By Jan Cagno

Everyone is looking for a leader. Industry wants good leadership in their ranks, medical and educational fields are in need of men and women who will be leaders in the field, politicians are expected to be good leaders, and the church must have strong leadership if it is to continue to grow and impact society today. What or who exactly is a leader? What are the secrets of good leadership? In the race to establish themselves as important entities of today’s culture, the church must look for the kind of leadership that can not only attract people to attend certain programs, but will be able to build a strong bulwark of influence in the community and will lead its members to a personal experience with the greatest of all leaders, Jesus Christ. Good Christian leaders will exhibit the following characteristics:

A passion for the task. True leaders work with intensity and energy. The responsibility they accept is of the utmost importance to them.

Efficiency at the task. Good leaders will not confuse activity with accomplishment. They will make the most of their time and use effective methods to accomplish the task.

Pleasure in the task. A good leader enjoys leading. He knows how to delegate responsibility but stays on top of the work being done. He enjoys the challenge of completing the job with the best results possible.

Flexibility in meeting the task. Effective leaders are not afraid to change. They know that the best results are seldom reached by always doing the job the same way it has been done before. Flexibility is important in reaching needs, and the most important task of the Sunday school and church today, reaching the needs of its members as a means of introducing them to the One who can meet every need.

Commitment to the task. A good leader must believe in the importance of the task he has accepted. Only then will he be willing to make the sacrifices that may be necessary to accomplish the task.

Perseverance in the task. Excellent leadership is exhibited by those who see the task through to its completion. All too often people start out to accomplish something because they are on an emotional high, but when the drudgery of the detail work begins, they get bogged down and give up.

Resourceful in the task. High level leaders know how to acquire and use resources – people, object, money, equipment, knowledge and sources of support.

Creative in the task. Optimal leaders generate ideas rather than judging them. They are curious, eager to try new things, able to see things from several perspectives.

In addition to the aforementioned characteristics, the effective leader in the church will exhibit a consistent faith in God and will be sensitive to God’s leading as he endeavors to accomplish the task set before him. He will have an optimistic outlook because he will be fully aware that God will enable those who are willing to be leaders in His kingdom. God has called out men and women in every generation to accomplish great things for Him. Where are the leaders in your congregation?

(This article appeared in the "Summer, 1994" issue of "The Herald.")