The Painful Side of Leadership

Recently I began reading a book The Painful Side of Leadership, Moving Forward Even When It Hurts by Jeff Iorg. When I saw the book at the church library I thought this would be a great resource for our university students in leadership in Uganda so I checked it out. As I read the book I knew why God wanted me to read it. Christian leadership is hard and many times painful not only for our pastors but also missionaries, NGO leaders and also anyone who stands for Biblical principles. All are on the front line and will experience criticism, misunderstanding, betrayal of people you never thought would betray you and many other difficult experiences. Life is full of surprises and many times things are not what they seem on the surface so we need to be very discerning and as the guys in Uganda say "observe the actions so we know". They apply this to the ladies they are interested in as they discern what kind of lady they may want to marry.

The book talks about very practical leadership topics from painful circumstances, to painful relationships, to painful choices and finally the conclusion that covers Hope-God's Gift to Hurting Leaders. We all live in a fallen world and don't have things figured out. We do what we can and we also mess up. The book covers many things that are mistakes where we bring pain on ourselves. I'm learning alot. The book covers it all in a real way and I found it very encouraging not to be alone.

As we raise up disciples who are sold out to the Lord wholeheartedly, life will be challenging and we need those around us that share the passion. It is lonely when we stand for principles and leaders need people to stand with them in these turbulent times full of compromises to please man.

In Uganda and Kenya we are constantly faced with corruption, short cuts, inabling ungodly behavior. But it is also in the U.S. and getting more challenging. It may seem too tough as I mention these things but I have been on the wrong side of God's wrath and I have a very strong fear of the Lord and don't want to go there ever again. It is far worse than any pain in ministry.

If you are in leadership in your family, at work, church, in the community or other places I recommend this book because it will open your eyes and give you a sensitivity to the pain leaders experience. Even with one pastor's family, they experience difficulty with a stalker and after several years the law enforcement agency asked them if they wanted to go into a witness protection program with changed identities. They declined. I was horrified that things would be that bad but persecution comes with ministry.

All things being said we are "more than conquerors" and we need to focus on the prize. It is true what the Bible says about the end times and things getting worst before they get better. But to me it is all worth it when I see the joy of the Lord in the faces of those that have a chance for something better.

Thanks for standing with us and allowing me to ramble on about the things that are dear to my heart. We value all our dear friends that are committed to the vision and ask for your continued prayers.

God Does the Growing

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Cor. 3:7)

At The Rock, we have been doing plenty of planting and watering – literally in the fields of Uganda and Kenya as well as figuratively in the lives of fellow African believers.

Even as we see God making things grow, we need a continued groundswell of prayer that the crops of disciples and legumes will increase and amaze.

Here is some of the current harvest:

• Ben Kisiki, a Rock law scholarship student and coordinator of our university discipleship program, has received an internship in the U.S. with the Liberty Institute. He also has been invited into Uganda schools to teach Godly principles as a counter to UNICEF’s campaign to present single sex partnerships as an acceptable lifestyle choice.

• John Mugowa, another Rock scholarship student studying IT, is #1 in his class and preparing to take on Ben’s leadership role in the university discipleship program.

• Pastor Peter Otieno, a young man mentored by our partner Bishop Paul Oselu in Kenya, is blossoming in organizing his small village church and community to launch a preschool and agricultural project. Both of these income producing activities will lead to a home for children in his village.

• Ken Mollo, a Rock scholarship student finishing his undergraduate law degree this month, is serving as coordinator of a Rock partnership with the agriculture department at Uganda Christian University. We are renting land from the university and using their agricultural expertise to grow crops which will lead to a Christian agriculture extension, teaching discipleship and self sustainability to students and other African ministries.

God gets all the glory and we are preparing to share His praise with a bigger audience as Margaret leads a film crew to Uganda and Kenya this month. Dubbed “The Psalm 40 Project,” the team will produce a documentary movie from testimonies of Rock participants illustrating God’s redeeming nature.

We are keenly aware that all of this activity is a direct affront to the enemy who has placed many snares in our path. That’s why we covet your continued prayers, for “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)