Commentary: Healthy, faithful, effective

Todd Gray

Faithful leaders are trustworthy in their character, consistent in their work, and accountable in their actions.”

I have had the honor of rubbing elbows with men and women I consider to be great leaders. Whether it be in Christian ministry, nonprofit organizations, or business, these are leaders who lead with vision, energy, and impact. But I never looked at leadership the way I heard a seminary professor describe it recently. 

In a Leadership Lessons interview with Dr. Justin Irving, the Duke K. McCall Professor of Leadership at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, I heard a description of great leaders that I had never considered. 

I asked the professor what he believes separates good leaders from great leaders. Dr Irving contends that great leaders are characterized by three traits: they are healthy, faithful, and effective. Below are my thoughts on these three important characteristics of great leaders listed by Dr. Irving: 

1. Great leaders are healthy: When Dr. Irving refers to health, he speaks from a holistic perspective. He is not alone in this view. Many believe that leaders should strive to be mentally, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and physically healthy. Hance Dillbeck, president of Guidestone, believes financial health should be added to that list. Below is a brief descriptor of each area of leadership health: 

• Relational health: Leadership is lonely, but leaders should avoid doing life and ministry alone. 

• Spiritual health: Leadership requires that leaders make decisions and give direction in a church or organization, but at the same time, Christian leaders know that we must remain intentionally dependent on God.  

• Mental health: Every leader must learn to take their thoughts captive and not allow their direction and attitude to be shaped by the voice, or voices, in their own head. Mental health is strengthened as we renew our minds daily by immersing ourselves in the word of God (Romans 12:1). 
• Emotional health: Leaders must learn to “feel their feelings” but not be led by them. Emotions are an indicator of what is going on inside a leader — but emotions, left unchecked, will lead us to make poor decisions. 
• Physical health: Most leaders I know feel the pressure of too little time to do the work that must be done. Healthy leaders, however, determine to prioritize physical activity — even if it is taking a walk a few days a week. 

Where could you become a healthier leader? Evaluate yourself on each of the health factors listed above on a scale of one to four, with one being you are barely even addressing this issue and four meaning that you are doing pretty well. Decide which area needs your attention and then develop a plan to become a healthier leader.  

2. Great leaders are faithful: In 1 Corinthians 4:2, Paul the Apostle defines the way the Corinthian Christians, and we for that matter, should evaluate ministry leaders. Paul wrote, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” Faithful leaders keep their word. They fulfill the assignment given by their Master. Faithful leaders are submissive to God’s Word, and they lead in a manner that is consistent with biblical mandates and prohibitions. 

To be faithful means that the leader recognizes that he or she is not the “owner” of a church or ministry, but a “steward” or “manager” of a church or ministry. Faithful leaders are trustworthy in their character, consistent in their work, and accountable in their actions. Faithful leaders are servants of God’s people and followers of Jesus before they are leaders of others.  

3. Great leaders are effective: This trait was most interesting to me because many in church and ministry leadership do not focus on effectiveness. There is a mindset that implies that any attention given to outcomes is pragmatism and to be avoided by Christian leaders. Dr. Irving defines effectiveness as the ability to get things done. At the end of the day, leaders of all types will be evaluated by their ability to move the mission forward — to get things done.  

A mere cursory reading of the Bible will provide ample evidence that getting things done matters. God called Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. He called Joshua to lead them to overcome their enemies and lay claim to the Promised Land. And he called Nehemiah to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. Of course, these leaders could not have gotten these things done without God’s help, but by God’s providence, power, and provision, they did get things done. 

Churches and ministry non-profits need more leaders who are healthy, faithful, and effective. May the Lord help us become those kinds of leaders for His glory and for the good of those we are called to lead. 

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Todd Gray is executive director-treasurer of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. This commentary first appeared in Kentucky Today.