C h a p t e r 1 9
LEADERS ARE
POWERFUL
“We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so
powerfully works in me”
(Col. 1:28-29).It has sometimes been said: “The world is being run by tired men.” Perhaps
that is one of the reasons that there is such a high “burn-out” and
“drop-out” rate – resulting in a constant change in the realm of political
leadership. Many public figures began with good intentions – but over
time they realized that they just did not have the mental, emotional and
physical energy for sustained leadership. If that is true in the world, then
it is equally true that: “Much of the church is being led by tired pastors!”
Success in ministry or business requires much energy. Most leaders that last
are “high energy people.” Leadership by its very nature requires energy
- and usually lots of it! Harvard’s John Kotter wrote: “Because major
change is so difficult to accomplish, a powerful force is required to sustain the
process.”^1 Usually that “powerful force” is embodied in the life of a leader.
He is that “ball of fire” that ignites others – and gets things going, glowing,
and growing! Kotter further observes: “...one of the key ingredients in