What is the Pace of Your Leadership?

If you were charged with beginning an organization, a movement that would last well over 2000 years and revolutionize the world and had only 3 years to do that, at what pace do you think you would work?

Michael Todd, pastor of Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, recently challenged leaders at the Global Leadership Summit. Pastor Michael explained that in three years, Jesus fulfilled all prophecies regarding himself and all his assigned work, and never ran to his next appointment.

Let me ask you a significant question – What is the pace of your leadership?

The Coronavirus pandemic has put the brakes on many of our lives. For some, our calendars have emptied, but our days are still full. The emotional pace of our lives is faster than ever. Our anxiety is full throttle. Mentally we haven’t slowed down a bit. Some of you are running at a pace that, if not interrupted, will take you out. There might even be a few of us who need to pick up the pace in some area.

At just 30 years of age, Todd has learned and internalized a lesson that many leaders, especially in ministry, never grasp – to their detriment. He encouraged us to adopt the ‘pace of grace.’ He contrasted two styles – STRIVING and STRIDING.

You need hard work – sure. But you also need health. Do you have that balance in your life and ministry? Some of us who look successful externally, would present a whole other picture if we could examine the internal.

Todd claims that a poor pace causes us to miss moments, meaning, and miracles. Is it really worth it?

Pace is not just related to speed. There is an element of balance. Everything gets the measure of health and attention it needs. Your home life is in sync with your work life. There must be unity. Imagine a band or symphony in which every section is doing its own thing – different tempos, different songs. It hurts to think about, and yet would describe some of our lives.

What if God sets the tempo of our lives, and our role is to align ourselves with Him?

Imagine a life in which you have a margin. You can be present – physically, mentally and emotionally. You can enjoy what you have instead of always striving to accumulate more.

Some of you need to start by taking a day off, or a vacation. By establishing a rhythm of sabbath in your life. Some of us would do well to introduce periods of stillness and silence into our lives. Others need to identify or re-identify our passion, our calling – and stay there – use it as a guide for what we say YES to and those opportunities to which we can say NO.

Do you want to change your pace? What’s your first step?