What Elders Really Are About

"There are elders, teachers, prophets, and apostles who are gifts to help us know God better and learn his ways. Just know that the real ones don’t carry the title on their business cards and are not building an institution in their name. At almost every stage where God has shifted my thinking, he put me alongside some older men and women who could encourage his work in me and provide warnings when I was being sidetracked. Those who are wise, gently honest, and without the need to control your response are great gifts. We need more of these genuine elders scattered in the body of Christ who are courageous enough to walk alongside others and encourage their growth without controlling them."

- Wayne Jacobsen. Beyond Sundays.