I have the privilege of leading. Leadership is always a privilege and a trust. In our staff we continuously review our values to discover where we are leading with our values, or not, and what might need an adjustment. We then determine anew what that looks like.
Here’s our first value, “Relationships led by our belief in people.” That means we cannot dismiss any leader with the words, “He (or she) can’t do it!” The value of leading with our belief in others flows from Genesis 1, creation theology. God created all people, and to my recollection did not say some were good and others were… not so good!
That first values causes us to ask different questions. Rather than dismissing a leader as inept, we ask “Why would God call this leader to this assignment? What, in their history, would be important to this assignment? What, in a larger picture, might God be doing?” Our assumption is that the skew of success as defined by the world is off. We passionately hold to I Corinthians 3:5-8 which puts all of God’s servants on equal ground, whether they are the planters or the water boys!
One of the leaders I work with is often targeted by the enemy for what would appear his lack of impact. But that is so far from the truth!! He has taken a church that was deeply lost in anger and criticism, and slowly moved the culture to one of spiritual vitality. Should I remind you that some consultants say that culture shift takes 5 years? And he has been the leader for three! He has done what most could not do.
It’s true no one will hear his name nor write him up as the fastest growing church. It is also true that this church now has a future, whereas before, the future was at great risk. The reality is that before the church could do any reaching to the community they had to experience the presence of God themselves. They had to be led through forgiveness and into the passion of Christ!
My friend has done an amazing job. We see it. We celebrate it. We know that the Lord is pleased with him. And we are determined that he can live in that joy and with the great sense of what he has done rather than the shame of not seeing amazing numbers.
Leadership driven by values shapes the leaders and then shapes those working with the leaders. Leadership driven by values opens our eyes to the greater Kingdom of God. Leadership driven by values moves us past the blinders of the success culture and fuels our hearts for the Lord.
“The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be
rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers…”