As the founder of T3 Leadership Solutions, Inc., I provide executive coaching, customized leadership development, and diversity training. My work serves as my mission field; while many of my clients do not lead with their faith, some occasionally invite a spiritual perspective into our practice. During a recent session, I shared with a senior leader that managing people is a form of ministry. This concept was entirely new to him, a realization that underscores the consequences of our often limited discipleship practices within the professional sphere.
In many church settings, we discuss theology, community, and service, yet we rarely frame leadership or our daily vocations as missional endeavors. It is uncommon to encounter a sermon series or small group study specifically dedicated to the art of leadership. Considering Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples as they go about their lives, and most Christians spend the majority of their time at work, it is vital that we prepare believers to serve as effective ambassadors for Christ in the workplace.
The reality is that many congregations are not currently equipped to mentor individuals in their specific professional callings. I am on a mission to bridge this gap by helping Christians understand their leadership and vocation in mission. By helping others discover God’s calling in their work—whether in a corporate office or a church—we can transform the workplace into a mission field. Through intentional mentoring as leadership factory, we can equip believers to lead with purpose in every area of their lives.
When I was training to become a U.S. Marine Corps officer, I was taught the leadership fundamentals of mission accomplishment and troop welfare. We learned that winning battles was impossible without a well-trained, united fighting force. Officers lead, yet troops win battles. Therefore, it is the officer’s responsibility to ensure that the troops are well-fed, well-rested, and well-trained.
We prepared for battle daily because, as the saying goes, “If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” The U.S. Coast Guard’s motto for this is semper paratus, or “Always ready.” Managing a team means that leaders must ensure their readiness. This posture of mission readiness and care for people is also modeled in the teaching and shepherding leadership of Jesus.
Jesus was clear about his mission: “[The Son] can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19). Yet, Jesus’ mission was not for himself. His mission was to usher in a new kingdom, to invite his disciples to share and partake in that kingdom, and to train them so they would carry on that missional work. Jesus was building a team of spiritual warriors who spent most of their time ministering among common folk who were just going about their day’s work.
If our mission is to continue this work, then we need to train more disciples toward this end. We cannot simply train people to serve the needs of the church—we need to train them to advance God’s kingdom as they serve in their lives. Otherwise, they will be unfit for their battles, and we would not have led, managed, or stewarded our responsibilities well.
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Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is the visionary founder of Leadership LINKS, Inc. and the author of A Sojourner’s Truth and Mentor for Life.