multiply.

You are a leader.

Not because of your title. Not because of how many people report to you. Not because you have it all figured out. You are a leader because God has placed people, resources, relationships, and time in your hands — and He expects you to multiply them.

That's the heart of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. The master doesn't distribute resources to a select few high-performers. He gives to his servants — his bond slaves — and calls them to steward what belongs entirely to him. The Greek word doulos carries real weight here. A bond slave didn't manage their own resources. They managed what belonged to the master. Everything they had was his, and the whole point was to grow it.

That's you. That's me. Everything we have — our time, our gifts, our relationships, our influence — belongs to Christ. We are stewards, not owners. And we will be held accountable for what we did with it.

The scariest character in that parable isn't a villain. He's a guy who called the master "Lord," had the right theology, and still buried what he was given. Right belief. Wrong posture. Wrong response.

I don't want that to be our story.

This is exactly why I'm asking you to invest two days in the Global Leadership Summit this summer — and why I'm asking you to bring someone with you.

I've watched this summit change households in our city. Tanya came as a skeptic going through a divorce and found her faith. Kat came as a volunteer and eventually handed God her settled, childless life — and Jack is now six months old. Damian LaCroix brought nearly 100 teachers and staff, and today he leads all of Wisconsin's superintendents. These aren't conference success stories. These are bond slaves of Christ who said yes to an invitation, took initiative, and let God multiply what they had.

That ripple effect is real. And it starts with a seat in a room.

Here's my ask — two simple questions to take into the week:

Who are you investing in? Think about the people in your household — and I mean household the way scripture means it: family, coworkers, neighbors, business relationships. Who needs an invitation to grow? Who needs you to step toward them?

What step are you taking to steward your own influence? Maybe you're not sure what you have to offer. Maybe you've been burying it — not out of rebellion, but out of fear or drift. The summit is two days. It will sharpen you, stretch you, and remind you what you're here for.

Tickets are $149. Use the promo code on your card(GLSTEAM26); that rate holds through June 19. Students interested in participating can reach out to michaelg@gbcc.me

I'll be there every year not just to grow — but to watch people like you discover what God put in your hands.

Don't bury it. Multiply it.

• Written by Troy Murphy