Helping Others Find Their Platform

My sons and I recently attended the Main Event in St. John’s Arena at the Ohio State University. The gathering featured OSU football coach Jim Tressel and a group of current players including Malcolm Jenkins, Marcus Freeman, and James Laurinaitis. The purpose of the event was very clear, “To glorify God by realizing the potential of making Christ known from the platform of Ohio State Football.”

That statement was proven true. I was impressed as each player acknowledged their awareness that the crowd, numbering multiple thousands of people, had not gathered to hear skillful speakers, but successful college football players.  Football was the platform for their witness. There were many in the arena that could have communicated more effectively, but the people who attended that evening came to watch Buckeyes share their faith, whether they were eloquent or not.

It’s the power of the platform. It can be anything that captures the attention of people and causes them to listen.

What’s your platform? The fact is that successful leaders are aware of the following principles and even more importantly, they teach others to recognize them as well.

Everyone Has a Platform

Not everyone is a star college linebacker with a clear path to the pros, but everyone has something upon which their witness can be built. Leaders need to help develop this realization in next-generation leaders. Whether it’s excellence, persistence, compassion, quality, intelligence, position, or any one of a number of other items, everyone has a platform. Paul encouraged Timothy to live an exemplary life and so build a platform for his ministry, even though Timothy was young.

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example

for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 
                                                                                                         1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

PRAYER: Father, let your Spirit guide me along creative paths as I discover the many platforms available to me.

Start With What You Have

Whether it’s filling a widow’s empty oil jars in Elisha’s day, or feeding five thousand with five loaves and two fish, God delights in making something out of nothing. Viewing the world through the eyes of faith helps us to look at what we do have, instead of dwelling on that which we do not. Unlike the wicked servant in Matthew 25:24-30, strong leaders use whatever God has made available, and they bring this quality out in others.

PRAYER: Father, help me to live and model gratitude!

Faithfulness is Paramount

He’s the Creator and the Author—the Living God. Whether it was Paul’s diverse background as a Roman citizen and a Jew trained under Gamaliel, or Esther’s beauty, God’s involvement cannot be overlooked. Let us never forget that it is He who provides the building blocks for our platform. This truth compels us to be faithful with that which we have been entrusted to steward, albeit little or much, for the Master is returning to settle accounts.

His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful
with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your

master's happiness!”                                                                       Matthew 25:21 (NIV)

PRAYER: Father, help me to take risks of faith so that you will be pleased in the stewardship I display with all you have entrusted to my care.

November’s Momentum is built around the theme of leaders developing leaders. I hope you find the links and resources helpful. If after reading this article you think of a unique platform upon which someone you know has built his or her witness, send me an email at eric@ohioag.org. I would love to hear the story.

Otherwise, have a great November!

Eric Schroeter