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Christ-Centered Leadership and Fear

In March 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt became President of the United States of America. He is known for many initiatives and accomplishments as president, but one line in his first inaugural address defined who he was as a leader, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

He was in effect calling the nation to action. He said fear was “nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” What he told the people was that the only barrier to progress was the fear of facing the real challenges and that once the fear had been faced the road to recovery would be open.

Courageous Leaders and Fear

Effective and courageous leaders are acquainted with fear. It is one of the risks, threats, and hazards of leading. Whether it is failure, looking foolish, missing chances, losing your job, hurting people, or the uncertainty of the future, fear is something all leaders face.

Courageous leaders don’t shy away from fear. They work to understand their fears and even use their fears as reminders of the work needed in making decisions. If you do not understand and face your fears, then fear becomes an obstacle to your leadership. Said another way, when you name and face your fears you take a step toward being the leader you have been created and gifted to be.  

Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.” Nelson Mandela said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” As a Christ-centered leader, you have a tool and a relationship that helps you name and face your fears. 

Take a moment to read and reflect upon the words of 1 John 4:7-18.

Read 1 John 4:7-18

7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear…

Reflect on 1 John 4:7-18

From John’s perspective, our capacity for love is from God. It is God’s love that makes our love possible. Love is the identifying mark of the followers of Jesus. We abide in him. We are at home with him and our love is perfected by him. To abide in this love is a continuing process resulting in being perfected in love or being mature in love. Mature love gives you confidence or boldness or courage. Mature love does not live in fear but in the assurance of God’s abiding love which always precedes and motivates our own.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. The word used for casts means “to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls.” From that perspective, love makes plain the worthless nature of our fears.

Respond to 1 John 4:7-18

Clarence Jordan wrote, “Fear is the polio of the soul, that keeps you from living by faith.” Too often, when you react in fear, it is too late to respond; Fear has already taken hold of you.  You realize when you should have acted or were impulsive, that fear kept you from being the leader needed for the moment.  Effective and courageous leaders know how to name and face their fears.


Below are seven common fears that love casts out.

The fear of taking risks. 

Courageous leaders know that risk-taking is part of leadership. When you start with Jesus, the love of God, the risk in loving others is worth your time, practice, and experience. Your risks might not always show in the ways others measure success, but effective and courageous Christ-centered leaders don’t fear risk, they embrace it. 

The fear of failure. 

Courageous leaders know there are times when you will fall short of your goals and the expectations of others. You also know that it is okay. Your failures are not final. You take responsibility for your actions and don’t give into the fear of falling short. That is part of what separates effective leaders from those who aren’t. You focus on current reality and move forward, even if it means you initially fall short of your goal. 

The fear of not being good enough. 

Courageous leaders know that anything worth doing is worth doing well. You are not afraid of doing your best. But if you act out of loss of confidence, self-doubt, or self-criticism, you undermine relationships and trust. When you are living into the gifts God has given you, you lead out of who you are. When there is criticism, you use it as a way of improving yourself. You welcome new ways of living and are able to embrace change. The bottom line is, to be who God created you to be and lead accordingly.

The fear of change.

Courageous leaders know that change is inevitable. You know that fear of the unknown is natural, so you face the unknown with courage, ready to learn what you need to know to move forward. As an effective leader, you don’t wait until you are forced to change. You embrace the change and become a change agent amid the change.

The fear of irrelevance.

Courageous leaders want to make a difference. You ignore the fear of becoming outdated. You are neither paralyzed from stepping into the future nor are you impulsively moving ahead without evaluation and reflection. You recognize that good work is good work, and your past good work can be a reference point for the future of both you and the people in your care. You are always equipping others to make a difference in the areas of their responsibilities.

The fear of being vulnerable.

Courageous leaders know their strengths and weaknesses. As you develop relationships and build trust, you are able to utilize the strengths and gifts of the people around you. Knowing when to ask for help and support is a key part of being an effective leader. Demonstrating that you can admit that you don’t know or that you need to go and find out not only reduces pressure on yourself but encourages the people around you to do the same.

Fear of holding people accountable.

