“If a leader wants their followers to bleed, he/she must hemorrhage.” -Steven Furtick
Recently, I was talking to a good friend about the challenge of leading and inspiring others towards a common mission and personal transformation. I was reminded of this powerful quote from Steven Furtick, pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Elevation is one of the fastest growing churches in America, going from a core group of less than 50 to over 5,000 in three years.
This quote embodies my understanding of what it means to lead from the front and lead by example. I believe God is calling his followers to be pace-setters for others. Not in a legalistic way or a manner that leverages guilt or manipulation as forces for change. However, I struggle to follow leaders or sacrifice for others when I do not see them living a lifestyle that embodies the messages they evangelize to others.
We don’t need any more workaholics who sacrifice their family on the altar of their job/calling. We don’t need any more leaders who lay on the guilt trips or manipulate others in passive-aggressive ways. We don’t need any more leaders who constantly yell at their followers (employees or children) for not being all that they should or could be.
Yet, we do need leaders who leave no doubt in the minds of those watching that they are ALL IN. All the chips are on the table, they are taking a great risk and discovering great courage in the way they are living and leading. We need leaders who have come alive within a vision and they are calling others to commit to the point where they bleed it.
