Leadership: A word from Mennonite Church USA leaders

One of my favorite Mennonite Church USA songs is, “Come, Walk with Us, the Journey Is Long.”

As leaders, we must lead for the long haul. Leadership means understanding that we are called to guide those who follow us to a future destination and to prepare them for it.

No leader can change the past or the present, but a competent leader can lay a foundation that will help others overcome their past, endure their current situation and hope for a prosperous future. The wise leader assesses the present and leads not for what is but for what will be—leading as if he or she has already received the desired outcome.

Imagine you are leading a ministry of 50 people and the church has set a goal of doubling participation in three years. Leading for the long haul means you are prepared for this growth. You have envisioned how all 50 new congregants will fit into your building. You have updated your systems and procedures so that you can effectively minister to and track the new families who will soon grace your doors.

Imagine you are a college president and understand that the number of racial/ethnic students in the United States will increase dramatically between now and 2040. What do you do? Leading for the long haul means you shape the faculty and programs of your college to meet the predicted demand. You ignore those who say, “Give me that old time religion.” You honor the past by charting a path to a bright future, one that honors the contributions of those who came before but is not held hostage by their ghosts.

As Paul was headed to Rome, he understood that the path to his destination would be fraught with danger (Acts 27–28). He tried to warn those with him about the perils they would soon face. His ability to follow the voice of God in the midst of the tempest and lead for the long haul allowed 276 people to have the hope of a prosperous future.

While leading others, Paul was bitten by a venomous viper, which he quickly shook off into the fire. Many of the native people who witnessed this expected Paul to die, since that is what history dictated. What they did not understand was that God had a purpose for Paul that gave him power that far exceeded the expectations of humankind. Paul was leading for the long haul, and nothing was going to deter him from reaching his God-ordained destination.

Here are three actions (which I think sound better in Spanish) for long-haul leaders to keep in mind:

• Muévete (move it)—Move toward your vision of the future. Don’t just stand around navel gazing but move forward in faith and with sound practices. You don’t get from point A to point B by sitting still.
• Sacúdete (shake it)—As you lead for the long haul, you may experience a few bumps and bruises along the way. You may feel like you are in the midst of a tempest or stranded on a desert island with unfamiliar faces. You may even get bit once or twice. You may feel like wallowing in self-pity or depression, but as a God-ordained leader, you have to shake it off.
• Sopórtate (support it)—Put in place policies, procedures and systems that will undergird the vision for the long haul. Long-haul plans need support. A trucker driving from Kalona, Iowa, to Reedley, Calif., will make sure his or her truck is in tip-top shape. The truck will be filled with fuel, the route clearly mapped and the tire pressure adjusted. The trucker will be well rested and understand the length of the journey ahead.

Why? So that both driver and cargo arrive at the destination safely and on time.

Once we begin leading for the long haul, we can settle into our roles and work and carry out our mission with confidence, “preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things that concern the Lord Jesus Christ,” in whatever capacity the Lord has called us to. This could be in formal ministry, in our workplaces, in our neighborhoods or simply in our own homes.