There is a half-joke out there that the best definition for a leader is found in Webster’s dictionary.
lead·er (noun \ˈlē-dər\): one who leads
And it’s true: To appoint a leader, find the guy (or gal) who is influential and respected, and give him a leadership role. In other words, identify the leader, and just start calling them “leader”.
To appoint a church elder, find a man who already meets the qualifications of an elder, and give him the role. You should find that very little changes, for he was already an elder of sorts. (Just be careful not to now “meeting” him to death!)
If you feel called into missions as a “goer” (or you think you might be), ask yourself, “Am I a ‘missionary’ here at home? Am I burdened for the lost in my neighborhood? Am I a prayer warrior? Am I an opportunistic evangelist? Do I have a handle on the Scriptures, armed to give an account for the hope within me?” If not, then don’t expect to become these things magically after you move. Like a leader and an elder, a missionary is already a missionary before getting the title. Or to put it simply…
mis·sion·ary (noun \ˈmi-shə-ˌner-ē\): A mature Christian who moves
