The Leadership Files: Dr. John Hull of EQUIP Ministries
Leadership is one of the most talked about topics today in the church, and one of the most desired attributes that people wish for.
The Christian Post interviewed Dr. John Hull, president and CEO of EQUIP Ministries, to get a perspective on what makes for good Christian leadership.
EQUIP is an international organization dedicated to training church leaders and other leaders with Biblical models of leadership. It was founded in 1996 by one of the nation’s foremost leadership experts, Dr. John Maxwell.
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Hull created The Million Leaders Mandate – EQUIP's global leadership training initiative, which is now off and kicking in Europe and Latin America and is currently training over 900,000 leaders. The organization had initially hoped to train one million people by 2008, but now they are track to meet that goal in early 2006, two years ahead of schedule.
The ministry exists because they expect that the many people who are coming to Christ in the next few years will need leadership training as they set up their churches and ministries and model Christ to others. It is estimated that there will be a billion new born again Christians in the next 15-20 years.
"EQUIP exists to respond to this harvest. Wherever people are born, they will need churches to be planted, and those strong churches will need strong leadership," Hull said, but also mentioned that non-Christian organizations have also asked for training. "We can't get to all the places where we're being asked to go."
The following are excerpts taken from the Jan. 6 interview with EQUIP's John Hull:
Many church leaders worry that leadership is one of the biggest problems in the church. In your opinion, how big is the problem?
I really do think that leadership or lack of leadership is one of the biggest problems, but it's not limited to churches, to a North American context, to economies, or to democracy. It really is the central issue of the day. Everything truly rises and falls on leadership. That's why, in part, there's such a big appetite for it around the world.
What factors, from your experience, make up good Christian leadership?
Authenticity
I think there are several pillars or foundational elements that make good leaders. Authenticity is key. People around the world just hunger for men and women who would be authentic.
The Apostle Paul is authentic when he says in Philippians, “I have not yet attained everything,” yet he said he was highly educated and he came from a [great] family line. He goes back and has a realistic view of himself. I really think people are drawn to authentic people.
Integrity
Integrity is essential.
If you look at the life of Daniel, his is a wonderful model of integrity. Daniel, taken out of the comforts of Jerusalem, was immersed in a brand new culture – a pagan culture – and he was offered opportunities to gain a new language and was given a brand new name and a brand new diet, but it says that it purposed in his heart not to defile himself. Later on, he was really forced, because of the position in government where God had placed him, to bow or not to bow. There was actually an investigation by Daniel’s peers into his life. Imagine them looking at your checking account.
But they said they could find no fault with Daniel, except his relationship with God. That, to me, is a reminder of integrity. Webster defines integrity as an unimpaired condition of wholeness, and Daniel had that. People are really drawn to integrity. When you're authentic you can say, “I blew it, but I'm going to do my best.”
Vision
A third factor that makes a Christian leader a good one would be casting vision. The key factor is the ability to cast vision, to go from where they are to where they can be, so that they see they can be involved in something bigger than themselves. Christian leaders get caught up in the efficiency of ministry, or the emotion of ministry. It's important to know that planes and trains depart and arrive on time, but it's more important to know where they are going.
Leaders keep the vision in front of people. I try to, as CEO. Probably every week at our team meeting, I'm reminding them this is the big picture of what we're doing. Oftentimes, the temptation is we get into managing. Leadership has to be casting vision.
Hope
The last one is hope. Leaders need to give hope. Leaders are dealers of hope. When you have a big vision, it gives you hope that you can make a difference. Leaders add value and make a difference in others' lives. I try to come to work believing, hoping that what I do is making other people's lives around the world better. Then I get a letter, email, or personal encounter with someone I train globally and they tell me what happens when they tell me, and it gives me hope. I pass that on, and it gives people hope.
At the same time, leaders need to be living in reality. Oftentimes you can be hopeful, but not live in reality. They need to be defined by the realities of the day. I need to be realistic to know that we have to make payroll, make sure that our bills are paid, that we are following through, and our employees are representing us accurately.
How does the lack of leadership drag on the Christian community?
The Ego Trap
Every effective leader battles ego. A leader that would not tell you that he or she battles ego is not authentic with you. There is a difference between influence and manipulation. An ego-based leader manipulates and a biblically-based servant leader would be more focused on influence.
That's why the Christian leader must remember “it is no longer I who lives but it is Christ who lives in me.”
Good Christian leaders surround themselves with people who don't tell them how wonderful they are all the time. They are secure enough to have people speak truth into their lives.
Everyone who has become a leader and has been effective sustains their leadership abilities through personal growth and development. That means they need to be reading, and involved in conversation with people who are perhaps at a higher leadership realm than they are. You have to be intentional about it.
Position Doesn't Matter
A leadership role doesn't make you a leader. We can deceive ourselves when we think of just our title. Leadership grows as they add value to others, and engage others. It's a journey. At EQUIP, our curriculum is a process because leadership itself is a process. We don’t just wave a magic wand at the end of a conference and say, "Okay you’re a leader." You can be the highest position, CEO of a Fortune 500 company, and still be learning the ropes of leadership.
Take Smart Risks
I think unsuccessful churches are willing to do the things that successful churches aren’t – take risks, think outside the box. When there is a lack of willingness in a church by a pastor or a board to grow to connect with culture, look at different approaches as to where people are on life's journey, then they will not be successful. Success means that they're relevant, people are being discipled, and that they're growing. It's not about attendance. People want to be a part of churches that are moving forward.
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Dr. John Hull became president of EQUIP in September 2000. A frequent speaker at pastors’ conferences and global outreach events, Hull regularly provides leadership coaching to audiences worldwide. Prior to his work with EQUIP, Hull served congregations in the United States and Canada, most recently as Senior Pastor of Peoples Church in Toronto. Hull earned a degree in journalism and telecommunications from The University of Georgia, a Master of Divinity degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
As a communicator and teacher, Hull frequently speaks at many well-known Christian organizations, including Campus Crusade for Christ International, Focus on the Family, and Moody Bible Institute. Hull hosts a monthly “The President’s Roundtable,” which includes interviews of key leaders of faith. Several times a year, he also hosts EQUIP's President's Club, which provides mentoring forums for emerging pastors. Hull wrote numerous magazine articles, and recently co-authored Pivotal Praying with Tim Elmore. He resides in Atlanta with his wife Sharon, and two children.
