"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."
I Corinthians 11:1
My drive for leadership and, more importantly, "spiritual leadership" is a defining force in my life. Most people attribute it to my love of biblical church growth strategies. However, I am passionate about leadership because I believe the quality of a person's life depends on their ability to lead themselves.
As a young adult, I aspired deeply to learn about leadership. But I wasn't seeking a position or power other others. No, my intense drive was birthed from a deep desire to lead myself and make a transforming impact on the world with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The more I learned about leadership, the more I realized that it had more to do with leading myself than leading the masses, so I devoured every resource I could get my hands on to help guide my life.
I studied leaders' resources and teachings, and they shaped my entire outlook on life. I still remember listening to every T.F Tenney tape (Yes, I said tape, as in cassette) as a 19-year-old working as a janitor at the Coca-Cola Distribution Center in Borger, Texas, and taking available marketing classes in the evenings. I listened to those tapes night after night until I had memorized every one of them. The Coca-Cola Co. paid me to keep the warehouse clean, but I earned hundreds of hour credits towards a self-leadership degree during those hours of cleaning. The principles I learned while cleaning that warehouse, in addition to my prayer life and love for the word of God, directed the course of my life and inspired my devotion to personal development.
Since that time, I have been on a God-planned journey. I founded the church I pastor today with well over one thousand members. We have planted 15 satellite churches, including two in Southern California. We sponsor an annual international leadership Conference, TDR, and I even authored many leadership books, including one devotional. But it all started with the desire for self-leadership first.
The most critical person one will ever lead is themselves. Forget about leading others if you can't get a handle on your own life. Everyone, and I mean every single one of us, is called to be a leader by first conducting themselves well. If you can learn to believe in three things: yourself, your God-chosen purpose, and your skills, you will begin to lead your life more effectively. This fundamental principle is the key to successful leadership.
Have a blessed week,
Pastor (Rev. Elias Limones)
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