The Foundation of Leadership in Missions

Author Jim Collins has found 2 primary traits that are shared by CEO’s who have led their companies to grow phenomenally over a sustained period of time: personal modesty and an iron will. They are humble, yet willful; modest, yet fearless. They never let their personal egos get in the way of the larger cause.

I believe this describes many of the great mission leaders as well. Leaders like William Carey, the “Father of Modern Missions”, were willing to put their own agendas aside for the greater good of the work to which they were called. Carey faced incredible opposition as he brought the gospel to India including sickness, death of family members, hot, humid, impoverished conditions, and lack of support from many of the church leaders in his home country of England. However, he was able to overcome these tremendous odds and obstacles, all while not seeing one convert in the first seven years of his ministry there.

What gave William Carey the strength and selflessness to persevere under these conditions? Carey himself gives us the answer:

“Prayer — secret, fervent, believing prayer — lies at the root of all personal godliness.”

Basking in the Lord’s transforming presence is the key to both personal humility and unwavering endurance in ministry. For when we are truly in the Lord’s presence and seeking it not only every day, but every minute, we see ourselves for who we really are; His servants. We also see Him for Who He really is; our master and the Lord of all.

“Good to Great” and Missions

Our executive staff at EvanTell has been reviewing “Good to Great”, a book by Jim Collins that analyzes 11 average businesses that suddenly experienced explosive growth that was sustained over a 15 year period. The purpose of the book is to summarize what these companies had in common that led to such a dramatic turnaround.

One of the common reasons for the success of these companies is what Collins refers to as “level 5 leadership.” We normally think of great leaders as being highly charismatic, able to lead by the sheer force of their charismatic personality and persuasive skills. However, Collins points out that in most of the companies that experienced sustained growth, this was not the case.

Here is a list of some of the traits of a “level 5” leader:

• Embody a paradoxical mix of personal humility and professional will.
• Ambitious, but first and foremost for the company and not for themselves.
• Display a compelling modesty, are self-effacing and understated.
• Resolved to do whatever it takes to make the company great, no matter how big or hard the decisions.
• Reflect a workmanlike diligence—more plow horse than show horse.
• Unwavering, doing what must be done for the sake of the company, even in the face of enormous obstacles and opposition.

It occurred to me that these same traits and work habits of level 5 business leaders are the same ones displayed by many of the great leaders in missions throughout history. Mission leaders such as William Carey and Hudson Taylor were in fact “level 5” leaders and these characteristics were part of the reason for the tremendous impact of their endeavors.

All truth is God’s truth. Many of the principles listed above are Biblical in nature and apply both in the worlds of both business and ministry. In the next few posts, we will more closely examine this correlation.

Guest Blogger at Church DNA

I recently responded to the following statement by Andy Stanley regarding the gospel over at Church DNA:

“If we were able to rewrite the script for the reputation of Christianity, I think we would put the emphasis on developing relationships with nonbelievers, serving them, loving them, and making them feel accepted. Only then would we earn the right to share the gospel.”

While I agree with Pastor Stanley’s emphasis on developing relationships with non-believers, I don’t believe it is necessarily a prerequisite to sharing the gospel. As believers, we are called to be “salt and light” in our dark world. This involves both loving people and sharing the gospel.

The two go hand in hand and balance is key. As we love and build relationships with people, God may give us the opportunity to share Christ at any time. It could be in the first five minutes or it might take months to get to that point.

In addition, the gospel itself is the “power of God unto salvation.” Anytime we share the gospel, it alone is enough to lead someone to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. I have seen people come to Christ by hearing an evangelistic message, reading a tract, or watching an evangelistic film. In all of these situations, the question was not whether or not someone earned the right to share. The message alone was enough. “Faith comes by hearing” (Romans 10:17), and anytime we communicate the gospel, it has the potential of changing someone’s life and eternal destiny forever.

Guest Blog: Mary Margaret Gibson – Back from Israel – Full of History

Every Christian should go to Israel, have a good guide, and be amazed! I just completed my first trip to Israel and I’ve got thoughts to process for many years to come. Someone asked me at lunch today what I have learned, and I know that I’ve learned more than I can explain, but I’ll try to give you a little overview.

