The Essential Patterns of Personal Growth in Christian Leaders

THE ESSENTIAL PATTERNS OF PERSONAL GROWTH IN CHRISTIAN LEADERS

By

Phoebe Makasi

CONTENTS

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Introduction 1

Part 1: Seeking Guidance and Having Nurturing Relationships 1

(a) Value of Seeking Both Divine and Human Guidance 1

(b) Benefits of Nurturing Relationships 2

Part 2: Self-Discipline and Personal Renewal in Emerging Leader 4

(a) Necessity of a Leader to Exercise Self-Discipline 4

(b) Essential Aspects of Personal Renewal 5

Part 3: Importance of Developing a Learning Plan Which Provides a Life Long Personal Learning and Growth in My Cultural Setting 5

Conclusion 6

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Reference List 7

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Now is the time for all good men

Introduction

This paper is divided into three parts. The first part explains the importance of seeking guidance and benefits of having nurturing relationships. Part 2 discusses why a leader should exercise self-renewal and personal discipline. The last part analyses the importance of developing a learning plan with a basic strategy for Christian leaders which provides a foundation for lifelong personal learning and growth.

Part 1: Seeking Guidance and Having Nurturing Relationships

(a) Value of Seeking Both Divine and Human Guidance

The story in Exo. 40: 34-38 as mentioned by Clinton (1988, 126) best explain the need for divine guidance in the life and ministry of a developing leader. The keen response to the cloud and pillar of fire in Num. 9: 15-25 show that the leader needs to be obedient and have discernment in order to understand the will of God. Through divine guidance, Moses was able to make decision on when to move and when to remain in the tent. Similarly, through God's guidance, the leader is able to make important decisions concerning his life and ministry. Though today we may not have a cloud and a pillar of fire to guide us, Clinton has given four channels that God uses to guide the leader who in turn is able to provide guidance to others. These channels are Gods voice in circumstances, God's voice in the heart, God's voice in the Church and God's voice in the Word (Clinton 1989, 252). Guidance can as well come through other people who may give counsel or instruction in a given situation.

The understanding of divine guidance helps the leader to do God's will irrespective of the status quo. A good example is the wise men who were guided by the star that led them to the place where Jesus was born (Matt. 2: 9-12). The understanding of divine guidance helped them to honour the saviour with expensive gifts irrespective of the status of the parents in the society and the conditions where He had been born. Likewise the shepherds who had been given the News that Jesus would be laid in a manger, worshipped Him.

Divine guidance helps the leaders to act promptly. There are cases where God will caution the leader in order to protect others through him. When God spoke to Joseph in Matt. 2: 13, He prompted him to act quickly and take both Jesus and His mother and escape to Egypt. In the same dream, he made him aware of Herod's scheme to kill the baby. A place of safety was also pointed in the same dream. Seeking both divine and human guidance may save the lives of both the leader and others.

According to Clinton, divine guidance gives assurance that the leader is moving along God's destiny for him or her (Clinton 1989, 249). Moving with certainty gives the leader peace and confidence in making decisions and being able to give direction in ministry. When the leader is in a cross road then he or she receives divine guidance, it becomes easy to make decisions. Lack of divine guidance can lead to frustration in ministry.

(b) Benefits of Nurturing Relationships

In order to establish a positive pattern for effective ministry, there is need for good relationships. Nurturing relationships promote accountability and also enable others to speak to the leaders life. It also allows experienced and mature people to give advice in any given situation. An example is in Exo.18:13 where Moses had a lot of work to judge the people all day. When his father in law observed his tedious ministry, he told him that what he was doing was not good (Verse 17). He then suggested a structure which would work better to bring both efficiency and effectiveness to his ministry.

Mentors and friends are able to give support and encouragement during tough times in the life and ministry of the leader. In 1Sam. 19:18, when Saul was determined to kill David, David fled to Naioth of Ramah where Samuel was staying. Even though there is no explanation of what Samuel taught him, there is evidence that God intervened miraculously to save both Samuel and David from Saul. There is need for mentors in the life of a leader who can genuinely provide a place for retrieve and comfort. According to Clinton, “at the right moment, God brings just what is needed into the life of a developing leader to inspire, explain truth, or give direction” Clinton 1988, 128).

Mentors are able to affirm leadership potential in an emerging leader. Certain relationships in a leader's life can be referred to as divine contacts because they appear in crucial moments. Such is seen in the life Paul (Saul) after conversion when Ananias was sent to pray for him (Acts 9:17) and Barnabas who stood for him before the apostles (verse 27). Barnabas build confidence between both the apostles and Paul. Similar to Paul's situation, an emerging leader may be rejected because of the past or fear of uncertainties. In such a case, the mentor helps the protégés confidence and also causes acceptance.

In case of cross- cultural ministry, a leader requires people who can help understand the new culture in order to make good decisions. It is easy for a leader to make assumptions in a different cultural setting hence failure or non-acceptance. The emerging leader will need the help of other experienced leaders.

Any leader needs someone who will constantly speak into his or her life. According to Maxwell, any person who occupies a leadership position will need constant exposure to positive criticism (Maxwell 1993, 173). A leader is prone to making mistakes because the followers are afraid to speaking into his life. A mentor or friend can be trusted to fearless and respectively speak into a leader's life and ministry.

