The Greatest Challenge in Leadership

Photo by Mathew Browne on Unsplash

 He may look content here, but don't be fooled - it's a waxwork!  Whatever we may think of the lifestyle or the leadership of the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, or the way he has been made to step down, none of us can have missed the race to become the next leader of the Conservative party, and the new PM. The news media are in a feeding frenzy, poring over each candidate and their credentials. Social media is abuzz with speculation and options, and the only thing that seems certain is that the British people will have a new leader soon, probably by September.

In all this, Christians should remember the wise advice of St Paul who urged his followers to pray for ‘kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives’. He did so in a day when the government was in the hands of cruel emperors and their delegates, who were overwhelmingly godless and immoral, violent, exploitative, and abusive. Yet, Paul is so convinced of the power of prayer that he urges his readers, and us, to make praying for secular leaders a priority. As the incoming British Prime Minister faces problems like the soaring cost of living, cataclysmic climate change, war in Europe and its subsequent food shortages, not to mention the ongoing pandemic, he or she will need our prayers more than ever.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

But leadership is so much more than dealing with issues, urgent and important though they may be. Leading ourselves can also be a great challenge. Just getting through each day without giving in to fear, despair, and hopelessness can be a huge task. Coping with change in society, church and family life can leave us feeling all at sea. Choices and personal morality may seem so much more demanding as the boundaries of behaviour appear to be moving. But Jesus offers us his leadership one day at a time, built on his integrity, sacrifice, promises, and his continuing presence with us in all our struggles. He reveals a programme of love, forgiveness and personal transformation that can affect whole nations. A leader like that gets my vote every time!

Fifty not out!

 

It was no seaside holiday 50 years ago this week when I was inducted to my first pastorate - as Assistant Pastor at Eastbourne Elim Church in the south of England county of Sussex as it was. I was 19, and had just graduated after 2 years at Elim Bible College in Capel, Surrey. I had only been a Christian just over 3 years, and for the first few weeks was single, as I married the wonderful Diane on September 9th that year (1972). The Senior Pastor, John Lancaster, had just been elected as the President of the Elim churches, and so was expecting to be away from the town around half the time during his year of office, leaving this young sprocket in charge of the church of 2-300 folk, and responsible for the pulpit! As you can imagine, he was a man of great faith!

As Eastbourne was (rather unkindly) known then as the 'costa geriatrica' where many folk went to retire, I spent most of the early part of my twenties visiting people in care homes, sitting with the dying, and taking funerals, as well as leading and preaching at services in the busy church. It was a steep learning curve, but made all the easier by the amazing folk that I served. Among my 'heroes of the faith' at that time was Samuel Gorman, an early leader of the Elim movement and author, who had been forced to retire early through ill-health. He took me under his wing and mentored me, sharing his wisdom and insight graciously and patiently. Two other early Elim pioneers were also in the church - E.J. Phillips and his brother F.B. Phillips, with their wives. E.J. was just a shell by then of what he had been, but he would be brought to the prayer meeting midweek and would sit at the piano before the start and just begin to play worship songs and choruses from years before, all by heart. Great people!

Eastbourne Elim today

Our neighbour was a Miss Chrissie Jardine, who had been wheeled in to one of George Jeffrey's early Gospel and Healing crusades in the 1920's in a wheelchair, quite paralysed. (Principal George Jeffreys was the founder of the Elim Churches). She was healed instantly after prayer and rose up from her chair never to need it again! She was full of stories of those days, and remained an ardent follower of Jesus all of her long life.

So, after a half-century in full-time Christian ministry, on three continents, I give thanks for the people and places that have been a big part of my journey, especially Diane and Matthew. And, as I set off hopefully and excited into the next 50 years, trusting in the faithfulness of God, I thank God for the many who have made this journey with me, and alongside me, in my first innings.