Even tiny, tiny interventions of God go out into the centuries. I learned that the history that the archaeologists uncover under almost every foot of the ground relates to the truth of Scripture somehow, even if we don’t understand yet how God has planted each little thing for us to find. An example of this was the little plaque in a big Canaanite dig in Dan that said on it, “the House of David.” Buried for thousands of years, this little signpost was the first “find” that named the House of David and verified the existence of the King David of Scripture for those who had contended that he was a figment of the Biblical writers’ imaginations! It was a tiny love letter to the faithful who believe without seeing and confirmation for those who must see to believe.

I read the Bible with a different eye now because I’ve seen those places. Capernaum, excavated black basalt rock, was a little town back then, right up against the Sea of Galilee. It was so intimate that “finding” Jesus there was a matter of walking to the synagogue and opening one’s eyes!

Everyone was right there in the neighborhood, since the entire town was much smaller than a Walmart parking lot.

I see how a group of 5,000 men plus various family members gathered in one spot to hear the man from Galilee would be an immense crowd in that day. How alarming it must have been – Jesus was like a rock star! People tagged him, trying to get power from the decoration on his robe, and superstition became faith when his personality and power hurled sickness away and quietly revived someone’s little girl who had died. He was a walking miracle; a stunning invasion of the status quo; a marvel; a fearful threat to those who had invested their lives in claiming power over others.

I thought about the guys who had to take their blind friend, with Jesus-mud on his eyes, down to Siloam to wash. What happened to those guys? Imagine what they thought when their friend saw, really saw them! Did they just leave him there and run home – amazed and full of their story? How full of wonder Jesus was!

And when they killed him, they just did it the Roman way, by the road so people couldn’t miss the spectacle and get the message – if you want to fight the powers-that-be you’ll come to certain ruin, a wreck of a man, disfigured beyond recognition. Dead. They took his body to a place that might have been the place we saw, but then again, maybe not. Anyhow, he was truly dead. They put his body in a rock cave meant for someone else, and left him until the 3rd day when everyone was checked for dead-ness back then…no heart monitors…go put more spice on him, see if he’s dead. But he was gone – where? Where? What happened to all those soldiers? What? So, so, so the women said someone told them he was risen – not dead – alive. Has the Kingdom come?

You see what I mean? In the Garden of Gethsemane there are olive trees that are the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the trees that lived when Jesus lived. They are old and gnarled and in the way of all creation they are witnesses. The Bible says it, and it can be easily seen…Jerusalem was, and will be, the City of God. Go and see.

Guest Blog by: Mary Margaret Gibson

The State of Israel – God’s 4,000 Year Old Successful Start-up!

My recent trip to Israel coincided with the 60th anniversary of Israel’s statehood. In the scope of the number of years that God’s chosen have lived in the land, 60 years is a blip. But what a 60-year span it has been — a successful re-start that we can study to see God’s hand at work. Our Jewish cousins, upon whose Biblical foundation we stand, have succeeded in reclaiming a land, a people, and a dream.

It was great to celebrate the miraculous convergence of events and courage that resulted in the declaration of Israel’s statehood in 1948. The pioneers who came to the new state from the dispersion around the world even before statehood were persistent in the most difficult circumstances, buying land from Turkey that everyone thought was worthless and making it bloom. The hardy hopeful who were trying to create agriculture on top of limestone and desert had such physical and engineering challenges that we can hardly imagine them. The ink had not dried on their declaration of statehood before folk were taking up arms against them.

Over the last sixty years a testament to the sheer determination of free people has happened in the land of Israel. Only this country, in the history of all countries, has been able to successfully integrate millions of folk who did not know the language, arrived with nothing, and had limited future prospects because they had fled for their lives to reach their homeland. Many were highly educated, but poor. Some were secular, Jewish in heritage but not religion, some were tied to Jewish religious tradition through generations, some were Arabs who lived in the area declared to be Israel and who still live there – citizens in exactly the same way their Jewish neighbors are citizens. So many were coming, coming in waves, rescued, airlifted, willing to suffer passage in boats too small – it was an amazing migration. None of the effort really mattered to them – they were all coming home, going “up to Jerusalem.”

