Training Roosters by Amber Weigand-Buckley

I HAVE DETERMINED THAT ROOSTERS MAKE THE BEST ALARM CLOCKS. In fact, that was one of my greatest discoveries the first morning I woke up in the mountains of Baguio, Philippines.

Just a week prior and totally out of the blue, I was invited to take over the “Launching a Print Publication” track at the week-long Asia Institute for Media in Ministry for an instructor who had fallen ill. Little did I know, that as much as I would be teaching during my first trip to Asia, I would be traversing an even larger learning curve.

The students attending were from all over Southeast Asia — including some countries where declaring the truth of the gospel comes at a risk — a price that I’d never had to face in my two decades serving in Christian publication ministry.

That first morning I woke to the sound roosters in the distance, heralding the sun’s appearance. It was as if God was dropping a image of the calling He had for His people: to proclaim the goodness of the SON.

In fact, these birds not only serve as an old-school wake-up call, they alert the flock of predators and are the peacemakers of the coop community.

But what makes a rooster more than just loud bird that disturbs the peace? That thought lead me to Google “How To Train a Rooster” — and yes, I found tutorials!

One of the most significant things that I found was that the rooster needs daily gentle grounding in the hands of his master, something they struggle with at first. But without this consistent grounding, he becomes a flighty, self-serving, unpredictable “mean bird” that has the capacity for inflicting more harm than good.

As Christians in leadership, we have the privilege of training and mentoring the next generation of roosters.

In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul says, “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (NIV).

But as we teach, in the Spirit of the Apostle Paul, we must also be willing to continually receive teaching, like Timothy. We must daily remain grounded in the hands of the Master, knowing we always have more to learn in our effort to care for the flock more effectively.

This teaching and learning opportunity happens as our faith is challenged.

May this issue of Leading Hearts inspire you to walk out His call in the barnyard of life. As we herald the glory of the Son, until He Comes. -LH

Peace,

AMBER WEIGAND-BUCKLEY

EDITOR, LEADING HEARTS MAGAZINE