Courageous leaders depend on their team, the people around them, to be responsible for their part of the work. Being accountable and holding people accountable are part of being an effective leader. Your people depend upon you to be trustworthy and compassionate. If you have the need to be liked or to please people, or do not know or refuse to deal with difficult situations, you undermine trust and stability. Your people look for you to lead and to assist them in being who they need to be. When you hold a standard of accountability, you develop the trust needed to accomplish your goals.

In facing fear, it matters where you start. When you start with the love of God and the love of neighbor, you are motivated to make the decisions that best serve all the people and are willing to step forward in love even if you initially fall short of your goal. As a Christ-centered leader, love makes the difference when facing the challenges that might bring fear and anxiety.

Grow as a Christ-Centered Leader

So, here are three things to help you grow as a Christ-centered leader.

Self-awareness is your friend. 

Being aware of what triggers your anxiety, anger, and fear is the first step toward being a healthy and effective leader. If perfect love casts out fear, then nothing you fear can overcome who you are as a leader. Just be aware of what gets in the way of your being the leader God created you to be. 

Name your fears.

Being able to name your fears allows you the opportunity to face them. In the Harry Potter series, Voldermort is a symbol of evil.  All the witches and wizards do not dare to say his name. They refer to him as “You-Know-Who” or as “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.” Only when Harry begins to say the name of Voldermort does Voldermont begins to lose his power over Harry and the others. Harry named the fear. When you name your fear, you take a step toward facing your fear. 

Face your fears.

There are times when fear is good. As a human being, you are designed with fear to save you from danger and ultimately death. But when fear becomes your default because of any of the reasons named above, you limit yourself as a leader. As a Christ-centered leader, you can face your fears with faith and courage because, “perfect love casts out fear.”

Perfect Love Casts out Fear

Fears are rooted deep within, and often what you fear reflects what you believe about God and about the people around you. To say and believe that “perfect love casts out fear” is to face and overcome your fears. You are starting with the knowledge and understanding that you are a beloved child of God and that by God’s grace you are equipped to face whatever obstacles you encounter. The good news is that God has created you to lead with the love you have received and experienced in and through Jesus. As a Christ-centered leader, you can lead with courage because perfect love, God’s love, is greater than your fears. God’s love can and will make you the leader God created you to be. And who is how you lead.

Take a minute to look at the fears listed above. Now, with the love you have experienced in and through Jesus, how will you face each fear? What do you need to overcome what paralyzes you from living by faith and leading with courage?

Please know that having a counselor and/or a coach is okay. There are people trained and equipped to assist you in facing each fear that hinders your leadership. The only thing you have to fear is fear itself. Perfect love has cast out your fear. God’s love has set you free. So, trust the people around you. Allow your interaction with them to shape and mold you into the leader God has created you to be. Then you can and will lead with love. 

Reflect

Take a moment to reflect upon your leadership. Give God thanks for the people you met today. As you think about your day:  What fear did you experience? How did you react or respond? How did perfect love help you face and overcome your fear? What did you learn about yourself? Who helped you remember that you are a child of God and that you have been empowered to love others as God has loved you? What will you do differently tomorrow? Ask God to give you the faith to be the leader God has created you to be.

Prayer

O God, today I give you thanks for life and work. Thank you for the opportunities I have had to care for others the way you have cared for me. I offer myself to be the leader you need me to be. As I face my fear, equip me to assist others in facing their fear.  In the name of Jesus. Amen

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Leadership and Restraint – Part 2

Several years ago, I wrote a blog regarding Leadership and Restraint. I am revisiting that blog to remind you, as a Christ-centered leader, that restraint is an important part of your leadership.

Restraint is Critical

As leaders, we sometimes believe that it’s the things we do that make the difference. While our actions and words are important, it is often the things we don’t do that make the difference. That is why restraint is critical.

You do not have to be the smartest person in the room with all the right answers, or be involved in making every decision, or looking over the shoulders of the people you are leading. Leadership is as much about what you choose not to do as it is about what you decide to pursue.

Thoughts and Emotions Influence Behavior

Restraint is about self-awareness. Your thoughts and emotions influence your behavior. Even though you know what to do, your thoughts, emotions, previous experiences, stress, being hungry, or being weary affect the way you perceive the situations in which you find yourself. They affect your decisions and how you respond to people around you.

