Down the Track

As I continue to study leadership, especially Christian leadership, I never run out of helpful insights. In my recent studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I studied under the teaching of Professors Wayne Goodwin and Rod Cooper.

I want to share an insight that is incredibly helpful to all of us as Christians and Christian leaders.

As Dr. Wayne Goodwin so adequately explained, there are many different characteristics of a Christian Leader. Some of these characteristics are intrinsic and others are externally expressed. The four characteristics that we focused on were Calling, Character, Competency, and Community.

Dr. Goodwin pointed out that most Christians and Christian leaders approach the development of these characteristics much like laying a train track. Each of the tracks run parallel and if you look far enough down the road they appear to join or touch. The truth of the matter is that they never join. If you run down the track, you will see that they remain parallel forever.

The thing that should bring them together is spiritual development. But too often we believe that as long as we work on each of the external tracks, they will eventually come together and make us authentic, mature Christians and/or Christian leaders.

In truth, we should be focused mostly on our spiritual development, and out of that spiritual development we will be better prepared to have healthier character, competencies, and community.

I will leave you with this thought from Dr. Rod Cooper:
“Leaders either cast shadows or light. The heart of the leader determines the heart of the organization.”

Forever Learning,
Johnny