God's Mission Requires Good Leaders

Leadership has always been an important part of accomplishing God’s purposes.

When you look back in the Old Testament, we see examples like Moses and Joshua who served the Lord faithfully by leading His people into His promises. In the New Testament, we see new leaders who follow the same pattern.

With the Bible’s description of leaders and leadership structures, it’s clear that God finds leadership to be an important part of His plan. Even in my own role at East-West, I’ve learned that leadership is a challenging and necessary part of fulfilling God’s mission to reach the uttermost parts of the earth with the gospel.

Why We Need Good Leaders

Any mission is accomplished by those on the frontlines. Battles are fought by soldiers, and souls are won through the Holy Spirit using missionaries and passionate believers. But all of them have leaders that support, equip, and guide them.

Leaders create an environment in which their people can thrive, and—in the case of the Great Commission—leaders provide structure and resources as well as create opportunities for the Holy Spirit to move through their people on the frontlines. That is not only a functional role but also an essential one.

And that is why good leadership is an increasing need in the missions community.

What Makes a Good leader

Today’s celebrity-focused media and culture have confused our understanding of biblical leadership. Culture seeks leaders who seek fame, glory, honor, and wealth. But the Bible asks for humility, service, and sacrifice from its leaders.

Joshua served Moses and submitted to the Lord. That’s how he became the leader that would finally deliver the Israelites from their trials in the desert.

Jesus took the form of a human—putting aside his heavenly glory and sacrificing Himself on our behalf. He fully submitted to the Father in order to lead us to Heaven.

The focus is to be on the Master and the mission. Only then will one be a good leader.

How to Become a Better Leader

Throughout my years in leadership, I have found a few particular items to be especially helpful in pushing me to become a better leader.

1. Mentoring and coaching—Every leader must first learn to be a follower, and following those who have been there before is one of the best ways to enhance your own leadership skills.
2. Reading biographies—Most leaders are reduced to a few crucial decisions in their lives once they’re gone, but reading a biography can help you gain clarity on who they were and what lead them to the decisions they made. It’s a great way to learn from those whom you could never meet.
3. Conferences and networking events—Connecting with other leaders is a great way to learn about leadership and to be introduced to a variety of leadership styles while learning from industry experts.

Aside from the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit, the single most impactful resource in my life for understanding leadership and learning how to consistently become a more effective leader has been the Global Leadership Summit hosted by Willow Creek. I’ve attended in some way for several years, and every time I find role models, inspiration, and resources that push me to be a better leader.