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In John Maxwell’s latest book, Leadership Gold, he states, “If you want to lead, you must learn; if you want to continue to lead, you must continue to learn.” This statement greatly reflects the hearts of the vast majority of those who have completed the Million Leaders Mandate Volume 1 Training.
Volume 1, which consists of EQUIP’s original MLM 6 Notebooks, is just the first portion—“if you want to lead, you must learn.” Through a well-balanced diet of spiritual, skill, and strategic formation lessons, the top Christian leaders around the world are beginning to see what a difference leadership development can make. By Notebook 3 of Volume 1, they realize leadership is more about themselves than anything else. They begin to practically see that their personal growth is making a difference. By Lesson 36 in Notebook 6, these leaders realize the difference leadership development makes in their ministry and they see how it is impacting their sphere of influence. All based on their own growth, they are learning to do something significant.
Not everyone who begins the journey with us in Lesson 1 of Volume 1 completes the journey with us. The fact is that there is a small portion of those who never understand the difference leadership can make in their life and, therefore, never experience the impact of leadership. They fail to recognize that “everything rises and falls on leadership.”
For those, however, who understand the need to learn and practice leadership in their own life, days become more enjoyable as they seek to fulfill a new hunger. Yes, a hunger to continue to learn leadership because as they lead they realize, “If you want to continue to lead, you must continue to learn.” Because they have tasted the change in their personal and family lives, and in their ministries, they crave the learning inherent in leadership and they want to produce more change.
As this is happening all over the world, leaders begin to do what leaders do; they begin to take the principles they have learned and put them into daily practice to forge new systems for new results within their own sphere of influence.
When this crossroads takes place, it is a crucial time for ministries such as EQUIP. For it is here that we have a pivotal moment. The ministry can either deepen its control, or it can just let it go, give it away, and allow a shift in the emphasis. With Volume 2, we have created catalytic changes in the execution and ownership of delivering the training. In Volume 1, EQUIP sets the standard, the system, the process—we give the guidelines and the rules. In Volume 2, we recognize the leaders’ ownership over the process of learning. It’s theirs. All we, at EQUIP, do today for Volume 2 is empower, encourage and equip. We position the leaders to speak into the system, the process, and the guidelines. We encourage—sometimes with financial help, sometimes with trainers, but always with support of the home team as a resource for them—to boost them when they need some support, for the journey will always have its challenges. Lastly, perhaps the most vital, is that we provide, and will continue to provide, proven Biblical servant leadership material.
Tom Atema, our VP of International Ministries shared with me about a partner asking him, “What does EQUIP want Volume 2 to look like?” He responded, “That’s not the question. The question is what do you want Volume 2 to look like in your country?” He looked right into Tom’s eyes like a laser, and with tears rolling down his cheeks, he said, “You’re the first American to ever ask me what I want to do.”
Your investment in leadership development is an investment in those leaders who are on the growth journey. In reality, financial investments you make in EQUIP go directly to those who are on the front lines making a difference, doing their part in the Great Commission.
EQUIP’s success should be measured on what those in training are doing for the Great Commission. It is about giving leaders ownership of their cause and their part in ministering in the world.
From giving the “untouchables” in Northern India hope and a reason to live, to helping those with AIDS, to establishing new orphanages, to planting new churches—the results are breathtaking. We must be thankful for the leaders who are taking the journey.
I encourage you to visit www.iEQUIP.org/YourPiece. Here you can read and listen to heartening stories of leadership. You will be inspired by what your investment is ultimately accomplishing around the world.
John D. Hull
President/CEO, EQUIP
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