Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Leadership Lessons From Peru

I count it a privilege to travel to Peru (come with me in November..I know it's right in the middle of our class...so, make it a field trip!!). Often I learn valuable lessons about leadership and culture that I thought I knew...

A couple videos:

1)In 2004, after a dramatic trip to the top of the Andes with some leaders and intercessors (watch that clip here); we observed out our van window someone who exhibited the biblical leadership principle of "leading from behind and among the people":
an amazing shepherd(ette):



2) In 2005, when we returned, we found that our friend Pastor Ovidio and his whole family had life-threatening typhoid. They had not yet told their church, as they didn't want them to worry. This is my video of the moving and tearful Sunday morning when our missionary Ken Metz announced the news to the congregation and called them to fervent prayer.

Often we leaders/pastors don't let people in on our lives/reality/prayer requests..even when it's life and death.

Much of this moving video is in Spanish, but anyone will be moved. The scene I captured at 2:05 needs no translation, and will remember it the rest of my life:

Syllabus/Assignments

EFFECTIVE BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS (3)
Latin American Bible Institute-Sanger Extension …..Fall 2008


Course website: labileadership.blogspot.com
Instructor: Dave Wainscott, (559) 974-2508 davewainscott@sbcglobal.net

Course Intent: Students will be challenged to develop a working biblical theology/practice of leadership character and skills that is both soundly scriptural and consistent with the student's personality, style, culture, giftedness and calling.

Topics include:
The course will center on cultivating a biblical worldview regarding leadership;
especially through:

  • Getting in touch with self, story and style
  • Getting in tune with spiritual disciplines and formation
  • Getting a taste of the leadership literature, both classic and contemporary
  • Getting in time with church and culture shifts

We will also give special attention to various leadership disciplines “modulations” (ex. optimism, integrity, team building, etc. ) that Sweet discusses in the text as a framework for discussion.

COURSE TEXTBOOKS (REQUIRED):
➢ The Bible
➢ Sweet, Leonard. “Summoned to Lead.” Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.
Note: Chapters 1 and 2 are a free online read here.

RECOMMENDED (NOT REQUIRED):
-Barna, George, editor. “Leaders on Leadership: Wisdom, Advice, and Encouragement on the Art of Leading God's People.” (Leading Edge Series)
-Creps, Earl. “Off-Road Disciplines: Spiritual Adventures of Missional Leaders” (J-B Leadership Network Series) San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006


ASSIGNMENTS/GRADING:

PERSONAL RESPONSE 1: Complete reading of Introduction through Chapter 4 of Sweet by the third session. Turn in at that session a 1-2 page personal response to the reading. It need not be a summary; but interact with sections that were helpful or challenging to you. (5 POINTS)
PERSONAL RESPONSE 2: Complete reading of Chapters 5 through 8 of Sweet by the sixth session. Turn in at that session a 1-2 page personal response to the reading. It need not be a summary; but interact with sections that were helpful or challenging to you. (5 POINTS)

TERM PAPER AND PRAYER: Write a 4-6 page paper on your personal theology and practice of leadership. Interact with the Scriptures, textbook, class notes, and at least three articles distributed in class. Be sure to discuss possible personal “red flags” and weaknesses; include a summary of your Myers-Briggs and Collage results, noting implications for leadership. How will you build in accountability to live all this out? Conclude with a one page (in addition to the main 4-6 pages of the paper) prayer expressing your desires related to your future as a leader (20 POINTS)

*Note: Read here about a 50-point paper you can write as alternative to the three listed above (and which will excuse you from the mid-term)

**Note: I am open to alternative assignments (especially creative options like internships,
writing a novel, oral presentations, creating artwork or websites...as long as they can in a significant sense measure the objectives of the paper assignment above.

ORAL CASE STUDY: Present to the class a ten minute discussion of a true “case study” from your past experience, work or ministry where you were not happy with your leadership skill, reaction or choice. In light of what you have learned in the course, propose what you could have done differently. (15 POINTS)

MID-TERM EXAM/FINAL EXAM: Both will include questions from assignments and class topics, but also a practical “lab” component where the student (or class as a whole) works through/acts out a tough leadership scenario and creates a best possible response. (40 POINTS)

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION-including completion of Myers-Briggs Profile and Collage in class) (15 POINTS)