By: Kate Arnold
Executive Director, Youth for Christ, Alaska
Failure: no one likes it, everyone does it but growth grows out of it.
I’ve been around the leadership block long enough to know that I cannot do it alone. However, over the past year as I have been an active participant in the Murdock Charitable Trust’s “Mentoring Experience” I have come to understand that concept on a much deeper level.
For me, mentoring is a must. I believe that for me to be the leader that God has created me to be it is instrumental that I have mentors in my life so that I can lead and mentor others to see their God given potential.
One of the important lessons that I have learned in this process is that failure is normal. All great leaders fail greatly. Failure is never final it’s another opportunity to learn and grow. I have a whole constellation of mentors in my life who I meet with regularly. These are folks who listen carefully – who hear more than I say, they share their stories of successes and failures with me, they know my blind spots, and they ask me questions I need to answer. They affirm my calling, provide a holding space for gaining perspective and forgiveness, they let me climb out of my own hole, and give blessing not advice.
Most importantly they model Jesus, the ultimate mentor. I am challenged to look at how Jesus mentored. How did God set out to change the universe for eternity? How did Jesus form the next generation of disciples? Am I emulating Him just as the 1st century church did?
Am I seeking out those God chose? Jesus went out and chose the ones that were restless, the true and teachable ones. Historically, the Kingdom of God has been advanced by very ordinary people doing extraordinary things in Jesus’ power. Am I willing to look for people who want God to mess with their lives and to change the landscape of our community? Am I willing to copy Jesus by finding teachable servants who follow Jesus by seeing themselves and others change?
Do I ask good questions? Jesus gave the disciples choice over and over again. A simple choice was offered, “Come, follow Me.” Jesus was never afraid to ask His guys if they still wanted to follow. Am I willing to listen to the Spirit and continuously offer those I lead chances to choose Jesus in their lives and their ministry?
Do I lead by His example? Jesus clearly spelled out the cost to follow Him. Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow Me.” Am I clear about the costs of living the Jesus-life in front of unsympathetic friends, family, and those I lead? Am I willing to lay down my agenda and follow His example?
Am I present? Jesus shared everything with His companions, the disciples. In turn, they watched Jesus and knew what He was like under all circumstances. Do I act like Jesus by spending time with those who serve under me, listening to them and loving them no matter what the outcome is?
Do I delegate effectively? Jesus gave His disciples different levels of responsibility. We know that there were 120 disciples at one time, then 70 and then Jesus chose from 12 men He called “Apostles.” Within the 12, there were the inner 3 (Peter, James and John) and finally the “disciple whom Jesus loved…John. Do I mimic Jesus in this regard? Do I bring others along with just as much as they can take at the time…listening to the Spirit speaking to me about each one?
Do I expect big things out of those I lead? Jesus sent them out to do big things. In Luke 10, Jesus gives special authority to 70 guys who had seen Jesus heal people and cast out demons. He gave them the Holy Spirit and His authority. Do I believe that the Spirit and Jesus’ authority still make God-things happen today? Do I model these very same things for others and help them develop this level of trust in Jesus?
Do I rejoice in the success of others? Jesus rejoiced in their success…just like it was His own. In John 17 you get a profound sense of how much Jesus loved those that followed Him. Jesus enjoyed seeing the Kingdom of God grow because of the disciples’ efforts. Jesus had no need to be the center of attention. Am I willing to lay down my reputation and give credit where credit is due? Do I have that same Spirit of love in me for the ones God gives me to mentor into a more mature faith?
Do I allow room for failure? Jesus’ one “bad hire” did not slow down God’s plan. Jesus did not hate Judas. In fact, He offered Judas many chances to turn away from his course of betrayal. Do I chase after those who turn away from Jesus and in the end still make their own choices?
Do I pray for those I lead? Jesus prayed for His followers. All four gospels including Isaiah and Hebrews tell us this. Am I following Jesus example in my own prayer life as I mentor others into a Christ-life and into the ministry that naturally flows out of it?
Am I willing to sacrifice my own rights on behalf of others? Jesus showed His love for His followers through sacrifice. John’s picture of Garden arrest of Jesus shows us Jesus’ protection of and self-sacrifice for His followers. Jesus displayed His power not His own safety but the safety of His followers. Do I follow Jesus’ lead and exercise His power for others and not myself?
If you feel like you have gotten to the end of this blog and have more questions than answers…it is good. Remember the best thing that we can do as leaders is take care of ourselves. Keep personal renewal a priority by intentionally spending time alone with God, keep yourself in perspective – don’t take yourself too serious (Romans 12:3), develop a personal vision, embrace a culture of forgiveness (great leaders fail 50% of the time), and develop accountability relationships through mentorships.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
A Leader’s Influence
by Timothy Davis
Pastor, Chapel by the Sea
I am a blog rookie. This is my first attempt to fling my thoughts into cyberspace in this format. I have been told not to be too clinical or preachy (tough for a guy who is a preacher). This is supposed to be a blog about leadership in the church. What follows may seem at first like a leaf blowing in the wind, but if you are patient with it, the flitting flora finally settles on the subject at hand.
Two amazing seasons of Anchorage West High conference football are in the books. Back-to-back conference titles, forever clenched in the gritty talons of the hungry Eagles, have been carried to the hallowed halls of Anchorage West High and deposited in the Eagles’ nest. Such success is to be celebrated. And so it has been and will be. But the Eagles revelry seems less about blustery gloating and more about thankful celebration. The feel of the locker room is less like a rollicking sports team sticking it to the competition and more about a solid family celebrating a great milestone. Each member’s contribution is noted with honor and thanksgiving. Their joy is a substantive thing.
