Movement Pioneers are aggressive

I dedicated Pioneering Movements to a man we’ll call “Mr Smith”. He prefers to fly under the radar.

He has done more than most people I know to train, inspire, and mentor the people who multiply disciples and churches around the world.

I can feel him cringe as I say that!

Anyway Mr Smith has just sent through this email:

Hi Steve

One of the continuing conversations I am part of is, What kind of person gets to movements?

The article below goes into that file … The people who get to movements are aggressive.

Bill

Here’s the article he attached. It’s by James Emery White.

There are a lot of traits one might wish upon pastors and church leaders. Holiness, selflessness, humility… but I find that most of them embody such traits. They are good and Godly people.

So if there is one trait that I would wish upon pastors and church leaders around the world, it would be a trait that many do not already have or aspire to; a trait that I find strikingly absent.

I would wish them to become more aggressive.

If your mind instantly leaps to someone who starts fights or quarrels, that’s not where I’m going.

I mean aggressive in the best sense of the word. As Webster’s definition puts it, aggressive as in “ready or willing to take issue and engage in direct action; full of enterprise and initiative; bold and active; pushing.”

When I think of aggressive leaders, I think of,

…“make it happen” leaders,

…people who don’t immediately take “no” for “no,”

…catalysts for change,

…those who take charge in the heat of battle,

…upsetters of the status quo,

…backbone,

…rabid animals for growth,

…righteous anger,

…creators of action,

…courage,

…someone who is “hungry,”

…top-of-the-line, competitive athletes for the Kingdom of God.

Speaking of athletes, it was said of Michael Jordan – arguably the greatest basketball player ever – that whenever he walked on the court, he was dangerous. There was an aggressive intensity to his game that was threatening to any opponent.

I have a framed, limited edition, signed print of Michael Jordan in my office. The picture of MJ is epic, and the signature is nice, but it has always been the words that have captured my attention:

“It is a rare person who comes along and raises the standards of excellence, who captures the hearts of many, and who inspires a group of individuals on to achieve the impossible.”

May that kind of aggression mark us all.

James Emery White

And yes, real men do play football without helmets and padding. It’s called Rugby and congratulations to the All Blacks, 2015 World Champions over Australia.