My first significant test of leadership came when I was leading a group of 22 young people on a two month trip when I was a young follower of Jesus. After expending everything I had to ensure this trip was successful, I was informed by some members of the team that they did not like my leadership style. After soul searching and crying out to God, three questions bubbled to the surface:
- What did God think of me?
- What did my mentor have to say?
- What could I do differently?
The answers to these questions have helped shape my life. It took a measure of humility to embrace what God and others thought of me, and to accept some correction.
As a young leader on that trip, I thank God for:
- Affirmation that I was his precious child and he loved me.
- Encouragement from my mentor that helped me work through my insecurities.
- An admonishment from scripture that led me to quietness and trust, repentance and rest.
Being a leader is birthed in the fertile soil of humility.
“We set young leaders up for a fall if we encourage them to envision what they can do before they consider the kind of person they should be.” -R. Ruth Barton
It takes wisdom and insight to foster humility in the lives of children so that they can be “the kind of person they should be” in the foundation of what God thinks of them. This is what we try to do at Hope for the Nations, putting a priority on investing in children today to develop leaders for tomorrow.
“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12
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This post is part of 99 Days of Hope, an HFTN campaign to raise awareness and funds for at-risk families and children in the Philippines.
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