Leadership that matters


Went to the first day of the Willow Creek Leadership Conference today up in Bellingham. Via satellite, about 200 church leaders from our region took in the teaching of (among others) Gary Haugen, founder and CEO of International Justice Mission. The work of IJM centers on freeing victims of injustice in third world countries: children caught in slavery or sex trafficking, people thrown into prison without being formally charged of a crime or because of corrupt justice systems in their country.


Haugen's message was a powerful reminder - a wake up call really - with many strong "take aways".


He opened with the thought: If you want your leadership to matter, lead in the things that matter to God. He went on to remind us from scripture that one of God's passions is JUSTICE for the oppressed. He exhorted us with the thought that God's plan for bringing justice is to use US. That is his plan. We are to be the light of the world. And if we, as Christians, shirk our responsibility in this area, it is a sin.


Haugen went on to challenge us to take risks, to be adventurous, in our leadership and our faith. He likened most of evangelical Christian experience to staying in the visitor center at the foot of Mt Ranier, rather than actually having the adventure of climbing the mountain (with all its risks AND rewards).


As I consider where God may be leading me in my next ministry position, I felt compelled today to be sure that ministry position requires faith, is bigger than me, and will incorporate leading people to be concerned about social injustice.


For a few video highlights of Haugen's message, you can click here.

Comments

kharv said…
Ken and I also found Gary's talk compelling and inspiring. We enjoyed the conference and feel challenged anew to make a difference.
Chris
August 8, 2008 at 7:38 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nothing happens the same way twice

Image
Another interesting line from Prince Caspian is when Lucy asks Aslan why things aren't working out the way they did the last time they were in Narnia. Aslan responds, "Nothing ever happens the same way twice." I want things to always work the same way. In relationships with people, I want to always know what to expect. If I act in a certain way, I want to be certain people will respond the way they did the last time. But I really want God to act in the same way. If at a certain point in my past I received an answer to my prayers when I fasted - I expect that God will come through if I fast again. If I felt close to God by singing a certain song or reading a certain book, I want to re-create that experience time and again - but it never seems to work. I remember going back on my 2nd tour with the Continental Singers back in 1989, having had such an incredible, life changing tour in the summer of 1988. The "sophomore" tour did not live up to my memories of the fi
Read more

Becoming more aware (a prayer of gratefulness)

Image
Thank you God for the growing awareness That you are everywhere You are the force that animates every fiber of my being But not just my being Or all humans But all of creation Nothing exists apart from your creative power  And the force of life you give it The energy of the cosmos is the same As the energy in my cells In my molecules In my quarks So You are always with me No shouting or striving to get Your attention Just to be still And know You are God To breathe in and breathe out with gratefulness For lungs filled with oxygen Sustaining me for another few moments Every breath a gift A reason to praise You are in all things and you have given me existence Life Consciousness Awareness of beauty Ability to act  It is all so good Thank you.
Read more

The Shack

Image
My wife started reading Willam Young's runaway bestseller "The Shack" a month or so ago, and I read it after her (with apologies to people waiting for it back at the library!) It seems "everyone" Ann knew was reading the book so we both were interested to find out what all the excitement was about. I started the book with a good deal of skepticism since I don't tend to enjoy most popular Christian fiction (too predictable and poor writing). But I found "The Shack" to be an interesting read and thought provoking as well. It seems to flirt with the far edges of orthodoxy a few times, but I think overall it is a helpful book for understanding some confusing aspects of Christianity, and for giving some vivid pictures of hard to understand doctrines. All you have to do is get used to the image of God the Father being called "Papa"and appearing as a black woman. (Ann said she kept imagining "Papa" as the head angel from "Touc
Read more