Recently, I have found myself asking the question – “What is
it that makes an institution/ministry healthy?” I have often looked at Black Forest Academy and been impressed by the
leadership and the inherent health of the organization despite the transient
community and lack of major funding. I
have been around ministry circles, churches and Christian institutions my
entire life and am painfully aware of what an incredible blessing this is. While BFA is far from perfect there is an
overall health that intrigues me. What brings about this kind of health? What
are the leadership characteristics that are being modeled and most importantly what
can I learn from them?
The Sunday School answer is “Jesus” and of course this is
true BUT the leadership of any institution has to be willing to put Him first,
not just in word but in deed.
I believe that part of what makes BFA so unique is the fact
that no one is paid and we are all dependent on a foreign government to allow
us the opportunity of serving. Believe
me, it is something that I have often wished weren’t true but I have come to the
conclusion that this is one of the primary reasons for the health of BFA. Each staff member has a call and has chosen
to live dependent on Jesus and the generosity of others to follow that
call. What it forces us to do,
hopefully, is to live with our hands wide open, not grasping at security, pay
checks, or positions. Don’t
misunderstand me, I am NOT saying that this can’t happen with a paycheck! I have seen it, and am so thankful for those
examples, but sadly it is rare.
Support raising alone, however, does not necessarily make
for a healthy institution. At BFA every staff
member knows that the longest they will be there is five years and then they
will have to leave for a year. Each
person is valuable and yet each person can and will be replaced at some
point. This reality is hard at times. Our staff invests so much to get there and
then so much once they arrive. And while
we know the investment is eternal, let’s be honest, we all like to think of
ourselves as irreplaceable. This year
for example there is a large number of new staff that don’t know the impact and
legacy of those that have left but had invested 10 or more years at BFA. I
believe this reality is crucial in keeping each one of us humble and reminding
us that God allows us the privilege of “partnering” with him but His work is
not dependent on us. On the one hand
this is a hard pill to swallow, on the other hand it is incredible freeing!
This reality preempts any self preservation or promoting and allows the focus
to remain on following our Savior and being a support system for the families
that are on the front lines.
This question has led me directly to the Christmas
story. As the days we are living in seem
to grow darker and evil often appears to be winning, I think it is normal and
even human to look for security in these uncertain times. But I don’t believe this response to be
Biblical or part of the Christmas spirit.
In the most uncertain of all times, God sent His One and Only Son to
earth as a baby. Talk about radical
living. He shows us what it means to
live, not grasping, but open-handed. Willing
to do whatever it is the Father asks.
Not seeking position, security or recognition but living in absolute
surrender to the One who sent Him so that you and I could know true freedom in
Him.
This Christmas, I am thankful for a Savior who “though he
was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the
likeness of men. And being found in human
form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death
on a cross.” (Phil. 2:6-8)
This is the meaning of Christmas, our Savior did not hold on
to position or security because of his love for YOU and for ME! And that obedience and love cost Him
everything! How could I offer Him
anything less than my all this Christmas season?