Self Awareness is Important to Leadership

Are you aware of when you must step in and save the day? Some things you need to let people deal with their own problems and let them learn how to solve things for themselves.

Are you aware of when you are seeking to please people? Sometimes when you say “yes” to people you want to please them and are fearful of the consequences of saying “no”?

Are you aware of when you think “it is easier if I just do this work myself”? Too often, leaders don’t want to take the time to equip people to do the work needed to be done. There are times you need to step and assist, but when you do, be aware that you might be keeping others from developing their own skills and self-awareness.

Are you aware of when you want to micromanage the work of others? Too often this is because you do not trust your colleagues, or you are unsure of the work yourself. When you micromanage, you damage the confidence of the people entrusted to your leadership.

Are you aware that sometimes in making snap decisions you are not being decisive? Taking time to reflect before making decisions is a healthier way to lead.

Are you aware that it is okay to say “I don’t know”? Some leaders feel very uncomfortable saying “I don’t know” or “I’ll have a think about this and get back to you”. Saying “I don’t know” is not a sign of weakness but a sign of a leader who has self-awareness,

Are you aware of your emotional triggers? Whether it’s an angry email or a snarky response to a coworker, be aware of your inner temperament. Your response will have long-lasting effects.

Four Ways to Exercise Restraint

So, as a Christ-centered leader, below are four ways you can exercise restraint in your leadership:

1. Understand Your Triggers

When you understand your own triggers, you have a better chance of noticing when they occur, preparing for them and developing strategies to reduce their impact or avoid them altogether. Exercising restraint is much easier when you have this information at your fingertips.

2. Exercise Restraint by Taking a Pause 

Viktor Frankl, while in concentration camps during WWII, discovered “the gap” between feeling an emotion and responding. The gap is where you can collect yourself, process the emotion, and respond, instead of reacting.

Steven Covey, in his book The Eighth Habit, says you have the freedom to choose how you act or react in every situation and circumstance in which you find yourself. You might not be able to control what happens to you, but you can decide how you will react to it

Below are several suggestions on how to take a pause.

  • Excuse yourself and take a break
  • Get outside into fresh air
  • Take a drink of water
  • Take a deep breath
  • Rephrase a question or statement you just heard, to confirm your understanding.
  • Request extra time: “I’ll need to think about that and let you know later on.”

These are small “pausing” acts. They help clear a space to process what has happened and to help balance your emotions.

3. Exercise Restraint by Being Curious

Being curious can take the sting out of the emotional response you feel. It helps to uncover the root cause of an issue.

Below are several suggestions on how to be more curious.

  • Start by asking questions
  • Listen attentively, instead of just waiting for your turn to speak
  • Be open to the possibility that you may be wrong about something
  • Remember that what lies beneath the surface is a driver of human behavior
  • Remember that people do not come to work to do a bad job, or to upset people
  • Keep in mind that it’s not always about you.
  • Focus on what you are hearing and learning from the situation

Curiosity becomes a habit, so start with small steps. Over time, you will cultivate a more curious mindset that can help you navigate challenging situations. 

4. Reflect Upon Your Leadership

Reflection is an extremely important part of thoughtful leadership. For some people it comes naturally, while others may need to make it a more intentional practice.

Below are several questions to help with your reflection:

  • Would you say your inner life and outer life are integrated?
  • What are the barriers in your personal life that keep you demanding your own way?
  • Who do you need in your life to assist you in producing the fruit of love and peace?
  • Are you willing to be held accountable to loving others as God in Christ has loved you? 

The true expression of leadership is not acting on selfish impulse but committing your life to serving the greater good. Restraint is love’s submission to integrity.

Over time, you’ll better understand your natural tendencies and instincts. Hopefully, this will help you adjust your behavior to reduce issues and lead more effectively.

What are you praying for?

Fred Craddock tells the story of being asked to speak at a president’s prayer breakfast. At the time, the prayer breakfasts were held not only in this country but around the world. He said, “I got a letter from Washington asking me if I would hold one of these. The place was Seoul, South Korea.” 

“The general in charge, and my host, was four-star General Stilwell. He gathered officers and enlisted people in this large room. We had a nice breakfast and then we had prayers. It was not just prayers in name only. The general’s assistant, a colonel, had the soldiers there enter a period of sentence prayers. They had prayers for mothers and fathers and sisters and babies and for my wife back home and for peace in the world. They were emotionally moving prayers. 

