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I am in the Lima airport at my post in Starbucks. I am waiting several hours before my flight home. I am reflecting on another Servant Leadership Training event that surpassed my expectations! I presented the training entitled, "Leadership Lesson From Jesus." I have done a lot of leadership things over the years, but this was a little different presentation that I have ever made. I wanted to keep it as basic as possible for leaders who are young in the Lord and experiencing leadership for the first time in the PNHI project.
In the first chapter I wanted to establish what leadership was from the perspective of Jesus. The one word that describes leadership as exemplified by Jesus is INFLUENCE. I talked about the influence of Jesus during His life and in history - and how He has called us to influence. Three words that describe our impact on any environment we are in: SALT, LIGHT, YEAST.
In the second chapter I wanted to unwrap the paradox of SERVANT LEADERSHIP and Mark 10:35-45. I illustrated that Jesus is the ultimate servant leader, and then gave them a project to do on their own time. Project: read the Gospel of Matthew and when Jesus is doing something write in the margin of your Bible how he is functioning - as a servant, as a leader, or both. Use the following words to describe how he is functioning. For example: in Matthew 4:1-11: as servant - submission; as leader - example; in Matthew 4:23, 24: as servant - serving/healing people; as leader - proactive.
I spent the rest of the time outlining Leadership Lessons From Jesus:
1. He Loved People To Himself
2. He Cast a New Vision
3. He Empowered Others To Lead [Matthew 10; Acts 6:1-7]
4. He Developed a Cohesive Team
5. He Was Able To Develop a Measurable Plan With Measurable Goals [Acts 1:8]
6. He Was Able To Make Difficult Decisions [Buck stops here]
7. He Created a New Kind of Community - a Christ-like Culture
8. He Was Able To Follow-through and Evaluate
I conclude with this true illustration from a few years ago when hurricane Isabella was threatening Washington DC. The guard detail at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was given permission to stand down during the hurricane if needed, even though the tomb had never been left unguarded in the past. The officer in charge said, "I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING SIR." And no one stood down even though they were leaning into the wind the entire time. I used this as a metaphor for persevering in leadership. I asked them to lean into the wind when the tough times come - and never stand down.
One hundred and fifty adults attended [190 with children]. What is happening here is that these new believers, leaders, are seeing the Servant Training as an opportunity to have community together with Christ-followers from other barrios. It provides a unique fellowship for them.
Next month John teaches on "Squaring Everything With The Word, and in September Roger Storms is bringing someone from his congregation to teach on "How To Defend Your Faith," a teaching on Apologetics. I would like to attend that one!
Well, Servant Leadership Training has met a need and has been a good thing. Thank you for your support of PNHI.
Tim Coop
