(from a recent interview – Karen was interviewed by Dr. Sharon Johnson of Comtivate C2M)
[During COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Spring 2020]
We’re all hunkered down (ooops, that’s a Texas/Southern term!) and living in uncertain times. And I don’t know about you, but one of the first things I did was look to my trusted leaders for community, encouragement, and wisdom. I looked to God’s Word, the Bible; to the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control (not wanting to get caught up in the media hype); to my husband, to my daughter (a Family Nurse Practitioner); to my coaches – the John Maxwell Team; and to my own team (because they will look to me for leadership and hold me accountable to lead well and they will be supportive and offer me wisdom in return).
In this series of Blogs, we will talk about:
- Why leadership and engagement are so important during uncertain times,
- What Christian leaders can and should do during uncertain times, and
- Some favorite Christian resources (Scriptures, quotes, books, podcasts, etc.); and we hope you’ll share your advice with us as well in the comments below!
Why is Christian Leadership and Engagement So Important During Uncertain Times?
John Maxwell tells us that “everything rises and falls on leadership!” Leadership is influence.
Leaders Offer Safe and Like-Minded Community
We were created for relationship and community and connection. God wants a relationship with us. We desire a relationship with Him. He planned that we would relate and communicate with and love each other – hopefully drawing each other closer to Him along the way! We NEED each other. We need to know we’re not alone. Our group has created an online virtual work-space open to all Monday through Thursday, so even though we’re miles apart (from TX – VA, even in Uganda), it feels like we’re in the next cubicle and we’re not so alone! View upcoming dates here: http://nacwe.org/calendar
“We are better together. After all, two hearts are better than one; four hearts are better than two!”
– Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV
Leaders Offer Encouragement
There is too much negativity and too little positivity in this world, especially right now during these uncertain times. We’re all looking to online venues to fill some of the void and to be reassured that our loved ones are okay, that we’re going to be okay.
Every time I talk to a client these days, they mention places they’ve sought online. One woman talked excitedly about some of the coolest venues online that she’d found aligned with her interests, but before she finished telling me about them, she was reduced to tears. An indication, I pointed out, that her searching was too much, adding to overwhelm instead of leading to peace and hope.
As leaders, on the one hand, we DO need to offer online venues that are encouraging and engaging. On the other hand, we need to make sure that we offer those who look to us enough, but not so much that we add to the already overwhelming chaos out there. Everyone needs to choose wisely how often and where they go online to fill the void.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV
Leaders Search for and Impart Wisdom
We need wisdom, truth, certainty, refuge, hope, peace — the Source of these resources is the Lord and we share them with each other. I am the first to admit that I am a “knowledge and understanding” junkie! I’m addicted to the written word / to knowing more — sadly, sometimes to the point that I miss the true Wisdom and Word from God that I so badly need.
When my kids were younger, we had a homeschool curriculum that included all sorts of wisdom games. The homeschool pastor explained that in our secular training we often build up knowledge and understanding first then hope the wisdom to apply that information comes naturally. It often doesn’t. God’s Word is full of analogies, metaphors, parables and isn’t always readily understood, and we should be seeking His Wisdom and His Truth first! And we should be filtering the information we receive from others through the crucible of God’s Word and His Principles. I want to follow leaders that are seeking wisdom! I want to be a leader who is seeking Wisdom!
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
James 3:17 ESV
Leader Q&A:
One of or Interview attendees asked me, the self-professed knowledge and understanding junkie:
“Because we are all learners… How much knowledge is enough?”
My Answer: Wow, what a loaded question! REST first! Be still enough to hear from the Lord! God only gave us so many hours in a day. His design is perfect. I want to always be learning, of course. But my calling from God, even during these uncertain times, has not been re-called! He still has called me to work for Him, to serve Him! I must balance the time He has given me between self-care, family, and my calling (knowledge, and service). There comes a time when I must put knowledge sources aside and serve Him as He has called me to do! It’s a matter of obedience and balance!
Dr. Sharon’s Answer: Consider experience. Wherever your focus goes, that’s where your energy flows. Consider your purpose – to enhance and add value to people. Is the knowledge you’re seeking aligned with your purpose and values? Will this gained knowledge give you experience that makes you a better teacher? What’s your “WHY,” your purpose? Turn your focus there!
What would you add to why Christian Leadership and Engagement is so important during uncertain times?
CONTACT US:
Community -When you need a Nurturing, Active, group of like-minded Christian Women Entrepreneurs whose goals are to provide Community, Networking, Education and Missions opportunities – join the National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs (NACWE) on Facebook http://facebook.com/groups/NACWEFreedom / our Website http://nacwe.org Once you’ve gotten to know us, we hope you’ll consider joining our more Intimate and Elite Group as well. NACWE was established in 2010 and has served thousands of women across the United States AND the world!
Coaching & Writing -When you need small group Coaching/Masterminds and/or Individual Coaching with opportunities for trips, retreats, VIP Days and more to achieve extraordinary levels of success worth celebrating, join Me / Dr. Karen Website http://karenbourg.com/work-with-me I’ve been coaching since about 2007 when I opened a Private Practice Marriage and Family Therapy/Biblical Counseling Practice and realized to grow took a whole lot more than “when you build it, they will come”! It took knowing how to run a business/ministry God’s Way!
Conference -Also, we hope you’ll consider joining us for our ANNUAL Conference “Working God’s Way” north of Dallas September 18-19, 2020. Our keynote Speaker will be Shae Bynes, Co-Founder of Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur and the Author of Grace Over Grind. https://nacwe.org/savethedate2020conference/
Blessings,
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 11 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com.