four different locations.  He received over $25,000 in donations for his book.  They had already raised about $50,000 from his young congregation.  That’s $75,000 toward their goal of $250,000!  Now that’s exceptional!

About Our Chairman

Kemp Holden and his wife Carol were married in 1964 and formed a powerful ministry team preaching the gospel not only in the United States but soon their passion for missions would take them to the island of Jamaica where they founded and built a church and a school on the north coast. Soon after returning to the U.S., they felt God calling them to Fort Smith, Arkansas where they built Harvest Time Tabernacle. They watched those small beginnings grow to one of the largest churches in the region with not only a local focus but a global impact. After 38 years as senior pastor, having mentored his successor, Pastor Marty Sloan, he led the transition and passed the baton to the new senior pastor. Pastor Holden now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Harvest Time where he and his family attend.

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