In this issue:

Authenticity in Leadership

Leading a Ministry with Homeless People

The Right Question

Authenticity in Leadership
By Rudy Rasmus

When I walk into a church, I can tell almost immediately if the leader is authentic, transparent, and warm. If so, the entire congregation exudes these qualities. It is almost palpable. People greet me warmly, and there is a vibrant sense of life in the air. If, though, the leader values safety over spontaneity, I sense that people don’t really know what’s expected of them. They follow the prescribed rituals of church, but they seem empty, stiff, and lifeless.

Most pastors and other leaders who are stiff and distant are not that way because they are evil people. In the vast majority of cases, they are good-hearted people who really want to please God, but they are following the only ministry model they have ever seen: wearing masks and playing roles. But the mask of the completely competent, always in control, never-bothered leader hides the real, flesh-and-blood person who, no matter how spiritually mature he or she may be, struggles with the pain, complexity, and fears of being human. The mask tells people, "I’m okay. Don’t mess with me. You may need me, but I don’t need you." The mask has the look of authority and power—and distance.

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Leading a Ministry with Homeless People
By Rudy Rasmus

When Jesus walked on earth, he taught about the kingdom while he healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, and fed the hungry. Today, we are called to meet the physical as well as the spiritual needs of people—all people—in our communities. In fact, hurting and hungry people won’t believe we care if they only hear our words but don’t see our actions to provide tangible help for them.

Many of us drive by hurting, hungry, and homeless people every day without giving them a second thought, but when God touches our hearts and motivates us to care for "the least of these," we want to get involved. In fact, we have to get involved because we have a sense of urgency to help them. But we shouldn’t rush into this ministry. We need to do our homework, clarify our goals, and find good resources so that our efforts will be successful.

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The Right Question

Leaders do not need answers.
Leaders must have the right questions.

One way of testing the consequences of a proposed plan of action is to ask a question such as:

If we do this, what is likely to happen as a result?

Editors:  Lovett H. Weems, Jr. and Ann A. Michel
Production and distribution: Carol Follett