I’ve often reflected on the impact of having someone believe in you—even when you’re not sure you believe in yourself.
Two people who made a deep and profound difference in my life were Greg and Leslie Garman. Fresh out of high school, my life wasn’t fully aligned with my faith, but they saw something in me that I couldn’t yet see in myself. They took a chance, inviting me to lead a youth ministry in a small Southern California church they led.
Now, thirty-five years later, I still am amazed at their faith in what God could do in and through me. Their belief became the catalyst for my growth—I stumbled, learned, stumbled some more, and gradually started becoming the person Jesus was shaping me to be.
What stood out was that their investment wasn’t based on my perfection but on my potential. They saw in me a future version of myself as a Jesus-follower and leader. They somehow saw this long before I did. I think that’s what good leaders try to do: see ahead what we often cannot see ourselves and help get us there.
I hope that I am that kind of leader now.
Paul’s letters to his mentee Timothy highlight the importance of nurturing leaders from within our communities. Leadership in the church isn’t about having it all together; it’s about learning to faithfully follow God. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul reminds him to “study to show yourself approved.” 2 TIMOTHY 2:15 In other words, pursue Scriptural knowledge that draws you into knowing and loving Jesus more deeply, thereby being authorized by God to lead others into that same knowledge. In an earlier letter to Timothy, Paul used the interesting phrase “train yourself to be godly.” 1 TIMOTHY 4:7b He’s making the correlation that spiritual growth and leadership development go hand in hand. The more we train ourselves in inner-personal spiritual maturity, the better equipped we are to lead others.
Furthermore, Paul impresses on Timothy the effectual power of scripture in equipping Jesus-followers “to do every good work.” 2 TIMOTHY 3:17b He’s reminding him—and us—that this growth is not just for ourselves, but to enable us to serve others.
Greg and Leslie’s willingness to invest in me, despite my imperfections, reflected Paul’s encouragement to nurture leaders within our own communities. So much of leadership is simply about a willingness to grow—and helping others do the same.
Reflect: Who in your life has believed in your potential even when you couldn’t see it? How did their investment help you grow? How are you training yourself in godliness and preparing to invest in the next generation of leaders?
Paul Baldwin | The Elemental Group
Paul Baldwin is a consultant/strategist with the Elemental Group and has been a pastor and leader for over 30 years. He holds a degree in Sociology and Organizational Management and a Masters in Education and Counseling from Cal Poly State University. Paul is the author of Devout in Doubt: Diving into Deeper Devotion about his challenge with cancer.
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