ICNU

Older woman and younger woman walking together.
 

In his outstanding book Hero Maker, Dave Ferguson posits that leadership at the highest level isn’t about attracting followers but about developing other leaders. It doesn’t settle for being the hero.  It is committed to making heroes.

Leadership at the highest level isn’t about attracting followers but about developing other leaders. It doesn’t settle for being the hero.  It is committed to making heroes.

The thing is that most people don’t see themselves as potential heroes. Case in point?  The original disciples. 

When Jesus said to these blue-collar, unschooled, off-the-map fishermen, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” He was not only offering them an invitation to relationship but an opportunity for apprenticeship.

He didn’t say, “Follow me and watch what God can do through my leadership,” although they certainly did so.  He said in effect, “Follow me because God wants to work through leaders other than me, namely YOU.”

For a respected rabbi to look these working-class grinders in the eye and say, “I see something special in you” was mind-blowing and life-changing.

Ferguson has taken this idea and used it to adopt a simple tool that he’s used in his church with remarkable results. He calls it having an ICNU conversation.

Say those letters out loud: I…C…N…U.  “I see in you.”

In saying ICNU you are calling out greatness in another person, recognizing their potential. “I see in you ________”… then you fill in the blank with appropriate affirmation.

  • “I see in you this ability.”

  • “I see in you this gift.”

  • “I see in you this character trait.”

  • “I see in you this passion.”

  • “I see in you God at work when you…”

In saying ICNU you are calling out greatness in another person, recognizing their potential. “I see in you this ability… this gift…this passion.”

Ferguson writes, “We encourage everyone – you don’t have to serve in any official capacity – to practice this. I can’t stress enough what a difference it can make when someone you respect takes the time to see something in you and call that out of you. Many people did not grow up in a family in which they experienced this, nor do they work in an environment where this happens. Our ICNU culture helps those who are affirmed to dare to dream that they can in fact be more and do more.”

My ICNU Story

I can testify that this is so true.  As it relates to my career path, I felt that it would take me and keep me in the elementary school classroom.  My college degrees were in education and my fulfillment and fruitfulness were in that field.  I never dreamed I could be or do anything else.

Then, having volunteered to teach a Sunday School class and lead an outreach ministry at my church, I heard these words from the Senior Pastor: “I see in you a teaching gift and a shepherd’s heart.  Would you ever consider becoming a pastor and joining our staff?”

The rest is history.  I did in fact join that staff and three years later, I led 50 people to plant Fellowship Missionary Church. Over the next three decades, those 50 grew to 2300. We also grew from one staff member to 25 staff members.

Many of those coworkers came out of the ranks of FMC as I, in effect, said to them, “ICNU this ability…this gift…this potential.” Thus it was that a janitor became a caring pastor, an insurance agent became a children’s pastor, a homemaker became a worship director, and on and on and on.

Creating an ICNU culture doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s going to be a career change – though that could happen.  It might well trigger other ministries that are lay-led.

For example, at Fellowship it led to a businessman launching a midnight basketball league for inner-city young men.  It led to young musicians taking their place on the worship team.  And it led to a group of artists recognizing their art could raise awareness of the need for trauma-healing in the DR Congo. 

ICNU. They might well be four of the most important letters of the alphabet when it comes to helping others fulfill their Kingdom destiny. I encourage you to use them regularly.

 
 
 

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Discipleship, RelationshipsDave DeSelmEveryday Pastor, pastors, leader, leadership, church leaders, heroes, making heroes, hero, leadership development, developing leaders, Dave Ferguson, Hero Maker, ICNU, I see in you, recognizing potentialComment