What do we mean by “Leadership Development?”
As you may know, we now have a Department of Learning and Leadership Development in Young Life. Tricia Blake leads this department as our first Chief Learning Officer. I imagine that everyone reading this article would say that leadership development is important, both for Young Life as a mission and also for the Kingdom of God in general. Yet everyone reading this article would not have the same understanding of leadership development, even while we believe that it is important.
What can we learn about leadership development from the life of Jesus??
Though Jesus never used the term, I am struck by Jesus’ intentional approach to leadership development. What do I mean by that comment?
Jesus intentionally selected twelve people for his primary community. His call was simple and focused on purpose: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of people.”
Jesus’ approach to leadership development was rooted in prayer and expressed in large vision. “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” - Matthew 9:37, 38
Jesus delegated responsibility to his disciples and provided accountability for them. He sent them out to minister in pairs. (Matthew 10:5 ff; Mark 6:7 ff; Luke 9 and 10) Note the accountability in Mark 6:30.
Jesus restored the disciples when they failed. Although the greatest example is probably Jesus’ restoration of Peter after his denial (John 21), Jesus’ response to Thomas’ doubt, His response to the request to place James and John at his right hand, and His gracious response to disciples’ inability to heal a father’s child (Mark 8:14-29) all reflect Jesus’ continuing trust in the disciples as well as his readiness to give restorative correction when they had failed in some way.
Jesus called the disciples to love. As we read in John 13, His command is not simple to love one another, it is “love one another as I have loved you.” And both in John 13:35 and John 17:23 Jesus states that the disciples’ love for each other, and our love for one another, is the greatest testimony to His truth.
These are some of the most significant reasons that I am so taken by Jesus’ approach to leadership development, and they are vitally instructive for us.
As we have refined our thinking for our purpose in Learning and Leadership Development, we have agreed that our goal is to create a culture where every person aspires to be an effective leader, a people developer, and a lifelong learner. (See attached model.)
This process begins with the centrality of our life with Christ as we are transformed in our relationship with God, self, and others. It is bounded by the mission, vision, values, and methods of Young Life. It is marked by a focus on people development, courageous behavior, comprehensive stewardship, collaborative leadership, and excellence in execution.
Leadership Development was at the heart of Jesus’ mission. It was the leadership Jesus developed, empowered by the Spirit, that has guided the church for centuries.
Please join us in building a culture that is biblically rooted, where everyone is an effective leader, a people developer, and a continuous learner!
