I don't even know that I can put down everything that I've learned in two weeks here...it's a bit overwhelming. But I will try to summarize 3 major themes over the next 3 posts.
This program places a huge emphasis on character development. The most important thing is not what you do, it's who you are. Being is more important than doing. We talked about leading out of being: who you are determines how you lead, and how you lead determines who you are. Which is more important: leadership capacity, or leadership character?
There was a major emphasis on doing ministry as a family man. We have already lost several members of our cohort to family stresses, and several current members shared testimonies about losing and almost losing marriages due to work and ministry. Leaders need to find the balance between accomplishing the task that God has called them to and making their family a priority. One of the pastors who has a great testimony of a marriage nearly failing yet being saved shared three bits of wisdom: never take your marriage and your family for granted (schedule date nights and family nights), never underestimate your ability to justify anything, and try to think long-term (even in the moment).
Finally, one of our professors proposed that leaders must write. We know things that others need to know, and our life experiences can advance the collective wisdom of our generation. Many of us are on the cutting edge of ministry and leadership and if we do not write, our impact will be short-lived. He also suggested that our writing should be for our own benefit as well: if you write down your experiences and understandings, you will steadily build a treasure trove of accumulated wisdom. That is part of the reason for trying to write more in this blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment