Introduction

Writer and thought-leader, Peter G. Northouse remarked that “there are almost as many different definitions of leadership as there are people who have tried to define it.” This is certainly true. Leading can be a natural action and response and an argument can be made that it is a supernatural phenomenon, mysterious and hard to pen in a few stated words but worthy of discussion. From a spiritual point of view, Creator God was and is the first leader. He is always with His creation and is always leading the way, taking His followers somewhere and everywhere they want to go. God’s group has a supreme aim and that is to follow God’s Spirit into the unknown, wherever the way leads. “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25, NIV).”

As a Salvation Army Officer, what I have learned is that the in-step leadership occurrence usually happens with a group of like-minded people for selfless reasons, for the good of the group and community. In the Salvation Army there are many groups that contain followers and potential leaders. In the communities that surround the Salvation Army, there are many potential followers who will sometimes hear the called to lead.

The rally to do something meaningful is what the thoughtful intentional followers (supporters of the Salvation Army), reflect on from time to time. From within the group of supporters a purposeful, spirit-led selfless influencer (anyone courageous to lead Army supporters) usually steps forward in front of the group, inspired to lead the other supporters toward the voice that calls them to act on behalf of the less fortunate as well as the unsaved. Sensing a calling, the candidate for leadership remarks on and raises questions about acting or responding to a variety of local need. The journey to become what he or she is called to be and do may start and end locally. For others, the calling experience may extend outside of the local community into the wider world community into various regions and territories. The selfless leadership of Salvation Army Officers are needed somewhere and everywhere, in more than a few situations and circumstances, to include soup kitchens, homeless shelters, pathway of hope programs, disasters, in critical partnerships and collaboration efforts, etc. We are called to “the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).”

So, without adding to the number of leadership definitions, for argument’s sake, I’ll suggest that situations, circumstances, and the biblically based mission statement informs Salvation Army leadership. Being mindful of diverse human needs, the selfless leader’s focus is always on the love for others across the community in which her heart is drawn to. It is the love of Christ that attracts all officers to act and respond to humanity’s pastoral and administrative needs somewhere, although hope is longed for everywhere.

Having been taught “for God so loved the world,” (John 3:16, NIV), each person involved in the call, tethered to the group, finds in that statement power, motivation and sense it to be the north star that guides the selfless officer, soldier, employee, and volunteer onto the right path, the straight and narro