Part 2: Self-Discipline and Personal Renewal in Emerging Leader

(a) Necessity of a Leader to Exercise Self-Discipline

A story is told of a man who was set to transform the world. After much disappointment and defeat, he resolved to transforming his family. Again, his efforts were futile. Out of frustration, he decided to put all efforts on his self- transformation. Few months later, he discovered that he not only transformed himself but his family too. After some years he managed to transform his community and his influence spread quickly to other nations. The gist of this tale is that success springs from the ability to control self. According to Maxwell, “more potential leaders fail because of inner life issues than outer ones” (Maxwell 1993, 163). Paul in his epistles required the young leaders to exercise self-discipline. According to Victor,

This word is related to the words sober and sobriety that we often meet in the pastoral letters (1 Tim 2:9,15; Titus 1:8; 2:2,4,6,12). "Self-discipline" is a better translation of "sound mind" (2 Tim 1:7). It describes a person who is sensibly minded and balanced, who has his life under control. The Amplified Version reads, "calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control" (Victor 1989).

Self-discipline requires self-awareness in order to make purposeful choices in life and ministry. According to Maxwell, “success depends not merely on how well you do the things you enjoy, but how conscientiously you perform those duties you don't” (166).

Self-discipline require proper time management. Proper time management involves looking at the most important task and giving it priority when making a time table. Such a habit is supported by the Pareto principle as stated by Adair that “significant items of a given group form a relative small part of the total and that 20% of a given time produces 80% of the best quality output” (Thomas 2004, 17). Covey, in his summary of the Habits of Highly Effective People has said that, “First Things First is the endowment of willpower, and at the top end is a highly disciplined life that focuses heavily on the highly important but not necessary urgent activities of lift” (Covey 1991,44). Covey's statement has echoed Templeton that, “the people who time and time again deliver their assignments promptly are the ones who will forge ahead” (Templeton 1987, 78).

(b) Essential Aspects of Personal Renewal

Covey in his maturity continuum (Covey 1989, 285) has presented the seventh habit- sharpen the saw, as one that surrounds the rest of the habits. His use of sharpening the saw best illustrate the importance of taking time for self-renewal. Jesus had a habit of retrieving to solitary places to have time with God. Self-renewal requires discipline and balance.

According to Covey, there are four aspects or dimensions of renewal which include; physical (Exercise, nutrition and stress management), Mental (Reading, visualizing, planning and writing), Social/Emotional (service, empathy, synergy and intrinsic security) and Spiritual (Value Clarification & commitment, study and meditation). Covey further argues that self-renewal increases the ability to live at least one of the other habits (303). Self-renewal leads to self-discipline hence public victory.

Part 3: Importance of Developing a Learning Plan Which Provides a Life Long Personal Learning and Growth in My Cultural Setting

Similar to others, my cultural setting has the notion that there is no need to learn any more after getting a job. As a result offices are packed with unproductive workers. In order to be creative, it is important to develop the habit of learning. We are living in the era of information where media and social networks are pressing for platform. Because information is being flashed every where, there is need to make a deliberate choice on what to concentrate on. As a result, the leader should develop a learning plan. Learning should have a purpose or else it will be a waste of energy and time. Buford is right in saying that “we ought to be diligent in learning good and wholesome things in order to protect our minds from the debasing things that are so easily absorbed” (Buford 1994, 147).

According to Buford, learning prepares someone to deal positively with change during the second half (146). Learning helps to know some of the expected changes in life. For example, I had no idea that I was in half time till I read Buford's analogy and related it to my situation. Any leader who stops learning will soon plateau in life and also the organization will follow suit.

A leader should develop the habit of learning from others. Templeton has argued that “learning from others is a law of life” (Templeton 1987, 4). He has given his own example how he learned from others the things which led to success, happiness and productivity and the things that did not (5). It is important to learn what to emulate from others and also what to avoid. When the wisdom of others is assimilated, one becomes skill full in a given field.

Buford has argued that another reason to learn is to unlearn the doctrine of specialization (146). Contrary, there is need to specialize in a specific field in my cultural setting. Our education system is structured in a way that students are prepared to survive everywhere. As a result, the students are required to know Science, Woodwork, Music, Arts and Craft, Agriculture etc. In fact, the 1st degree seems to be an introduction to different fields. Since the education system prepares the student for employment, there is need to learn on the field and specialize once employed.

Conclusion

Personal growth and development is very vital in an emerging leader. It involves seeking both divine and human guidance. A leader needs to have a strategic plan to learn from others and also to have a self-renewal habit. In order to ensure continued personal growth, there is need for self-awareness and discipline.

Reference List

Buford Bob. 1994. Half Time: Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

Clinton, Robert J. 1988. The Making of A Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development. Colorado Springs, CO: Navpress.

Clinton, Robert J. 1989. Leadership Emergence Theory. Pages 249-257. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers.

Covey, Stephen R. 1989. The 7 habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic. New York: FireSide Publishing.

Covey, Stephen R. 1991. Principled Centred leaders. New York. Free Press.

Maxwell. John C. 1993. Developing the Leader Within You. Georgia, USA: Injoy Inc.

Spurling John. 2003. Leadership Emergence Patterns: Graduate Study Guide. 2nd Ed. Springfield, MI. Global University.

Templeton, John. 1987. The Templeton Plan: 21 Steps to Personal Success and Real Happiness. San Francisco: Harper & Row Publishers.

Thomas, Neil, ed. 2004. The John Adair Handbook of Management. India: Replika Press

Victor, Chariot. 1989. The Bible Expository Commentary. Imprint of Cook Communication Ministries

The Holy Bible, New King James Version.1990: Thomas Nelson, Inc.