Leadership is Influence

by Roger Loomis

Church growth expert, John Maxwell, has been telling us this for many years. We more powerfully duplicate who we are, NOT what we do. Godly leadership surpasses titles and taps primarily into “who” we are as individuals. It is not about titles. It’s about allowing the gifts inside us to impact the lives around us. It’s about giving ourselves away! We must give away our godly influence. It cannot come with a price tag, and it must be earmarked by humility. 

I’m thankful for the pastors the Lord gave me in my early years, before I graduated from high school. They were stalwart soldiers of the cross.  One approached ministry in a no nonsense manner but was nonetheless impactful. He was seldom caught not wearing a tie and coat, his voice was commanding, and at times his demeanor was a bit intimidating. However, beneath all the exterior trappings of old school Pentecostalism was a man who lived what he preached, and expected nothing less than righteous living from those under his leadership. To be sure, his legalistic tendencies kept me on edge but I was able to see the “inside” of a man who desperately loved Christ and His people. This man said to me during his final Sunday at our church, “Rog, stay true to the Lord.” Those words have kept me anchored to the cross throughout my personal years of ministry!

The other, only thirteen years older than I, was kind, loving, and poured into me as a struggling teenager. We spent hours together, and I can only remember one sermon he preached; however, his godly influence and personal life taught me more than any Bible college classroom or sermon could offer. This article was titled after his sermon, “Sirs, we must see Jesus” (John 4:21). He greatly influenced me! 

Both are with the Lord but their legacy has lived on through my ministry. In addition, their wives were precious beyond compare. As a boy, it was apparent to me that both women not only completed their husband but poured into them in ways that further enhanced their influence. They too used their influence as kingdom builders.

I’m afraid we’ve grown to overlook the power of “the one” when it comes to Christian example and righteous outcomes. How many overlook the power of stay-at-home moms, who for years pour into the lives of their children? It’s Mary Todd Lincoln pouring into her tall, lanky son, Abraham. It’s my wife pouring into our four children who have made their personal world a better place. All of us remember Bible greats Moses, Aaron and Miriam. However, do we remember their mother, Jochebed? Who do you think influenced these three siblings to play such a vital role in Israel’s departure from Egyptian bondage? The Scriptures are silent about their father. It’s the unsung heroes of the faith — the one — who push others to the forefront. It’s the countless pastors and other leaders who remain obscurely tucked away in their towns and villages, while those under their leadership touch more lives than they ever will!

Back to my two pastors. What was the common denominator in both lives? They led by influence. Their influence was godly and their lives above reproach. I’m not saying they were perfect; I’m saying they were influential. Neither man pastored large churches but their influence touched countless lives that still benefit from their depth of character - mine included. 

Today, I pastor a church in the same town — my hometown — and, after five decades, I’m still benefitting from the leadership savvy they exerted a half century ago. That’s the power of influence!