“There was a young private from Formosa who played ‘Amazing Grace’ on the bagpipe before I spoke. The general sat there with tears in his eyes. He said, ‘I love that song.’” 

Craddock said he gave his talk. Then, there was a benediction, and the room began to empty as the soldiers filed out. He shook hands with the general and thanked him for his gracious hospitality. The general said, “I want you to remember us in prayer.” 

And Craddock said, “I will. You know I will.” 

Then the general said, “Pray not for more power. We have the power. We could destroy this whole place in one afternoon. Pray that we have the appropriate restraint.” 

Craddock continued, “It was such an unusual request. ‘Pray that we have restraint.’ He knew his history. He knew he was American, and restraint is built into our history. Why do we have executive, judicial, legislative branches except to build in restraint? Why is it said that we shall allow a person only two terms as president? Restraint. Why do we say that the commander in chief of all armed forces of this country will always be a civilian? Restraint. 

“The general knew that the mark of a civilized society is the restraint of power. The mark of a civilized human being is restraint of power.” 

Every time I read or hear someone say, “It is my right” or more specially “My God given right,” I stop and say to myself, “Of course it is. But is it right and good for you to exercise your right in relationship with the people around you? 

When Craddock left the room, everyone except the general and his aide were gone. His aide asked, “General, shall I bring the car around?” 

The general replied, “Not now, I want to sit here awhile.” In the silence of the moment, he asked the private from Formosa to stay and play on the bagpipe. 

Craddock looked back as he left the room. There was the general seated alone with the private in front of him playing “Amazing Grace.” Craddock said, “Now isn’t that a picture? Four stars shining, listening to a voice of restraint.” 

Pope John Paul XXIII offered similar advice regarding restraint. He said, “See everything. Overlook a great deal. Correct a little.”

As a Christ-centered leader, exercising self-control and practicing leadership restraint, you will be the leader needed for the time in which we live. You will be who God created you to be. Remember, who you are is how you lead.

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Leadership and Politics

May I state the obvious? We are in the middle of an election year. Every few minutes, whether it is social media, news programs, television commercials, yard signs, or billboards, we are being told that democracy is at stake or that a candidate is lying, or the stock market is going to crash, or that illegal immigrants are moving into the neighborhood.

I don’t have to name everything being said for you to agree that these are very intense, confusing, and demanding times for Christ-centered leaders. Many of our churches have gone the direction of our culture. We seem to be split down the middle and our churches have become political minefields.

Engaging as Christ-Centered Leaders

As a spiritual leader, there is no way you can avoid the swirl of political opinions. Particularly during this election season, it is necessary to engage the political questions with Christ-centered information and insights.

I know the political wind might be blowing in another direction, but you have the responsibility and authority to hold God’s love and purpose for all humanity before the people voting in November.

As a Christ-centered leader, you are a follower of Jesus. Let’s look at one scripture that can help us be the leaders needed for this time in history.

Read Philippians 2:3-7

 2 If then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,6 who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human…

Reflect on Philippians 2:3-7

These words of Paul are related to the last words of chapter 1. He is saying, “Since there is comfort in Christ…consolation from love…tender affection and sympathy, make by joy complete…” Paul identified with both Jesus and the church. His joy was not his alone. The joy of Paul and of the church was nourished by their relationship with each other and the Spirit.

His joy is in what he says in four expressions: being of the same mind (the phrase does not refer to agreeing on everything, but to having a common orientation or focus); having the same love; being in full accord, and of one mind (he repeats the need for a common focus). By referring to “mind” twice, Paul is preparing his readers for a Christian mindset, attitude, and orientation.

Discord in the Philippian Church 

There was some kind of discord in the Philippian church. Some scholars say there was a polarization around two members of the church. Both worked faithfully with Paul but did not get along with each other. Other scholars say there was dissension generated by the preaching of those who sought to bring elements of Judaism into the faith and practice of the church.

We know there was some conflict because Paul insists that he loves and prays for all of them. The implication is that some members felt they were not in the circle of Paul’s friends.

