Every leader should possess a desire to build something that will outlast his lifetime. Like King David, we must cultivate the desire to build along with a willingness to pass it on. Today apostolic reformation is demanding that we produce leaders who know how to tap into God’s innate design, which is a Kingdom without end.

Building something that lasts is not an option; it is God’s desire and His design that He has put within the heart of every person. At the end of life, every person wants to know that he did make a difference and that he did leave something for the next generation. As an example, William R. Hewlett, Co-founder of Hewlett-Packard once stated, "As I look back on my life’s work, I’m probably most proud of having helped to create a company that by virtue of its values, practices, and success has had a tremendous impact on the way companies are managed around the world. And I’m particularly proud that I’m leaving behind an ongoing organization that can live on as a role model long after I’m gone."

Today, we have networks, ministries, churches and communities who are led by charismatic visionary leadership. These are leaders whose personality, skill to preach, and ability to motivate cause them to build large institutions which are very visible and seemingly viable. Yet at the end of their lives, many of these same leaders will look back from the grave only to see that what they have built doesn’t last beyond their own life span.

I believe people do not want to get to the end of their "race" only to find that they have built something that didn’t last. We could call this the "technology of Absalom." Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King's Valley. For he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom's Monument (2 Sam 18:18, NKJV).

The call to us is to reject Absalom Technology and embrace Davidic Technology. What are some of the qualities for building to last? First and foremost, David reveals to us that the senior leader’s heart position and heart attitude is a major factor. Seemingly a small point, yet a major factor for receiving divine approval, divine grace, divine wisdom, and divine resources for building. David’s correct internal configuration (e.g. his core values and attitude towards God) brought into His life a willingness to build accurately and with a sense of longevity. Today’s leaders must see life beyond themselves! They must develop proper prophetic sight, which sees beyond time into the dimension of eternity.

All leaders must see what mortality really is. How they see life is critical! For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (James 4:14, NKJV). They must desire, design, designate, and deliver what they have built to the next generation. The core ingredient of correct perspective and right desires is imperative to building anything which endures time. We must remember that correct prophetic sight is released when the heart of man is right before God (e.g., hard heart = no sight).

Every leader must live life beyond himself, as well. His goals must be devoid of selfish desires. As an example, Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart once wrote, "I have concentrated all along on building the finest retailing company that we possibly could. Period. Creating a huge personal fortune was never particularly a goal of mine." Interesting to note that one of the richest men alive at that time never really cared about money for himself. As a matter of fact, I have a friend who once lived in the same town as Sam Walton. He worked at a car dealership as a mechanic and one day was asked to take a gentleman back to his house. Apparently this man’s older car was in need of repairs and the dealership offered to take him home. The manager approached my friend and requested he drop his work and drive the gentleman to his house. Later my friend discovered that the man he had chauffeured was none other than Sam Walton. What impressed my friend from this encounter was the average lifestyle which this multi-billionaire lived. His car was old, his house was "plain and average," and his demeanor was friendly with a lack of self-importance. Before his death in 1992, Sam Walton demonstrated to many the value of living life beyond the boundaries of self.

A second core element for building something that lasts is patience! These are visionary leaders who take an "architectural approach" and concentrate on building something into the lives and hearts of multi-generational communities. These are leaders whose contributions are not one great idea or the expression of a charismatic personality or the desire for fame, but leaders who find their greatest joy in building the community and what that community stands for. These are leaders who don’t have all the latest "grow-your-church-fast techniques" but those who "do and learn." They are more impressed by the process than by the size. They resist Babylon’s value system that continually declares, "Big is better" and "Fast is favorable."

A third element for building that which lasts is the ability to value life’s "processes." Because they see life as a training ground for eternal service, these leaders value every experience which life deals them—even hurt and pain. Similar to King David, they value their fight with the lion and the bear. They give value to the ability to suffer rejection, temporary isolation or the assignment of menial tasks (tending sheep). These are leaders who never forget the humble beginnings, and they celebrate before others not only the good times, but also the times of difficulty and lack. Written in the deep recesses of the heart is a book of remembrance of God’s faithfulness in that day of small beginnings.

A fourth quality for building that which lasts is the value of change, experimentation, and constant improvement. These are leaders who institute concrete organizational mechanisms that stimulate change and bring community improvement. These are leaders who carry within them the Kingdom quality of courage! They don’t run from challenges, but like King David, they know their day of visitation. They know how to improvise and use whatever they have at hand (5 stones and a sling). They are constantly upgrading and requesting of God His design and His template. These are leaders who are never satisfied with what has been built, but are ever seeking a more accurate strategic pattern which will bring themselves, their leadership teams and their communities into the "perfect will of God." These are men constantly seeking not only "what to do" but what is the right perspective to do it by. These are leaders who courageously desire change initiated by God.

A fifth element for building that which lasts is to value and build the right culture. These are leaders who clearly articulate and rehearse before the ears of the people the core ideology (core ideology = core values + purpose) which the community should have. Out of these values comes an "ethos" which should accurately represent Kingdom values, goals, attitudes. Leaders who build to last want to build a Kingdom culture that is so strong that those who enter into the community are not only infected by what is taught but by what is seen and demonstrated in the lives of the entire community. (Those who entered David’s tabernacle saw a powerful culture.) Producing and building the right culture becomes of paramount importance to a Kingdom community leader. An accurate leader realizes that such things as relevant language, right environment, correct Kingdom structure, sound apostolic doctrine, and many other factors contribute to building a culture which will last.

One key factor in building lasting culture is the leader’s absolute understanding and commitment to "the power of alignment". Many ministries have vision statements, purpose statements and value statements, but the key to longevity and lasting growth is the ability of the leadership to align the community with their core ideology. The whole context of divine reformation is based upon the principle of alignment. Therefore, when we are in the process of "reforming" our communities, we must understand that alignment simply means that all elements of the community must work together in concert within the context of the ministries core ideology. The leadership’s goal is to produce an accurate Kingdom environment that envelops its members and bombards them with a set of signals so consistent and mutually reinforcing that it’s virtually impossible to misunderstand the community’s ideology and direction. Therefore, to build something that lasts, leaders must translate its core ideology into the very fabric of the community in very pragmatic and tangible ways – into goals, strategies, tactics, policies, processes, cultural practices, language, building layout, youth programs, etc.

Finally, to build something that lasts, the leader must accept the responsibility to build. Many leaders enter into the responsibility of building a Kingdom community with almost an evolutionary mind-set. They think that if they endure in one place long enough, then something good will eventually evolve, or God will miraculously produce a community that lasts. Like King David, today’s leadership must possess a "construct mentality." They must see their responsibility as "builders," not baby sitters or "blessers." They must desire accurate apostolic/prophetic relationships, possess the power of correct sight, be willing to change, construct the right culture and patiently build outside Babylon’s influence. If we build it…He will fill it! But it must be built by leaders who take up their responsibility and build with a long-term perspective.

Steve Schultz (Apostolic Team Congress-WBN)