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Tell us a little about you personally (family, church, hobbies).
My wife, Haili, and I have two kids, Daniel and Scarlett. I am the LifeGroups/LifeMissions pastor at Life.Church in Jenks, Oklahoma, and my wife serves in LifeKids every weekend. We love our church and are so grateful to be a part of all God is doing here in Tulsa! In our free time we enjoy taking short road trips, finding new hiking adventures, and watching movies as a family.
Describe what kind of work you do, and what you've done in the past.
I help recruit and equip leaders to lead small groups at our church location. I get to equip a team of volunteer leaders that care for, pray for, and encourage these LifeGroup Leaders. The other half of my role allows me to partner with local organizations in our city to meet needs and care for people in our community, and lead others in our community to Christ. Prior to Life.Church, I worked as a logistics manager for Target and the connections pastor at a church in northern Minneapolis. I got my professional start, however, as a United States Marine. I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2010 and served until 2017.
What was your first-ever leadership role?
My first leadership role was as a FireTeam Leader in the Marine Corps. In this role, I got to lead four other Marines in their day-to-day tasks, life transitions, financial goals, military careers, and personal goals. It taught me so much about the value of strong interpersonal relationships, how to understand true needs, and how to care for those I lead both on and off the clock.
How has God grown you as a leader over the years?
I used to think leaders were the best at everything, the people with all the answers, and the ones that got to make all the decisions. For the longest time I thought I would never make a good leader, because none of those things applied to me. However, somewhere along the way someone showed me that true leadership is influence, and influence comes when people trust you. God has shaped me into a leader that cares first, gives grace in all things, but understands that we are all on an adventure to become better versions of ourselves as we follow God's call. As a leader, I get to be a part of the growth of others.
What's the hardest leadership lesson you've ever learned?
There's a big difference between a leader that cares about someone and a leader that wants to be their friend.
For a short time, I led a small group of recruiters. Prior to being their leader, I was their peer; I worked alongside them as a recruiter for years, celebrating with them, struggling with them, sharing in their struggles. So naturally, when I became their boss, I tried to maintain the friendship I had with them, feeling that this would give me the trust and relational equity I needed.
What I didn't realize, though, is that trying to maintain the friendship took away from my ability to actually lead them. Slowly the team started to fail, and instead of holding them accountable and helping them succeed, I just gave them friendship and let things slip.
What I learned is that it's okay to be friends with those I lead, but that friendship must never get in the way of my responsibility to truly care for, guide, challenge, stretch, and lead them.
What advice would you give to Christian leaders?
Seek first His kingdom and the rest will come. I'm clearly paraphrasing Matthew 6:33, but this passage is vital. As both Christians and leaders, we get to follow the example of the best leader of all time, Jesus.
Leadership sifted through Jesus will always lead people closer to God, closer to each other, and toward a better version of themselves. It will always create unity. However, it's difficult to lead someone to a place we've never been, so we must first seek God and his leadership so we can help others do the same.
Most meaningful Scripture:
I have two, and it's only because I think they complement and build upon each other.
"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
—Matthew 20:28"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
—Matthew 22:37-39
 | Sean Lord is a pastor, husband, and father. He enjoys writing about leadership, theology, and ministry. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and currently pastors at one of the largest churches in the U.S. He spends much of his time mentoring and coaching pastors as well as leaders outside of the church. Learn More » |
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