An Open Letter to Leaders in the Midst of the Coronavirus Crisis

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Friends, it is our time to lead.

By definition, leadership means going first.

Going first comes with tremendous risk.  But, why else has the Lord given us our positions if not to use them?

In a time of crisis, we cannot wait for others to lead our people: it is our responsibility, and we need to take it up.

I know we are facing unprecedented challenges, and that people’s livelihoods are at stake.

  • Do we close?

  • Do we pay employees?

  • How will our organization survive?

  • When or will life go back to normal?  Etc.

Many of those questions have neither easy answers nor any answers right now.

Lots of what’s going to happen is out of our hands, but what is not out of our hands is how we will react.

 

The Lord has given us everything we need today to be strong and courageous, to reassure our people, and to lead them well.

 

I really believe that: God has given us everything we need today to lead well.  Do we have everything we want?  No!  Do we wish circumstances were different?  Yes!

But, nevertheless, we have everything we need.

 

 Sometimes, all we have are five loaves and two fish.  What are they among so many?

 Sometimes what we have seems woefully inadequate.

 But, when we put what little we have into the Lord’s hands, it becomes more than enough:

 “Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,  “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.” [John 6:8-11.]

 

We have what we need today to lead our people well.

Let’s do it.