In every game they soared on the uplifting thermals of yards gained and points scored, tackles made and victory won. And in each they encountered the demoralizing downdrafts of penalties and turnovers, dropped balls and missed opportunities. What has kept them in each game, what has allowed them to overcome each testy opponent? Some would say, “It’s their ‘wild, wild’ West defense. Quick, intimidating, crushing, swarming, they are hard to score on.” That is certainly true, but there is more. “Their quick-strike offense’s ability to beat teams deep through the air or with surprising ground bursts, that’s what wins them games.” This is true as well, but not the whole story.
I have paced the sideline for every minute of every conference game for two seasons. I watched and listened to the players and the coaches navigate the surreal emotional peaks and valleys that is prep football. And what I have observed impresses me to the core. In each game the Eagles strive to function as a family. No one is allowed to process a disappointing play alone. No one is allowed to feel sorry for himself. No one is allowed to take all the blame when things go wrong. No one is allowed to take all the credit when things go right. One guy’s frustration is everyone’s business. One guy’s anger is everyone’s concern. When one is injured everyone rallies. They are a family that happens to play football. This is what buoys up the winning ways of the Anchorage West High School Eagles.
They are resolved to give their best for each other because they love and trust each other as brothers. Their composure is anchored in a confidence born of trust. In a game where the potential for disaster is always the next play love and trust for one another is not optional for success. That kind of relationship does not just happen. Where did it come from?
Family values begin with the leadership of the team and trickle down. From the head coach to the assistant coaches to the team captains to the entire team, family is the issue. On and off the field family is an issue. You mess up you get disciplined. You are hurting physically, you get medical attention. You are hurting emotionally, you get counseling. You are struggling academically you get tutored. You miss practice the whole team is annoyed. If you are a member of Eagle football you have an advocate who cares about you as a person not just as a player. And now to bring the flitting leaf to rest on the subject.
I am called/gifted by God to be a pastor/teacher and have been confirmed by my fellowship as an elder. Leadership is my life. Leadership is influence. I have to ask myself, am I as good a shepherd for my church as my son is a coach for his football team? (Yes, my son Timothy is the Anchorage West coach.) What trickles down from my leadership that permeates the entire body with life-giving affirmation, support, and connectedness? Does love and trust buoy up my family with the confidence to give their all in service with and service for their brothers and sisters in Christ?
To one degree or another my leadership, your leadership impacts those being lead. How does your “team” reflect your leadership? Think about it.
Pastor, Chapel by the Sea
I am a blog rookie. This is my first attempt to fling my thoughts into cyberspace in this format. I have been told not to be too clinical or preachy (tough for a guy who is a preacher). This is supposed to be a blog about leadership in the church. What follows may seem at first like a leaf blowing in the wind, but if you are patient with it, the flitting flora finally settles on the subject at hand.
Two amazing seasons of Anchorage West High conference football are in the books. Back-to-back conference titles, forever clenched in the gritty talons of the hungry Eagles, have been carried to the hallowed halls of Anchorage West High and deposited in the Eagles’ nest. Such success is to be celebrated. And so it has been and will be. But the Eagles revelry seems less about blustery gloating and more about thankful celebration. The feel of the locker room is less like a rollicking sports team sticking it to the competition and more about a solid family celebrating a great milestone. Each member’s contribution is noted with honor and thanksgiving. Their joy is a substantive thing.
In every game they soared on the uplifting thermals of yards gained and points scored, tackles made and victory won. And in each they encountered the demoralizing downdrafts of penalties and turnovers, dropped balls and missed opportunities. What has kept them in each game, what has allowed them to overcome each testy opponent? Some would say, “It’s their ‘wild, wild’ West defense. Quick, intimidating, crushing, swarming, they are hard to score on.” That is certainly true, but there is more. “Their quick-strike offense’s ability to beat teams deep through the air or with surprising ground bursts, that’s what wins them games.” This is true as well, but not the whole story.
I have paced the sideline for every minute of every conference game for two seasons. I watched and listened to the players and the coaches navigate the surreal emotional peaks and valleys that is prep football. And what I have observed impresses me to the core. In each game the Eagles strive to function as a family. No one is allowed to process a disappointing play alone. No one is allowed to feel sorry for himself. No one is allowed to take all the blame when things go wrong. No one is allowed to take all the credit when things go right. One guy’s frustration is everyone’s business. One guy’s anger is everyone’s concern. When one is injured everyone rallies. They are a family that happens to play football. This is what buoys up the winning ways of the Anchorage West High School Eagles.
They are resolved to give their best for each other because they love and trust each other as brothers. Their composure is anchored in a confidence born of trust. In a game where the potential for disaster is always the next play love and trust for one another is not optional for success. That kind of relationship does not just happen. Where did it come from?
Family values begin with the leadership of the team and trickle down. From the head coach to the assistant coaches to the team captains to the entire team, family is the issue. On and off the field family is an issue. You mess up you get disciplined. You are hurting physically, you get medical attention. You are hurting emotionally, you get counseling. You are struggling academically you get tutored. You miss practice the whole team is annoyed. If you are a member of Eagle football you have an advocate who cares about you as a person not just as a player. And now to bring the flitting leaf to rest on the subject.
I am called/gifted by God to be a pastor/teacher and have been confirmed by my fellowship as an elder. Leadership is my life. Leadership is influence. I have to ask myself, am I as good a shepherd for my church as my son is a coach for his football team? (Yes, my son Timothy is the Anchorage West coach.) What trickles down from my leadership that permeates the entire body with life-giving affirmation, support, and connectedness? Does love and trust buoy up my family with the confidence to give their all in service with and service for their brothers and sisters in Christ?
To one degree or another my leadership, your leadership impacts those being lead. How does your “team” reflect your leadership? Think about it.
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