Leaders That Leave Historical Footprints

Leaders That Leave Historical Footprints I'm sure many of you can point to someone who gave extraordinary service. Someone that went out of their way to make the sale a truly memorable buying experience. Let me tell you about a lady named Casey at an IHop pancake house just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. She was the most amazing waitress we have ever known. We would go every Thursday after Good News Club to the restaurant. She would always greet her patrons with a hug and often a kiss on the cheek and remember their names. She would have the table set and brought our salad and a bowl of soup just to our liking almost the moment we sat down. She remembered in detail what our last meal was and how it was specifically prepared. She always anticipated a need. She had her own section and people would walk up to the host and ask for Casey's section. She filled the restaurant with her clients/"friends". She hired her personal staff to help bus the tables and assist her to make sure the service was the best. People would wait to be seated because they wanted Casey's section. She always sent her customers home with extra bowl soup or salad and left them with a hug and another kiss. She was such a giving person -amazing at what she did, but also just an extraordinary person. Casey had making you feel special down to a science. Giving and serving is what is missing in so much of leadership today! Loving and caring has given way to manipulation and selfishness. Today in ministry and in the business world we see two kinds of people...givers and takers. Not long ago, I was at a church and what I heard over and over from the congregation was, "Our pastor is not perfect but we love our pastor." So I asked some of the people; why do you love your pastor? This is what they said, " because he loves us." I asked for a further explanation ...well first he loves God and he studies His word. Which sounded good, but they also said he gets in our faces and tells it like it is and he does it with the truth of God's

Word as backup.. Then he wraps his arms around us and loves on us with the love of Christ and is transparent with us. He sees us as important to God and wants our very best. He gives all the glory to God. And then another person chimed in and said, "and he wants nothing in return." When I met with this pastor, I started to share with him how the Good News Clubs would help grow His church and his response was truly refreshing. That's good, but more important than our church is the kingdom of God and building up the people whoever they may be and wherever they may be. So wherever a school is, wherever an opportunity is, that is where this church wants to be. We are kingdom builders not church builders. The willingness of a leader to give unselfishly is a foundation to great leadership. Unselfishness is trait that is opposite human nature. Truly great leaders and leaders that leave historical footprints are servant leaders. These leaders are willing to put their personal needs and desires second and instead do what is in the best interest of those they lead. This is servant leadership and true caring. Let me share with you a business success that is now a business valued at 4.5 billion $$$ even after he gave away 50% of corporate profits. David Green, the founder of Hobby Lobby. He was challenged by the statement, "you cannot out give God." He set out to prove that wrong, but the more he gave, the more he was blessed. Please understand he didn't do it to get the blessing. He said, "I gave out of love for what God has done for me through the gift of His Son Jesus." He leads a company with a sacrificing attitude. His employees are important to him as store employees, but even much more important to him as people with needs, especially spiritual needs. So many have come to know Christ at his company because he is not afraid to share the gospel. He also pays his employees very well and takes personal interest in their needs. I encourage everyone to read his latest book... Giving It All Away by David Green. Amazing book on servant hood and leadership based on giving and serving. Romans 12:3 Mark 9:34 John13 "Leaders have power, but power is only safe in the hands that humble themselves to serve." John Stott

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