Finding Elders at Bay Hills

One of the most important and prayerful responsibilities we carry is the appointment of Elders to lead and serve the church. At Bay Hills, it now involves a five-step process that takes time and patience.

1. Observation - the process of discerning and determining who, at Bay Hills, may already embody the raw qualities of an Elder, demonstrating them in meaningful ways. 
2. Education - the process of training and teaching the necessary Biblical prerequisites, with both time and proximity to a potential Elder's life.
3. Nomination - the process of making a candidate's consideration for Eldership public to our members (to know a candidate and observe their life), giving each member time and opportunity to voice potential concerns with a candidate's confirmation.
4. Evaluation - the process of formal vetting, by the Elders, which includes assessing a candidate's character and competency over time. 
5. Confirmation - the process of officially confirming a candidate as an Elder, by member vote, with the Elders affirming their fitness for office. 

With that being said, it is the first step in this process I would like to expound upon. It should go without saying that finding and vetting Elders is not a task we should take lightly. In fact, the Apostle Paul laid out clear and meaningful guidelines for this role in passages like 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 for precisely this reason. He further gives us a number of qualities and characteristics the church should observe in those who are called to lead God’s people. This does not include those we necessarily like, or those who are particularly successful, or even the leaders who are the most charismatic. No, at Bay Hills, there's one principle that we hold tightly to when considering Elders: we do not appoint men who seek out or demand a seat at the table, instead we look for the men who are already living like someone who has one.

Our thinking behind this lies at the heart of biblical leadership. When we look at the Bible, we don’t see men vying for attention, seeking titles, or clamoring for recognition. Instead, we see the call for humble men who have already demonstrated leadership—often quietly—within their own family and within the church family. These are men who aren’t looking for a platform, but instead are faithfully serving with or without one.  

Paul describes these leaders as those who manage their households well (1 Timothy 3:4-5). This means their leadership starts in the most intimate spaces of life, where love, patience, and humility are tested every day. If a man leads well outside of the Eldership, he is showing the kind of character that qualifies him to lead inside of the Eldership. We look for men who are already burden-bearing personalities within the church. Rather than hoping they will live up to the title, we title leaders who are already living it out. In my experience, these types of men are often not the ones stepping forward and saying, “pick me.” Instead, they are the ones already sacrificially serving, often without fanfare. In fact, much of the time, they resist the invitation to become Elders altogether.

In Titus 1:7, Paul speaks of the need for Elders to be blameless. Part of this means the men we look for as Elders are the ones who serve without an agenda. They are not in it for personal gain or recognition. Instead, they carry a heart of humility, seeking the good of the church above themselves. These men understand that leadership is about sacrifice, not self-promotion.

I want to encourage you to look around our church. You will find these kinds of leaders quietly loving their families, working hard in their jobs, and serving the church without any expectation of recognition. These are the kinds of leaders we are on the hunt for.  

I am honored that at our last member's meeting we confirmed one such man to the Elders and nominated another, Jack Zhang and Manny Martinez. Both of these men exhibit the heart of Jesus—who came not to be served, but to serve. It’s not that desiring to be an Elder is wrong—in fact, 1 Timothy 3:1 says it’s a noble task. But it’s the posture of the heart that matters most.

My prayer is always that the Holy Spirit will raise up humble, selfless leaders who will shepherd His people with care, wisdom, grace, and hope. Speaking of hope, I have great hope for the future of Bay Hills. This is because God is always faithful to provide the right leaders at the right time. Therefore, let's continue to pray that He will guide us to those who are already leading well, even if they don’t seek the spotlight.

Those are the leaders this world desperatly needs.