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Leadership that inspires

Ted Klassen

Our world is desperately in need of leadership that inspires people. I believe that Christianity, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, has an example of the most inspiring leadership the world has ever known.

My first experience of the kind of leadership Jesus demonstrated happened years ago when I was the quarterback of a not so great high school football team. It was then that I discovered Jesus’ principle that when you are weak, then you are strong. Our world thinks that leadership goes to those who are strong, powerful, fast and smart. That is true when you are trying to control things or take something from someone, but when you want to inspire people the way Jesus did, leadership has its roots in a different source. In one particular game, I was injured, but not so badly that I couldn’t continue to play. What I discovered as I limped back to the huddle to call the next play was that my weakness inspired my teammates to raise their level of commitment to winning the game. The momentum of the game shifted, and unbelievably . . . I can’t remember who won the game.

Terry Fox, who was an inspirational leader in the worldwide fight against cancer, is another example of leading with weakness. Rick Hansen falls into the same category. His Man In Motion tour around the world a few years ago made him an inspirational leader for people with handicaps. It is fascinating that the two people who are honoured above everyone else at the two major sport complexes in Vancouver are Terry Fox and Rick Hansen. A statue of one-legged Terry Fox stands outside B.C. Place, and a statue of Rick Hansen in his wheelchair outside G.M. Place. They are testimony to the fact that you can inspire and lead people not in spite of your weakness, but because of it.

Joseph in the Bible is also an illustration of someone who led with weakness and suffering. Joseph had a dream that some day he would be the leader of his brothers even though he was son number 11 of 12. When Joseph told his brothers about his dream, they began to hate him – so much so that they eventually sold him into slavery in Egypt. It was over 20 years before Joseph saw his brothers again. Due to a miraculous turn of events, he was now second in command in Egypt. In the midst of a worldwide famine, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food, little knowing that the man they would have to deal with would be their long lost brother. When they met Joseph, they all bowed before him. When Joseph revealed to them that he was their brother, they were filled with fear because of what they had done to him, but Joseph assured them that his suffering in Egypt was part of God’s plan to save their lives. So, Joseph’s weakness of being the obnoxious little brother ultimately led to the whole family acknowledging him as their leader. Joseph’s father gave the final assessment of Joseph’s life, calling Joseph “the prince among his brothers” (Genesis 49:26).

How do you and I lead with our suffering and weakness? We must be willing to humble ourselves. We must demonstrate love by putting others first, not seeking to dominate each other but submitting to each other in order to serve. Jesus taught that leadership starts with love and progresses from there to suffering, then weakness and finally service. We understand how to help others when we have experienced weakness and suffering ourselves. Then, like both Joseph and Jesus, all that we do will have the goal of saving lives.

Let us remember that the Leader of Christianity described Himself as a humble and gentle person who came to die on a cross to save people. Keep loving people wherever you go. This will ultimately lead to suffering (love always does), which will make you weak – but then God can bless you and make you a leader who helps and saves people. This is what it means to become like Jesus. This is the kind of leadership that has inspired people for 2000 years and always will.

Ted Klassen recently resigned as senior pastor of Hyde Creek Community Church in Port Coquitlam, B.C. and is now senior pastor of Culloden MB Church in Vancouver.

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Last modified April 19, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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