Ever been at one of these? They are giving away stuff but you have to be there. No phone-ins or email registrations. You must be present, on the spot, in the moment… or you do not qualify.
Developing leaders is like this. We engage people in the very work we are doing as a shaping experience. At Trevecca Nazarene University, our chief administrative leaders are charged with identifying up-and-coming leaders who have the capacity to assume our role someday. We work with these leaders. We gather them into training groups for the head knowledge and theory but then we give them our problems as a group and allow them to function in addressing the challenges we face. We are present with them as they face tough problems. Leaders are formed when their mentors invite them into the trenches of work and are present with them in addressing the daily grind of leadership.
In Jesus, God became flesh and dwelt among us. God was present … and won.
Leaders are formed incarnationally, in the flesh. Physical presence is essential. God knows it. Do we?