Lifestyle Leadership

Mick Daly (Elder, Purpose Leader: Leader Development)
December 2007/January 2008

I gave a message at Nite church on November 18^th entitled Lifestyle Evangelism. It occurs to me that much of this message pertains to Leadership. We lead more effectively by our actions, our behavior, and our visible character than we do by words or direction or advice.

“People will do what you do, not what you say” (especially children), so Lead by Example!

As St. Francis of Assisi said: "Preach the Gospel at all times … and when necessary use words."  Applying this to leadership, “Lead at all times … and when necessary give direction and advice.”

I read this amazing report recently: a surprising incident clarified American-born, Palestinian Pastor Isa's ministry vision about 12 years ago. One afternoon, as he walked toward his house in the West Bank, he was startled by a shepherd running down a hill, chasing his sheep. He heard the man yelling, causing a commotion. "I noticed the sound of sheep hooves coming from behind me, along with a man shouting in Arabic for me to stop. When Pastor Isa turned, he noticed the sheep were following him. "When I stopped the sheep stopped running," he recalls. "The shepherd was out of breath and thanked me for stopping. I don't know why, but my sheep were following you home," the man said, somewhat perplexed.  Pastor Isa continued to the door of his house when he felt God speak to his heart, saying, 'If you continue to obey me, I will always cause sheep to follow you—and some shepherds.' Under constant death threats, Pastor Isa and his wife have ministered in the Middle East since 1991. "We attempt to somehow allow them to see the life of Jesus lived through us. We try to sink into the shadows of the background to allow His personality and character to be in the forefront."

Sounds like “Lead Like Jesus” to me! As disciples of Christ each of us is called and will be equipped to lead His sheep, and even some of His shepherds – this will happen if we ‘continue to obey’ Him. But that’s not all, he equips us to lead others to Him, as we learn to be fishers, harvesters, workers on His team.

Paul gives us a 1^st century model of lifestyle leadership that we need to apply in the 21^st century: “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.”  (1 Thessalonians 1:4-6)

Who do we “live and lead among”?

Here’s a story which illustrates Lifestyle Leadership (aka Lifestyle Evangelism). Brian Welch, formerly with the rock band Korn, said this about his salvation experience: "When His spirit moves, no one can resist Him, because He's irresistible. He can change the hardest dude, that's what we've seen. We've seen it, I've lived it, and He changes us."  After a decade in L.A., Brian had returned to his hometown of Bakersfield in 2004, where he began a partnership with two local real estate developers. Both were Christians, yet rarely shared – or even spoke - about their faith with him. Nonetheless, their impact was significant. “You know what? I saw something different. They were glowing; they had a glow about them, and they were always in good moods. They were just these guys in the real estate business, but I looked up to them for some reason.” He reached out to them, because of their lifestyle, and because of the Holy Spirit!

Let the light of the Holy Spirit shine through your life, as you live the life that God has given you, and as you lead like Jesus.

Do what you love in the service of others who love what you do