Today marks the anniversary of the death of a wonderful saint, Henri Nouwen. I was first exposed to Nouwen about 12 years ago when a youth leader of mine, Craig Bowler, recommended that I read one of Nouwen's books on leadership, In the Name of Jesus. As a freshman in college I cared little about becoming a better leader. However, throughout the past 12 years that book has encouraged and challenged me to lead like Jesus.
“I am deeply convinced that the Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self. That is why Jesus came to reveal God’s love. The great message that we have to carry, as ministers of God’s word and followers of Jesus, is that God loves us not because of what we do or accomplish, but because God has created and redeemed us in love and chosen us to proclaim that love as the true source of human life.”
-Pastor John