After being positive about past experiences (verse 1) and about the unity he sought (verse 2), Paul presents the forms of conduct and relationships to be avoided: selfishness, empty glory, and self-interest. What he lists seems to be the thinking and action of persons focused upon themselves and not upon Jesus.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Jesus. As a follower of Jesus, there is a way of approaching life, others, and God. What it means to be a follower of Jesus is not up for discussion or negotiation.

Have the Mind of Christ

Then Paul either wrote a hymn or quoted a hymn to rehearse the story of Christ, the anointed one. Here is part of the scripture that will be helpful for engaging the political discussion. Though in the form of God or created in the image of God, equality with God was not regarded as something to be grasped. The words “to be grasped” do not tell us if equality with God was already possessed or was a quality to be seized.

This scripture focuses upon Jesus coming under all the conditions of being a human being, becoming a servant, and being obedient even to death. This is who Jesus is and to have the mind that was in Jesus means this is who you are as a follower of Jesus. And who you are is how you lead.

Respond as a Christ-Centered Leader

As a Christ-centered leader, how will you lead during these intense, confusing, and demanding times? As a follower of Jesus how will you respond in the midst of political issues and opinions?

Consider the following: (these are in no particular order)

Ask the question when making decisions “does this look like love of neighbor?” (Your focus is always upon loving others).

Ask the question when in the midst of misinformation and misunderstanding “how do I best work for this person’s well-being? (Work for the good of others is called “agape” or the love of God and neighbor).

Love Your Neighbor

You are entitled to opinions on political and cultural issues, but the pulpit is not the place to express your opinions. You are an “ambassador of Christ.” You represent the values and interests of God’s business in the world. As an ambassador, what you say and do reflects Jesus’s thoughts and desires. As a Jesus follower, whatever political process you choose to be involved in is not for your own purposes or your own interest. You represent the love of God. The question is “Does this look like the love of neighbor?”

Jesus is Priority

As a follower of Jesus, Jesus is your number one priority. Nothing should come between you and Jesus, especially political opinions and issues. As a Christ centered leader, if being involved in a political process causes you confusion in your following Jesus, then don’t do it. The question is, what good will it do if your candidate wins, and you lose Jesus? Your allegiance is to Jesus. Jesus was a political person, but he was not partisan in his politics. Everyone was included in his loving embrace, especially those no one else wanted. Who you are and your value as a human being is not defined by this election or any other election. Your identity is in Jesus.

Our country, state, county, and city need Jesus followers involved in the political process. We need followers of Jesus serving on school boards, city councils and state legislatures. We need followers of Jesus believers in Congress and in the Senate. We need Jesus followers to run for President. Political leadership, at its best, is loving and caring for our neighbors.

You were created and gifted for such a time as this. Keep yourself focused through prayer and yourself active in love. Be who God needs you to be in these intense, confusing, and demanding times.

Reflect

Now, take a moment to reflect upon your leadership. Give God thanks for the people you met today. When did you have an opportunity to work for the well-being of someone you encountered? When did you remind yourself “does this look like the love of a neighbor?” When did you actively listen? When do you keep yourself from offering your opinion when you knew it would not be helpful to the conversation? What did you learn about being political but not partisan? Who is helping you remember that you are a child of God and that you have been empowered to love others as God has loved you? What will you do differently tomorrow? Ask God to give you the faith to be the leader God has created you to be.

Prayer

O God, today I give you thanks for life and work. Thank you for the opportunities I have had to care for others the way you have cared for me. I offer myself to be the leader you need me to be in these politically charged times. In the name of Jesus.  Amen.

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Leadership and Care

We don’t always think of leadership and care going together. In fact, there was a time when showing care and empathy was a sign of weakness. As a Christ-centered leader, you know that your care for the people is a revelation of your leadership.

Leading with Care in a Church Community

It is not easy to lead with care. I say that because people participate in the life of the church for different reasons and as the leader, it is your responsibility to care for each of them.

Some find themselves in crisis and need a community of people to care for them, at least until they are through the crisis. Others are seeking direction and need a community of people to assist them in finding their way. 

Still others are looking for a place they can call home where they feel like they are with family. Some people are looking for a community where they and their children can grow spiritually and to learn to love God and others. While others are looking for a place to hide because life is difficult, and they need and want to be loved without being noticed.

