A few days ago I had the privilege of speaking on behalf of the largest provider of services to the poor in our county. It was an interesting evening in many respects.
One of the intriguing aspects had to do with the presence of local politicians. Because the event took place five days before the state’s primary election, we had invited sitting officials as well as candidates to attend the event. They were aware that they would not be introduced and would not be given any time to address the crowd, since the event was a benefit for the service agency, not a political rally. As best I could tell, we had exactly one candidate (who is also an incumbent official) present. He did nothing to draw attention to himself. And he actually stayed awake throughout my entire presentation on why poverty lingers and how we might attack it.
At one point during the presentation I noted that we are not likely to defeat poverty without committed leaders – those who do not just campaign against poverty (after all, who’s for it?) but who are truly devoted to doing what it takes to overcome poverty as efficiently and quickly as possible. It’s a matter of justice: doing what’s right simply because it’s right. I encouraged those in attendance to sharpen their focus to listen and watch for cues that suggest a public figure isn’t using the issue of poverty for political advantage but is fully committed to paying the price and staying the course to ensure positive outcomes.
After the event ended, the incumbent official came forward to introduce himself to me. We bantered about some of the strategies the city was employing to combat poverty. And then an unexpected thing happened. He asked if I was aware of one of the newest strategies the city was introducing. I was not. He explained it and talked about the very positive results that were emerging in the early stages of the rollout and how many of the city’s poor people had benefitted in some lasting ways. And I noticed that he began to tear-up as he described the wonderful changes that were happening in those broken lives.
I had my cue.
When I did the interviews for Master Leaders last year – a book that conveys the leadership wisdom of some of America’s greatest leaders – I was reminded that whenever I encounter a leader who is genuinely passionate about serving people, especially in an area of shared passion and concern, the ball is then in my court to do whatever I can to support that leader. It’s easy to be cynical about political leaders, but one of the life lessons I derived from working in state government many years ago for a state legislator and Speaker of the House was that there are numerous people in public office who really do want to serve people. That blew my mind – and changed it. But they cannot lead well if the rest of us fail to serve them as willing and dedicated followers. If only more of us realized the power of passionate followership.
June 11, 2010
I’m convinced that real leadership is a relational process. Those who focus on leaders only, who neglect followership, are missing half of the leadership equation. We each lead and we each follow. Passionate followership is not only a vital component in leadership, but is also my responsibility. Great reminder.
June 14, 2010
I totally agree with Mr Loyd. Peter addressed the topic of followership when he said that followers of Christ are to be submissive. Submissive to husbands if they are to lead effectively. Submissive to employers if they are to lead effectively. Submissive to political leaders if they are to lead effectively. Submissive to church leaders. Submissive to the Spirit, of course. It seems to me that leaders are fearful of leading because they know that followers are not there.
June 14, 2010
Walter you said submissive to husbands, employers, political leaders IF they are leading effectively? You left out the IF in church leaders if they did not lead effectively? Did you do this intentionally or just forgot to? The greatest spiritual leader we ever had was a servant. This is still the greatest example we will ever have. IF we follow Christ, his apostles and their disciple’s examples threw the written word this will still reproduce healthy spiritual leaders even today. Interesting how yesterdays leaders were men of no reputation, nor interested in accumulating any great material wealth to build their ministry, nor in need of any celebrity status that attracted people to build any kind of ministries. Seems like most of today’s spiritual leaders are just the opposite of our church founding leaders. Where is our example in this?
June 14, 2010
I am pleased to see Mr. Barna’s genuine passion and concern for the poor. Too often we as Christians rail against government programs to help the poor contrar to the heart of Jesus. We must recognize as the Body of Christ that we often fail in this area before we can address the issues. Repentance before action.
June 14, 2010
George,
thanks for the thoughts on leadership and issues of poverty. The story you told is one of a true leader taking time to pay attention to the real issues at hand rather than focussing on political survival.
There’s no question we all, reguarldess of vocation, need to think first before we speak paying attention to the passion and the need that the leader is seeking to address more than the title of the person or that persons affiliations.
John,
thanks for your thoughts about how churches respond to social issues. All Christians, but particularly pastors, are viewed as representatives of the Gospel and Christ’s people. We need to be challenged to think first before we speak. Party identification or denominational affiliation aren’t adequate basis for supporting one program and not another. Complex socal issues like homelessness, poverty, immigration, mental illness, and health care are often way beyond our immediate expertise. We can offer our opinions but ought not rush to the microphones if we haven’t studied up both on the issue at hand and on Christ commands to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
The challenge to the church is not to be reactionary; but to be thoughtful in our reaction considering both our world as we encounter it and Christ’s instructions about how to live.
