Go Deep
Brian S. Simmons, EdD, President, ACSI
Football season is upon us: the National Football League is back, and Friday night high-school football under the lights is in full swing. When the quarterback calls for his wide receiver to “go deep,” everyone in the huddle knows what he means. In this article, I want to call you, Christian school leaders, to go deep with God!
Here at ACSI, our theme for the 2011/2012 school year is “God’s Plan, Our Future.” This theme is based on Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV): “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ” The key for us as believers is to be sure that our plans align with His purposes! The same principle holds true for Christian schools and associations.
Our cause is to make thoroughly prepared disciples of Jesus Christ. This is truly a cause worth giving our lives to. Thorough preparation is important because Christian school students should not have to check personal potential at the gates of our schools in exchange for a Christian school education. We need to remember that the schools and the students we serve belong to God, and as His stewards we must strive for excellence in all we do as we faithfully teach the children He has entrusted to our care.
If excellence in all areas defines what we do in Christian schools, then discipleship to Jesus Christ provides the context for why we do what we do. In other words, everything our schools do should be a subset of discipleship. To make disciples we need to be disciples, because we cannot take others where we have not been or are not willing to go ourselves.
According to R. Scott Rodin in his book The Steward Leader,
“The work of the steward leader … is the ‘losing of your life’ to the work that God wills to work in you to benefit your institution, school, church or organization” (2010, 14).
Consider the following advice from Richard Stearns, president of World Vision U.S., in Nonprofit Leadership in a For-Profit World:
- “Surrender unconditionally.... submit to God’s will and be ready to serve him completely—not your boss ... and certainly not yourself” (Christian Leadership Alliance 2011, 200). (And remember, your school is God’s.)
- “Cast a vision—and embody it” (202). Our vision for ACSI is that all God’s children will have the opportunity to be taught in accordance with His truth.
- “Be a coach. The success of any organization will depend in large part on whether the leader has chosen the right people for the right jobs—just like a coach forming a team” (204).
- “Develop self-awareness.... be the right kind of leader. We must realize our own strengths and weaknesses, how we are perceived, and how we—intentionally or unintentionally—impact those around us” (206).
- “Pursue excellence.... there come times when the only person in the room with the ability to really make the crucial change of direction is the leader” (208).
- “Lead with integrity and humility.... How we do our work is just as important to God as what we do” (210).
In the same book, Jerry White, international president emeritus of the Navigators, writes, “Depth in the Word of God is the basis of all leadership” (234). Let White’s words sink in:
Be a man or woman who goes deep in the Word of God regularly and persistently. (234)
As we enter a new school year, my prayer for you is that you will go deep with God and that you will be a faithful steward leader. “But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve Him. Think of all the wonderful things He has done for you” (1 Samuel 12:24, NLT). I truly believe that if we care for the depth of our walk, God will care for the breadth of our ministry.
References
Christian Leadership Alliance. 2011. Nonprofit leadership in a for-profit world: Essential insights from 15 Christian executives. Cincinnati, OH: Standard.
Rodin, R. Scott. 2010. The steward leader: Transforming people, organizations and communities. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity.
CSE 15.2 President's Desk