Guard the Flame...Thoughts on Leadership

What makes a great leader? What kind of leader am I? These thoughts have been running through my mind much since my arrival here in Ethiopia. Where have I been to in my life so far? In leadership, have I led others well? How can I be a better leader? All of these thoughts came to the surface last week when we had the privilege of being part of the Global Leadership Summit here in Addis Ababa, hosted by the International Evangelical Church in partnership with the Willow Creek Association. I was so blessed by the speakers, the fellowship, and the ideas given. 

I began thinking more of the leaders I've seen here. There are so many. My sister, Noel. What a lady- a barbarian- and I'm not just saying that because we're twins. She's a humble servant and I'm so blessed by her example and have been for years. There are volunteers who give their time, working in some of the hardest conditions imaginable. There are fathers and mothers who love their families and their churches. There have been Czechs like Viktor and Kristyna, their lives and stories have touched mine. There are those who serve quietly with excellence. And there are even little people, little kids that have taught me about leadership, like the little guy who shares the love of God boldly and courageously with those in his community.

my sister, Noel, she's a great leader with all ages

One of the volunteers we work with, at 7 months pregnant- she's still going strong :-)

Debelle- a dedicated dad, husband and leader

Viktor in Ethiopia

with Gette, one who serves quietly and with great strength and excellence

this little six year old is sharing God's love in his community

Is leadership dependent on size or gender? on education? on country of origin? I've learned these things don't matter at all. God is the great qualifier of leaders.

I was challenged at the conference to think about many other leadership characteristics as well. One of the big thoughts I've held onto was one that said the best leaders are those who "guard the flame"- God's presence in them. In their lives, their families, their churches, their workplaces, their communities, they continue to hold the flame, guard it, and they shine. Flashlights here are called "torches," , I think I've shared that before. These leaders are torches. They are present in dark places. Pointing the way. Giving light. And they do it with the right amount of salt, flavoring and preserving that flame in others. Great leaders are not perfect. But you know they're not acting. They are humble, teachable, hard-working, passionate for the cause.

Many scriptures came to mind this past week concerning leaders that encouraged and challenged me:

...“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)

...guard what has been entrusted to your care. (1 Timothy 6:20)

...fan into flame the gift of God (2 Timothy 1:6)

For Christ’s love compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14)

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

...let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

Leaders persevere and finish well. Amen.

All of these things and more have challenged me. And I wanted to share some of my favorite highlights from the conference. May these thoughts and insights motivate and challenge you as they did me.

May we be the leaders God has called us to be!

"HOPE OF THE WORLD"

Bill Hybels (Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church)

-the local church is the hope of the world

-the best thing you can do to inspire your team is to come to the table inspired yourself

-a leader takes people from HERE to THERE (defines both the “here” and the “there”- and why the move is needed)

-"THERE" for churches should be: Acts 2: 42-47

-the church: people completely devoted to God: things in the early church were done in such a way that it was respected and attractive, so it grew; they were transparent; loved each other.
Do our churches look like the Acts 2 church?

"GOOD TO GREAT"

by Jim Collins (Management Consultant and Author)

-good can be the enemy of great

-you need to get the right people "on the bus" ; and the wrong people "off the bus"

-it's first WHO, then WHAT

-the type of leadership is key

-what moved companies from good to great in their study?

-he said the difference was what he called "Level 5 Leaders"

-these leaders had two key characteristics: true humility and a terrifying will on behalf of the cause

-shared an analogy of the window and the mirror, I'll blog more about this in another post...

"ON COURAGE AND LOVE IN BUSINESS"

by Eleni Gabre-Madhin (CEO, Ethiopia Commodity Exchange)

-courage is the ability to face fear and overcome

Joshua 1:7

-work is love made physical

-there is a call for leadership that is courageous and principled in love

-love-centered business is about adding value to people's lives

"FIVE DYSFUNCTIONS OF A TEAM"

by Patrick Lencioni (Founder and President; Table Group Inc.)

this guy was hilarious!

Five dysfunctions:

1. absence of trust
2. fear of conflict
3. lack of commitment
4. avoidance of accountability
5. inattention to details

"LEADERSHIP"

by Haile Gebrselassie (famous Ethiopian runner)

-you first have to manage yourself- lead yourself, before you can lead others

-before you tell someone to do this or that, you have to show them how

-three keys for him to leadership: discipline, commitment, hard work

"A LEADER'S GREATEST FEAR"

by John Ortberg (Senior Pastor- Menlo Park Presbyterian Church)

-falling to a “shadow mission”

-a shadow mission is your actual mission hijacked by your own ego, wounds, separated from Jesus

-a chronic sense of soul dissatisfaction is a sure sign you're living your shadow mission

"RISK TAKING, BARRIER BREAKING, BOLD LEADERSHIP"

by Catherine Rohr (CEO, Prison Entrepreneurship Program)

-if God is passionate about it, He's responsible for it

-God can use you if you just show up and get your assignment, then execute it

-don't pity, but give dignity to those you're serving

-if you don't accept your mission; you're the one who will miss out

-you need to be able to say: bring it on God

-the graduates from the jail system in this program brought us all to tears- as they graduated with dignity

"TRADE NOT AID"

by Andrew Rugasira (Founder CEO, Good African Coffee)

-handouts is not what Africa needs

-we need to see Africa differently: as a place of entrepreneurs, consumers, a place full of potential

-the greatest kindness you can show is to help us help ourselves

"DEAD LEADER RUNNING"

by Wayne Cordeiro (Author and Speaker)

-you will only reproduce what you are

-suffering will change you, but not always for the good (1 Peter 4:19); sometimes radical pain needs radical change

-to not be a “dead leader running”...
-you need to find out what fills and drains your tank

-learn to understand a balance in life

-learn to lead out of rest (schedule your break points first)

-find a lightning rod (someone you can dump to and they can ground it)

-have discipline in your daily devotion

-you need to be a leader who is not concerned about getting their the fastest or in the greatest way, but your goal is guard / protect the flame

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THAT WAS IT. Yep, and those are just the highlights too. There are tons of nuggets to ponder on in the time ahead.

Am I the leader God wants me to be? How can I be a better leader from this time on, guarding the flame entrusted to me?

May I run on guarding the flame and holding it high!

Thank you for praying for me, for us, on these things!

Prayer Requests for this coming week:

-another volunteer training will be this week

-for wrapping up my research

-for Noel's work with the Exodus-Czech families

-for God's leadership for what's ahead

-for Noel's pastor-friend-teammate- Viktor (see the update below)

Viktor baptizing a girl in the Czech Republic

*Viktor Glier was in a motorcycle accident on October 28. He broke his shoulder, his leg and his thigh and also had internal bleeding. He has had three surgeries as of now and is stable, but his recovery will be long. He is married and has two children. He is a dedicated young pastor with a heart for the world. He has been to Ethiopia three times and is leader of the Czech-Exodus project. Please keep him and his family in your continued prayers. *