Successful ministry initiatives don't just happen.  They are a direct result of the combined efforts of leaders, managers, and technically skilled workers who are willing to take an active role in the overall process.  Capital stewardship campaigns are no exception, and your leadership is essential to the overall success of the program.

Regardless of your position or level of participation, here are some basic leadership principles which will help maximize your involvement.

1.      Remain Supportive from Start to Finish

Everyone can provide leadership at their level of involvement, and the most effective leaders are those who believe in the project from start to the finish.  Regardless of what happens along the way, show support for the church leadership and program and others will be influenced by your actions.

2.      Maintain a Positive Attitude

If leadership is influence, then maintaining a positive attitude is absolutely critical to your success.  You have an incredible opportunity to lead others into new areas of faith and involvement for Christ by your involvement in the program.  New leaders and workers will emerge because of your positive attitude toward Christ and His work.

3.      Keep an Open Heart and Mind

During the course of the campaign, you will be challenged to consider new insights and ideas about how to get things done.  If you keep an open heart and mind, God will help you discover new knowledge, skills, attitudes, and habits that can improve your leadership for years to come.

4.      Follow the Plan

A great deal of time and energy has gone into adopting the right campaign model for your church.  It is important that you provide the kind of leadership needed to achieve the goals and objectives outlined in the campaign plan.  To do this, you will have to work hard to keep your team on task, complete the assignments on time, and provide innovative leadership when faced with complex problems along the way.

5.      Get Work Done Through Others

Someone has observed that "leadership occurs when you get things done through other people."  That is not a bad observation, and the best leaders in the world are those who know how to leverage the resources to get the job done rather than doing it themselves.  Don't be afraid to plan out your work and then enlist the help of others to use their gifts and talents to get the job done.

6.      Be a Consistent Encourager

As far as I know, no one has ever died of too much encouragement.  You can never get or give too much positive feedback to those around you.  Set an example of someone who cares about others by providing consistent feedback and encouragement to those around you and watch them grow in faith and confidence as you move forward.

7.      Go the Extra Mile

As a leader you will be asked to go the extra mile more than once during the course of this campaign.  Remember, when obstacles and challenges occur, God always makes a way to overcome or deal with them if we seek Him first.  Stay strong, do whatever it takes, and go the extra mile whenever He requires you to do it.

8.      Do Everything with Excellence

Everyone from world leaders to line workers knows the importance of personal and professional excellence.  It honors God and inspires others, and is a worthy goal regardless of your occupation or endeavor.  This campaign is about advancing the Kingdom of God through the growth and expansion of your local church.  If anything should be done with excellence, this is it.

9.      Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help

The best leaders in the world are those who are comfortable with their own ignorance.  They know what they don't know and they are never afraid ask for help or guidance.  God has surrounded you with very smart and capable people, so don't be afraid to leverage their gifts to get the job done right the first time.

10.   Stay on Your Knees

There is nothing easy about a capital stewardship campaign.  It is hard work.  It is exhausting.  It will challenge the patience and endurance of the most seasoned spiritual leader, and if you don't stay on your knees before God you will not have access to the spiritual resources you need to be successful.  Stay on your knees and seek His face during each step of the process.  He will provide wisdom to those who ask, and supernatural strength to those who acknowledge their own weakness.