It was Isaac Newton who said, “If I have seen farther, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” This has been our experience. We are therefore both grateful for our parents, mentors, teachers, pastors and other leaders who helped us develop our leadership abilities by teaching and modelling excellence, hard work, discipline, and godly character that we could emulate.
They also provided meaningful opportunities for us to serve in our church, school, and community. For example, we were both given the opportunity to teach Sunday School classes and lead our youth groups.
We found very quickly that the secret to becoming a successful leader is by first having a willingness to serve and follow the examples of other good leaders. This involved being faithful in our varied responsibilities, demonstrating love and care with purity of motive as we served those we were called to lead. As you do the same, you will grow as a leader.
Life at home, school, church, and in your community, all provide excellent opportunities for leadership, growth, and development. For instance, you can learn some basic leadership lessons at home by simply being obedient to your parents, as well as exemplifying good behaviour and conduct for your siblings (or even neighbours) to follow. Understanding that you can develop your leadership abilities in any context with the right attitude is crucial. Ignorance of this perspective may cause one to be quick to decline nominations or requests to serve as a club/class officer, lead a small group at church, or even take care of siblings.
In terms of leading at school or at church, we have at times seen where students opt to elect peers who are popular and easy-going, but many times those same peers oppose the rules of the school. Some students think that leading at their school means losing valuable time or becoming unpopular with their friends. You may even be one who detests serving in any capacity if you are not rewarded for your work. These are misguided notions, as servitude, in the form of volunteerism, can help you develop some key characteristics of effective leadership.
Now more than ever, there is a need for more young people to be developed, trained, and equipped as leaders and to be aware of the cost of effective leadership.
You must also be taught how to balance freedom and responsibility, differentiating your own self-interests from your commitment to the welfare of the larger community. We are therefore challenging and encouraging you to make a conscious, determined effort to pursue and develop your leadership abilities by making yourself available to the mentorship and training from those God will send in your life to help you. Their goal will be to produce in you a good leader who leads by example, leads with passion and purity, and positively impacts your sphere of influence.
Over the years, we have been privileged to teach student leadership in various contexts, using leadership lessons from the life of the One we consider to be the greatest leader of all time, Jesus Christ. It is very encouraging to see some of those same students emerge as leaders who are also determined to follow the example of Jesus Christ: The Model Leader. We have found that the principles of leadership He taught us are essential for character development, which is vital to building good leaders.
However, in order to effectively and consistently follow Jesus’ lead, you must enter into a personal relationship with Him by repenting of your sin and seeking Him for His Spirit. In other words, you must be saved. There is no other way.
Next week (if God wills), we will explore some of the principles He taught. We urge you to take time to examine where you are relative to the principles, write your personal reflection, and most importantly, surrender your life to Him so He can transform you into someone who can lead and live just as He did.
Pastors Andrew and Donnette Norman are husband and wife, as well as founders of “Passion and Purity” and “The Eternal Church of Jesus Christ – The Record.”
