Advice for Young Leaders

Recently I was asked to speak to a college class about leadership. Most of the students were in their early 20s, so the professor asked me to focus on challenges I faced when I was a young man starting out in the ministry. I quickly jotted down a list of items to talk about.

One challenge I faced as a leader was not wanting to be one. When I was a boy I enjoyed being captain of the basketball team and president of my class at school. But as an adult my responsibilities grew heavier, and I had to overcome my reluctance to shoulder them. I could relate to Moses, Jeremiah, and Jonah, who hesitated at first when God called them to serve.

Then I had to learn what it means to be a Christian leader. Plenty of books and seminars tell how to get things done, but as a follower of Christ I must take seriously Jesus' instructions about servant-leadership—a model radically different from the world's approach to power (Luke 22:24-27).

Another challenge was attempting to accomplish tasks that seem beyond my ability to achieve. Leaders must tackle complex problems and motivate others to join them in the pursuit of goals that look humanly impossible. As life becomes more complicated, the demands of leadership grow tougher.

Then there's the challenge of dealing with difficult people. Every organization contains some "well-intentioned dragons."

And what about the financial headaches? Leaders have to raise funds, manage budgets, stretch dollars, recruit and organize volunteers, and challenge stakeholders to be generous with their time and money.

All of this needs to be done while the leader maintains a balanced life. Leaders shouldn't neglect their family. They must take care of their physical and emotional health, get adequate rest, and invest time in personal relationships. Balance is tough for everyone, but the demands of leadership add extra layers of difficulty.

Most important, Christian leaders must keep our own hearts right with God. While leading others, I never want to compromise my integrity or wake up one day and discover that my own love for the Lord has grown cold.

After I made my list, I noticed an interesting fact. When the apostle Paul wrote to his sons in the faith, Timothy and Titus, he addressed all of these leadership challenges and more. What would Paul say to a college class filled with young leaders? Maybe something like this:

Step up and be a leader! Don't cave in to your self-doubt. Yes, you'll encounter difficult people and impossible-looking challenges, but God will help you accomplish what you could never do on your own.

Don't soft-pedal the gospel. Never compromise your character. Speak the truth without flinching, but do it with a humble and gracious attitude. Be a role model of integrity. Make sure what you say matches what you do.

Love people. Laugh with them, cry with them, and walk with them through their suffering. Have a sense of humor, but take the Lord and his work seriously. Treat young and old with respect. Pay attention to the newcomers, and heed the old-timers' wisdom.

Guard against greed. Handle money wisely. Be content to live simply. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Keep Christ at the center of every decision and the heart of every relationship.

Step up and be a leader! Your days will be adventuresome, faith-stretching, and tough, but be sure of this: by serving the Lord with all your heart, you will make a difference now and forever.