fifty years old—I’ve been working with them every year for fifteen
years—and they, in turn, are influencing younger people.”
In our interviews, we quickly sensed Leighton’s unique effec-
tiveness in empowering and mentoring younger leaders with high
potential. He spills out a steady flow of practical and thoughtful
insights; here are a few of them:Choose Wisely; Share Openly
We can attempt to encourage many, and in life’s ordinary flow,
the small gesture and the caring word can raise sights and
empower. But if we invest more heavily in a few, as Leighton has,
we face what he calls “the challenge of selection.”
“It’s a matter of prayerful discernment and spiritual chemistry,”
he says. “Who are the people I’m drawn to who are drawn to me?
Then it’s saying, How can we listen together to what you’re hear-
ing? It’s not my agenda, but what is God saying to you?”
Leighton counsels mentors to learn to be open. “We need to
share our lives. I do more of that than I would have thirty or forty
years ago, sharing experiences, including pitfalls and mistakes.
“Long-term tracking of people is very important. Someone says
a ‘spiritual director’ is someone who remembers your song when
you’ve forgotten it. When you’ve been with someone over ten
years, you see the ups and downs and can help them stay in tune.”
In his writings on leadership, Leighton has emphasized ways
Jesus led his followers “past their selfish and narrow horizons.”
How can mentors do that?
“In a sense, Billy did that for me by
allowing me to sit in on some private con-
versations. Exposure to different people in
diverse situations expands our horizons.”
Leighton described how this had
worked with a longtime friend, Ken Shigamatsu, now the pastor of
a vibrant, multigenerational church in Vancouver. He had met Ken
at the first Amsterdam conference when Ken was a Wheaton Col-
lege student. Now he’s become a trustee of Gordon-Conwell Sem-
inary.
Igniting Other LeadersThe final test of a leader is
that he leaves behind in
others the conviction and
the will to carry on.
WALTER LIPPMANN