Courageous Leadership

Bill Hybels wrote a book on the topic of courageous leadership. The only thing I remember of it is the title. No offense Bill.
I am recognizing the importance of leading courageously. Many times when someone receives direction for the first time they resist. I am finding that a leader must not take it personal. People need a chance to see something work. When vision is set forth people will give various reasons why the vision will or will not succeed. But I think true vision should not be judged based upon the same success quotient as others. Godly leaders will cast a vision that flies in the face of the culture. This is perhaps the most important vision to cast. But the leader must recognize the present culture will resist. But culture changing vision must be expressed boldly and then patiently worked towards achieving.
In working for the vision of changing the culture the godly leader will still lead with love. Though God may instill a vision for what the culture must become, the leader must not be at war as it were with the people of the present culture. They can and must be led into that fresh approach. This is what it means to be salt and light. People will respond to leadership. But they may be reluctant at first. This reluctance sometimes is a result of past failures in leadership. Disillusioned people have troubles responding to vision. Even more difficult perhaps is when people have been a part of something that they perceived to be successful. Why change if something worked? These people may feel like the model they were a part of was so successful that it is ‘the way’ to do things. The leader must be bold to proclaim the vision that God has given him or her and then the leader must trust God to help others follow. Credibility will come to the leader who leads courageously and with love. But stay power is a must for this leader.
I love what God has called me to be a part of. I love where we are going at New Hope. I love the challenge of leading a “cross cultural” revolution. I pray for God’s grace to love and to lead courageously.