For whatever reason, the church is a place where people can experience God’s love and care through the people who gather as a community.

The Deep Desire to Be Found and Known

A few years ago, I discovered that some people participate in the life of the church because they want to be found. It might start with hiding, but deep within each of us is the desire to be known and loved for who we are. We want to be noticed, taken seriously, to be found.

A Reflection on Being Found

Fred Craddock tells the story of his sister and brothers playing hide-and-seek when they lived on a farm in west Tennessee. He said living out in the country there wasn’t a lot to do, so “hide-and-seek” was their go to game.

He said when his sister was “It,” she would cheat. One day she started honestly, “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,” but then skipped ahead to “ninety-three, ninety-four, ninety-five.”

He said he was ready for her. He had a place under the porch. Because of his size he could get under the steps, and he knew she would never find him. Then he heard, “Ninety-nine, one hundred. Ready or not, here I come.”

He said she went into the house, out of the house, in the weeds, in the trees, down to the corn crib, into the barn. She couldn’t find him. He said, “I almost gave myself away, down under the steps, snickering to myself, ‘She’ll never find me here, she’ll never find me here.”

Then he said, “It occurred to me, she’ll never find me here.” He said, “…after a while, I would stick out a toe. When she came by and saw my toe, she said, ‘I see you,’ and she would run back and touch the base and say, ‘Ha, ha, you’re it. You’re it.’”

Craddock said he would come out brushing himself off and say, “Oh shoot, you found me.”

Now, what did he really want? To state the obvious, he started out by hiding, but what he really wanted was to be found. Deep within each of us the desire to be known and loved for who we are.

One of the responsibilities of a Christ-centered leader is to assist people to be found. How do you do that? People want to know that they are important enough to be cared for. Theodore Roosevelt said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” 

What Does Caring Leadership Look Like?

Now, what did he really want? To state the obvious, he started out by hiding, but what he really wanted was to be found. Deep within each of us is the desire to be known and loved for who we are.

Caring Leadership: Helping People Be Found and Loved

One of the responsibilities of a Christ-centered leader is to assist people to be found. How do you do that? People want to know that they are important enough to be cared for. Theodore Roosevelt said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Simon Sinek said, “Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge.” So, what does caring leadership look like?

7 Characteristics of Caring Christ-Centered Leaders

Here are 7 characteristics of caring leaders. Caring leaders are:

Empathetic 

They not only listen but they respond with understanding and compassion.

Listeners

They actively listen. They give their complete attention to the people entrusted to them.

Vulnerable

They see vulnerability as a strength. They model vulnerability in and through their relationships with individuals as well as the groups they lead.

Trustworthy

They not only can be trusted but they trust others. They create opportunities for others to express themselves openly and freely. They support those entrusted to them to be who God created them to be.

Inclusive 

They create environments of inclusion and belonging where people feel valued, supported, appreciated, and heard. No matter how busy they are, they find time to care for those entrusted to them. They treat others the way they expect to be treated.

Intentional

They know they are working with people who are more important than their jobs or productivity. They are intentional to include the development of the strengths and skills of the people around them.

Appreciative

They know praise and appreciation go a long way. They always show gratitude and thank those working with them for their hard work and commitment.

How Christ-Centered Leaders Care for Their Communities

As a Christ-centered leader, the best way you can assist people to be found is by caring for them. By letting them know that you care, you are taking them seriously, showing them how important they are, and that they matter. By caring for them, you show them who you are. Remember, who you are is how you lead.

Reflecting on Leadership: How to Grow as a Caring Leader

Now, take a moment to reflect upon your leadership. Give God thanks for the people you met today. When did you have an opportunity to show care? When did you actively listen? When were you intentional in caring for a person more than you did their job? With whom did you share your appreciation? What did you learn about yourself? Who is helping you remember that you are a child of God and that you have been empowered to love others as God has loved you? What will you do differently tomorrow? Ask God to give you the faith to be the leader God has created you to be.

A Prayer for Christ-Centered Leaders

O God, today I give you thanks for life and work. Thank you for the opportunities I have had to care for others the way you have cared for me. I offer myself to be the leader you need me to be in the name of Jesus.  Amen.