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In the Chinese language, crisis means danger as well as opportunity. Similarly, in Christian leadership, God can use crisis to help transform a leader, according to Dr Herbert Tan. He was speaking to some 60 pastors and leaders of BM churches in the peninsula at a two-day conference in March organised by the NECF Malaysia Bahasa Malaysia Commission.
Dr Tan urged the participants tom therefore, view crises positively. The leadership development consultant with Malaysia Campus Crusade for Christ, helping participants think through the process of leadership development.
In his first session, he explored the framework of leadership development – why it is vital that churches have programmes to develop their leaders and the structures of a good development programme.
His second session dealt with how God uses crisis to shape the heart of a leader. “How should we respond to crises?” he asked. “We ought to look to God with joy and gratitude, and accept the crisis with the attitude of ‘What are You teaching me?’ rather than ‘Why do You allow it to happen?’ ”
The final session touched on the issue of commitment. He said leaders must be committed to setting and keeping their priorities, and developing their potential.
On setting priority, Dr Tan recommended that they place the family high on the list. “Leadership begins at home. How we lead our family members will determine how well we lead outside the home,” he stressed.
Leaders must also be committed to developing their potential. “But while it is good to have the best development programmes, we can only develop to our fullest potential if we have an intimate relationship with Christ,” he concluded.
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