Embracing Simplicity and Excellence: A Journey of Faith and Leadership
"Embracing Simplicity and Excellence: A Journey of Faith and Leadership"
I was raised in a Christian home, where my parents followed Jesus Christ. When I was 6 years old, they made the important decision to devote themselves full-time to pastoral ministry. In short, my father planted a church and served as its leader for 40 years, until his retirement in 2020. One aspect of his ministry that has always captivated me was his leadership, particularly his application of the principles of simplicity and excellence.
He firmly believed in the importance of these principles for a local church. Notably, despite leading a sizable congregation, he strongly resisted investing in an elaborate sanctuary that would be used only a few hours a week, seeing it as an unwise use of resources. His position was clear: simplicity and excellence could coexist harmoniously, emphasizing the value of being simple while still excelling in every endeavor.
In the Christian context, I am convinced that these two principles should be intertwined. From our perspective, we are like exiles (1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13; Philippians 3:20) in this world — it is not our permanent home, because we are here temporarily. Therefore, our focus should be on the eternal. I distinctly remember countless occasions when my father, while leading the church, chose to meet a missionary's needs even as we sat on simple plastic chairs in a rustic gymnasium with no air conditioning or heat. His perspective was clear: temporary discomfort endured for 1-2 hours a week is manageable when viewed through the lens of Kingdom perspective. I have experienced and affirmed this conviction in my travels to Africa, witnessing the unwavering desire of a people to worship regardless of the quality of the chairs, the weather, or the location, often in challenging circumstances.
As a donor-supported organization, Lead by the Name has embraced these two foundational principles — simplicity and excellence. They permeate every aspect of our work. Our budgeting strategy and our projects align with these principles in order to maximize resources for field work, including travel, training, mentoring, and investment in the academic formation of pastors of small churches. One member of our team puts it this way: "We take on projects that few are willing to pursue — no marketing, no spotlight, just a commitment to serve."
Our broader goal is to develop practical strategies that sustain these principles, drawing from best practices and building a legacy of impactful, purposeful initiatives.
Would you like to learn more about us and explore opportunities to join us on this journey?