June 14, 2010
George, Very encouraging to hear about leaders who care passionately for those they serve. I am curious though about the actual program that brings such significant results in its early stages that it brought tears to this leader. Is that something you can share? Sounds very exciting.
June 14, 2010
One person can make a difference. Tackling poverty is a way of living – it is behavioral. The poverty issue is multi-dimensional – yet – at its essence us the priviliege and sacred duty to do what one can where one is at….everyday – as a fundamental gift if the reality of “Christ in me.” May we all beseech Him for what each of us must do on behalf of His less fortunate, marginalized and oppressed children
Stooping down requires a physical change in posture.
June 14, 2010
Thank you, George for bring forth this critical issue that burdens the entire Body of Christ for both our lack of understanding and lack of biblically-based response.
Bill’s statement grounded on the premise of
“Christ in Me” needs to also acknowledge the presence of Sin within us all–all the time. In each of our own ways we are saddled through Sin with being “less fortunate, marginalized and/or oppressed” in ways other than are monetarily measured. Unfortunately, especially for those who have relatively prosperous lives–we have been blinded by Satan’s lies to this “Sin within Us.”
This is the fundamental barrier to our communities ability in collectively and effectively addressing the issue of poverty–our deceived belief that poverty is not already and always within us because we don’t “look” impoverished. We must come to accept that poverty/Sin just happens to manifest itself in different ways. We unknowingly relish in this belief that we are not suffering as others we can see in a more obvious, observable way are suffering. Where is our humility as a primary demonstration of our awareness of this truth?
So leadership starts first and foremost in each of our hearts–with a willingness to accept the Sin/poverty we inherit in being a part of this world, and our willingness to not distinquish ourselves from those we see being less fortunate in the “measures of the world.”
Until we adopt the “measures of the Word” as the basis for our engagement with our fellow suffering brothers and sisters within and without the Kingdom of Christ–we are simply subject to Satan’s deception as to whose problem “poverty” truly is.
June 21, 2010
Because of the disloyalty of humanity’s first parents, humans inherited the propensity to be God wannabes/control freaks, gullible, gamblers, guiltshifters, and greedy.
It is natural for the carnal/fleshly human to follow those who rebel against the Spirit or themselves to lead in rebellion. I call them social/religious gang leaders or gangs.
We are living in very cynical times. Iniquity abounds and there is the us versus them attitude all over the globe. Some leaders are passionate yet they are unwise. Paul said, “Be followers of me as I follow Christ”
One of the major problems in almost all churches is the leadership vacuum. The identifying trait of leaders is if they have a valid discipleship or training program. This, generally, is not the case. Almost all clergy are involved in shallow nurturing or amateur theological therapy sessions.
Earth is a penal colony where deceived LAW trashing , GOD hating (Jer 17:9/Rom 8:7)rebellious criminals have a warden , SATAN to keep them oppressed and in slavery.
Only spiritual individual who understand and embrace the authentic GOSPEL rehab program can be true Godly leaders. All of the rest are just religious gang leaders.
August 14, 2010
People only can do what they know and see, and I wrote The Three-Dimensional Leader: Negotiating Your Mission, Resources and Context to help people clearly see what they must know to lead effectively. My MRC system is based upon three leadership paradigms revealed in the book of Judges. Three-dimensional leaders achieve their missions by getting a team to coordinate a focused consensus that achieves peace in their lands (congregations, government programs, businesses, not-for-profit agencies). This peace (well-working relationships focused on a common mission) is what drives prosperity (the success of programs and initiatives that meets the needs of people, congregations and communities).
Two-dimensional leaders fail to understand the context of to how to rally people-resources to the mission to achieve peace and a prosperous that changes the outcomes. This is the equivalent of how at times Israel was a nation, but was harassed by the enemy, so the nation could not be fully functional. One-dimensional leadership is all about “me” not the mission. These self-centered leaders ignore essential elements within their contexts or inappropriately impose their backgrounds, special interests, and pet-peeves upon the process, and thus frustrate followers.
Three-dimensional leaders are SEM masters, meaning they submit ego to the mission (cause of Christ). Great leaders serve to organize, resource and equip, and empower others so they can serve and succeed at their jobs and ministries.
An MRC focus assists senior executives to plot corporate strategy, division managers and department heads to organize the processes that achieve it, and supervisors to inspire employees to implement it with a dynamic team spirit and an amazing customer service focus! These principles propel organizations to achieve more effective collaboration and coordination from the boardroom to the mailroom.”