Kathy Hillman: Leadership Texas Baptists: Game on

Today, we frequently hear the question, “Where have all the leaders gone?” Sometimes, hand-wringing accompanies the query, “Where are the self-sacrificing, reassuring, encouraging leaders who innately inspired confidence and built consensus in the country and in the church?”

Kathy HillmanPerhaps a more crucial issue is where are tomorrow’s leaders. Who will replace us? 

At an associational ministers’ conference, one pastor stated, “Attracting children and youth has often become more about entertainment than developing future Christian leaders for churches, schools and the world.” Do we spend more time and money entertaining than we do engaging Christ followers? Is it time for Texas Baptists to accept a “game on” leadership challenge?

Game day

Several years ago, a speaking request came for a GA and Acteens banquet. The caller asked me to talk about leadership. What could I possibly say to girls in grades 1-12? “Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God” (Proverbs 21:1) reminded me of a family incident that our then GA-daughter allowed me to share. 

The Hillman family on the Guadalupe River. (Kathy Hillman Photo) One hot July, we traveled to the Hill Country to retrieve 11-year-old Marshall from Camp Stewart. Staying at a riverside bed-and-breakfast gave Michael, age 9, and Holly, age 7, a chance to practice the water skills they learned earlier at their camps. As John and I lingered over breakfast, the two asked if they could canoe. “Sure,” I answered. I should have added, “Wait for me.”

When I reached the dock, the two were expertly paddling in the Guadalupe River with Michael at stern and Holly at bow. As they drifted downriver, I yelled, “Turn around.” Dead silence. I called again. Michael answered hesitantly: “We don’t know how. Neither of us ever paddled stern.” Meanwhile, another mom overheard. Barbara ranted in full-panic mode: “What shall we do? Call 911?”

I whispered a prayer and yelled: “Michael, I’ll help you turn the canoe. What strokes do you know?” As I guessed, the basic four. “Then, you can do it.” Holly immediately chimed in, “You can do it, big brother.”

Four different generations, though not all related, helping with a church- and association-sponsored reception. (Kathy Hillman Photo)With Holly’s constant encouragement and assistance, Michael listened, rotated the canoe and docked. At some point, Barbara ceased screaming. She hadn’t realized I could jump in the river and swim the canoe back or that the boat would beach in shallow water downstream. However, I understood that when my children succeeded, I succeeded.

At the banquet, I asked, “Who was the leader?” Most indicated I was until I reminded them I wasn’t in the canoe. So they concluded Michael was. “Could he have gotten the canoe to the dock without Holly? What if she had acted like Barbara?” I asked.

Game plan

The canoeing experience reveals several basic leadership principles: The importance of modeling and mentoring, the importance of mission and the importance of trust. Former Baylor women’s basketball coach Pam Bowers adds the importance of followers. She once told reporters, “I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you.” Proverbs 14:28 says, “The mark of a good leader is loyal followers; leadership is nothing without a following.” 

Participants at the CLC Advocacy Day Training for adults. (Kathy Hillman Photo)Scripture also confirms leadership isn’t limited by age. Samuel was a child when he began his ministry, and he “gave solid leadership to Israel his entire life” (1 Samuel 7:15). David was “little more than a boy” when he slew Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Miriam was a girl when she boldly approached Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2). Mary was likely a teen at Jesus’ birth (Luke 2). 

Preschoolers enjoy acting out “Following the Leader” from Peter Pan. Youth and children can accept leadership responsibilities under loving mentors. With guidance, girls and boys can help plan snack times for preschoolers, nursing home visits and churchwide projects like collecting school supplies. 

Youth can organize activities and handle delegated tasks, including Vacation Bible School assistance. Additionally, Texas Baptist students involved in Bounce mission experiences find such opportunities. Friends from Primera Iglesia Bautista recently allowed me to help them serve lunch to a Bounce team in Waco. Primera’s volunteers included invaluable high schoolers. The out-of-town Bounce students invited us to their devotional and prayer time led by an exceptional teen.

For adults, the Baptist General Convention of Texas developed Leadership Texas Baptists “to engage, equip, and inform emerging leaders from churches across the state.” Laypersons and ministers can apply for the 2015-2016 course by clicking here. Topics include church leadership issues, personal leadership development and entry points for service in the denomination.

Game on

Developing leaders is a privilege, a responsibility and a necessity. Game on, Texas Baptists! 

Kathy Hillman is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. She also is director of Baptist collections, library advancement and the Keston Center for Religion, Politics and Society at Baylor University.