Leadership 101: Character Formation

God intervenes throughout a leader’s life in crucial ways in order to shape that leader toward his purposes. Viewed from a life perspective, God’s intervention is intentional and purposeful.

Ephesians 2:10 reveals that each of us is God’s craftsmanship. He has made us and is shaping us for ministry that he prepared for us. When Christ calls leaders into ministry, He intends to develop them fully. Each of us is responsible to God for our own development and response to God’s initiatives in our lives.

God shapes a leader’s destiny through processing, time analysis and development phases. Processing describes the people, events and circumstances that God uses to shape a leader’s life. God checks a leader’s heart and character, challenges his view of ministry and faith, and leads him through incidents and experiences.

These people and events are called process items. Identifying significant process items helps a leader understand how God is shaping his life. Time analysis refers to a chronological analysis of a leader’s processing.

"Effective ministry flows out of being, and one’s abiding in Christ (John 15:5)."

Character formation is concerned with “being.” It helps a leader reflect greater Christ-like characteristics in his personality and everyday actions. Character formation sustains greater levels of influence. Character formation means developing greater intimacy with Christ and experiencing more of his presence and power for ministry.

Four kinds of checks, or tests, help form character:

1. Integrity checks
Integrity checks test inner convictions against outward actions. Early in their development, leaders face personal inconsistencies. Resolving them forces leaders to grow deeper in their walk with Christ.

2. Obedience checks
Obedience checks test a leader’s desire and willingness to respond to the truth God has revealed. It is a call for action. These checks build greater character depth.

3. Spiritual authority
Spiritual authority is the source of true credibility in leadership. While there are other legitimate means of authority, spiritual authority is foundational to accomplishing vision. Spiritual authority is the direct result of God doing a greater work in the deeper areas of a leader’s life.

4. Word checks
Word checks test a leader’s ability to hear from God through his Word and through prayer, fellowship and divine intervention. Leaders must learn to hear from God, especially in their personal growth and development. Effective leaders minister out of who they are in Christ. As a leader grows in character, God grants a greater ability to lead (spiritual authority). Followers recognize this growth in spiritual authority and grow in their capacity to trust and follow a leader.

By Terry Walling (used by permission)

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