Connect, Create, Contribute

Learning about Christian global leadership in Cape Town with my multi-cultural students from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Mary and John experiencing the joy of connecting across cultures.

“I’m a global leader. You’re a global leader,” they declared around the room, pointing at themselves, pointing at each other. The weighty realization of their global identity lit up the room—that they are called not only to be leaders—but global leaders. I had just spoken on acquiring a global mindset at the closing session of the "Rise Consultation" of about 100 key women leaders from around the world. Global leadership is God’s heartbeat. Right from the beginning, He mandated, “And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

It is Jesus’ heartbeat to bless all creation (Mark 16:15). And it is the Holy Spirit’s heartbeat to empower us to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Being global should be our heartbeat. We who know Jesus should spearhead global leadership. Global leadership itself is now a growing leadership field. Yet literature on global leadership proliferates from the business sector and the academia, not from the global Christian community.

The heartbeat of global leadership is to connect across boundaries, create value, and contribute benefit to all the people of the world*. I can think of no greater way to connect across boundaries than the privilege of serving and knowing our church planters around the world. I can think of no greater way to create value than to make disciples and plant churches among those whom Jesus is not named. I can think of no greater way to contribute benefit than that the Lord blesses all the families of the world through each of us.

I always had a bone to pick with the Lord that I grew up on four continents. It was hard switching schools, friends, and countries every few years. But when God called me, He said, “I have raised you in the nations for the nations. I have planted you as a stake in the nations.” I therefore regard myself as a citizen of the world, not fully at home anywhere but naturally at home everywhere. I consider myself a “servant of the servants”—one who serves God’s frontline servants who are making disciples and planting churches in hard places. It has been an arduous leadership journey, often being jetlagged, living out of a suitcase, and worrying about our people in war-torn places. But I can think of no greater honor than to serve God’s people around the world.

Today, there is a severe shortage, not only of leaders, but especially of global leaders across all sectors, countries, and continents. How does each of us take up our global call to connect across boundaries, create value, and contribute benefit to all the people of the world? Perhaps it’s simply to welcome a lonely foreign student for a meal, be a friend, and get to know his or her story.

I was a bewildered 17-year-old foreign student who didn’t know Jesus. Upon arriving at the University of Michigan, people invited me to their home for a Thanksgiving meal; students invited me to a campus prayer meeting; and new friends shared with me about Jesus. And that has made the difference. Because of that, I experienced an overwhelming love and healing from Jesus. Because of that, a woman discipled me for seven years. Because of that, God spoke destiny and identity into my life. Because of the many people who mentored me, I’m now a global mission leader.

What difference will you make to connect, create, and contribute to the peoples of the world? Starting one life at a time. One touch at a time.

*Based on a great book Being Global by Angel Cabrera and Gregory Unruh.

Blessings,
Mary

Dr. Mary Ho, DSL

All Nations International, Inc. | International Executive Leader

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