Ethan Fisher

Leadership Conflict

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Before my current position here at Liberty University I worked as a custodian and was responsible for cleaning classrooms, hallways and bathrooms. Of course, being a custodian is not the most glamorous of jobs, but I did enjoy the work as it was meaningful and brought to joy to other people’s lives even if they didn’t really notice the work that went into bringing it. The only issue I had with my job was who was in charge. I have never struggled with submitting to leadership. Up to this point in my life I had amazing leaders who cared for the people in their charge. But my leadership I was under as a custodian was unfortunately

very toxic and demeaning. I remember on multiple occasions being scolded for not cleaning a certain way because that was just “How it is preferred”. Even in my attempt to do it the “correct” ways, I, and others, were continually scolded for not doing it JUST right. It was unfair, unmotivating, and discouraging. There were plenty of people who filled complaints and even confronted and stood up to this leader who was in charge. Unfortunately, they were all fired. After nearly 2 years I had to get out or I knew that I would be next. God allowed the door to open for me to come to where I am now, and I think the most valuable lesson I learned in that whole time was that though you may be in Christian organization, sin is everywhere. You cannot escape sinfulness in this world on this side of eternity. One thing I know now and strive to do is ensure that people in my care know they are loved and know they are cared for. When they make a mistake, I never scold them, rather with patience and gentleness I confront them, and we can have open communication about errors that even I make. At the end of the day, a Christian leader should be known for how they love and serve their people.

Patrick Pringle

Developing as a leader through conflict/crisis:

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Every leader struggle to balance “being” and “doing”. Describe a conflict/crisis that has occurred in your life and provide 1–2 “lessons” that God has used to develop you as a leader/person. You may previously have only seen these conflicts and crises as problems in your life, but with time you now realize how essential they are in shaping and molding you as a leader.

     The biblical pattern in both scriptures provided are referring to people who go through specific conflicts in life, seek God for help, and learn from their mistakes so that they can go on to help others going through the same crisis they did. God uses our trials to teach us to rely on him alone, to shape and mold us, and to give us wisdom, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (I Peter 5:10, NIV).

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As leaders and mentors, we must lead as Jesus did, by example.

     I started drinking alcohol to self-medicate at the age of 14 because of the hurt and pain I was experiencing at the time. By the time I was 15 years old I started to do some very foolish things and I would end up going to jail on a regular basis. Because I was still considered a juvenile, I did not spend much time in jail and I instead was released to my parents each time who were the trigger behind my drinking alcohol in the first place. Eventually, when I turned 18, I was spending more time in jail because I was still doing foolish things, I was still hurting, and I was now an adult. I never received any help for whatever reason.

     After continuing this insanity for another 30 years I was finally at the very bottom of my existence and I came back to God by way of my Mother’s prayers, or at least that is what I believe to be true. I met a lot of other lost people during those 30 years that I was not a good Christian example to and for that I have regret and will have to answer to God for. For the last 12 years I have been attending both Alcoholics Anonymous and Celebrate Recovery (CR) on a regular basis. I am currently and actively involved in leading and following in CR as well as being a sponsor. I have also earned two degrees, not counting this one, in Addictions and Recovery and am utilizing what I have learned through my trials and tribulations to help others who are going through what I went through. I do not want anyone else to “fall through the cracks’ like I did. Amen!

Rita Lin

DB #3 – “Being” and “Doing”

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Every leader struggle to balance “being” and “doing”. Describe a conflict/crisis that has occurred in your life and provide 1–2 “lessons” that God has used to develop you as a leader/person. II Corinthians 1:3–4 and II Timothy 3:10–11.

After I was born again, my motives and values as a manager changed. I manage people with a balance heart and mind (Yin/Yang philosophy). In Christ, as a new creation, we walk in the Spirit instead of walking in the flesh (Rom 8:1). If the believer walks alongside the Spirit, the believer will be righteous (v 4). The believer is filled with the Spirit, lives differently, and has no condemnation (v 5).

Using the iceberg analogy, there are many layers – the “being” leader system is located in the deep level and invisible from our view, and the “doing” leader system is on the surface. The “being” leader actions are driven by their values, and the “doing” leader actions are goal/result oriented. If a person is too high on the “doing” side and very deep on the “being” side, the result would be an inconsiderate and selfish leader. This is because the Me(I)-identity is larger than the We (Us)-identity. They are like actors. It needs some alignment. If a leader has gone through spiritual transformation, God will fix the leader’s heart, because He creates us in His image. John Calvin wrote of double knowledge: the more we know about God and His interactions with humans, the more we can know ourselves.

Compare Jesus’ identity and the Pharisees’ identity. As a servant leader, Jesus is confident in His identity, Jesus knows who He is. He does not need to worry about what the Pharisees think of Him. Jesus remains true of Himself in front of anyone. The Pharisees, on the other hand, seem to be clean and righteous on the outside, but inside, they are insecure. The Pharisees act to be seen by men. Jesus called them hypocrites many times. The more a leader knows about themselves, honest to themselves, the better they will be as leaders.

The development to be a servant leader takes time, but anyone can change and improve with God’s help. In this class, I learn about how to lead like Jesus, servants of the servant, that knowledge is transferable to my work and upcoming ministry.  

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