They had survived the worst that mankind could throw at other human beings. While almost the entire world sat in deadly silence they died in the Holocaust. When the world waked up and came to their assistance a generation of Europe’s fine Jewish heritage had perished. Every Christian owes every Jewish person an apology for the depth of suffering supported by our sins of omission. We all need to look at their subsequent “resurrection” as a nation and thank God for His mercy, His provision, and His grace. The Western world’s laws, religious heritage, culture, flowed out of their history into our daily lives.

Guest Blog by: Mary Margaret Gibson

Humility, Sincerity, and a Desire to be used by God

I had an unexpected, but welcome visitor today. He’s a civil engineer by trade, getting ready to finish up a major construction project at a local church. He’s in his 70’s, and lately has been particularly burdened by the recent tragic events in Myanmar and China. This burden has sparked his interest in being used by the Lord overseas, particularly in “third world” countries. He’s not sure what his next assignment will be, but has made himself available to the Lord. He asked me if I would be on the lookout for ministry opportunities where his expertise and experience would be of value. His humility, sincerity, and desire to be used by the Lord were obvious.

Here’s a man in the last half of his life who is totally open to be used by the Lord. He has what I refer to as “eternal perspective,” the desire to make a difference for the kingdom. I pray that the Lord will open just the right door of opportunity in His perfect timing. It is a privilege to meet and work with people who have put their future plans in God’s hands and are willing to go anywhere, anyplace, at any time for the sake of the gospel and the kingdom.

Letters From Myanmar – Funds reach Partners

From one of the missionaries to the orphans. She is detailing how they are using the funds we were able to send her:

“I thank God so much for His provisions and using you as our parents. I am carefully using the resources you have given for most needed area. We went to the market and got some ambrelas (umbrellas), slippers (sandals), under wares, and school needs for the children (orphans). We will pray and use wisely the rest for helping the children as much as possible. Please tell everyone who are helping us; we have unspeakable thanks to them and pray for them too.”

Prayer:

Father, thank you that the funds we sent made it to our partners on the ground in Myanmar. I pray that you would continue to meet their most basic needs and protect them in Jesus name. I also pray that you would abundantly provide for us to send even more resources to this country in desperate need of the hope of the gospel.

Letters From Myanmar – Thank You

Here is a letter from one of the indigenous missionaries relaying a big thank you from those receiving food and water and the gospel:

“As I mentioned before, our friends stay in small temporary tents. (This refers to a house church among the very poor Buddhist people and another area about 30 miles out of town which is nearby a prison. They have started another house church there with a prison guard who has accepted Christ. In both areas, they lived in bamboo shacks - now obliterated). They were thrilled for your love gifts of food and water and it means so much for them. There is no ferry boat to get across the river anymore so we have to take a small boat which is very dangerous because of the floods. Please pray for our safety.”

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for their bravery and heart for the lost. I pray that you would continue to keep them safe as they bring food, water, and your love to those who are now homeless.

Letters From Myanmar – Meeting Needs

From one of our main partner evangelists who is using some of the funds we provided for the basic needs of the people:

“Our friends in that regions have lost their homes and they stay in small temporary tents. The needs are so huge and it is more than we can do for them. So we visit them every day and tell them how our heavenly father love them and care for them. Some friends were sick because of the rain and we give them medicines. When we give them rice and the next day thousands of their friends have come to us.”

Prayer:

Father, I pray that You would abundantly provide for the needs of the believers and for those they are ministering to in Burma. Give them boldness as they let the people know the provisions come from You.

Letters From Myanmar - For the Sake of the Gospel

Here is another letter from our director of operations:

“I myself with some of my friends had personally been to the storm-hit areas and saw how great the basic needs of the victims was, such as food, shelter, water etc. I am still collecting whatever we can get here with my friends to visit those suffering people as I am convinced that this is the right time to show the father’s love to the victims by sharing what we have. In doing so, we expect a future approaching bridge through which the life-giving Word can be easily communicated to them. Please share with all of your friends there the very great needs we have here that are not being yet being met.”

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for the servant leadership of our Burmese partners who, in the midst of trying to survive themselves, are reaching out to their neighbors for the sake of the gospel.

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