Part 1: Being a leader of character / Lead to serve, serve to lead

S3:E10

Show Notes:

This episode begins a three-part series featuring Brig Gen Robert “Gwyn” Armfield, USAF (Ret.), former OCF executive director Lt Gen Bruce Fister, USAF (Ret.), and current OCF executive director Col Scott Fisher, USAF (Ret.). Speaking from nearly 90 years of combined service in the Air Force, these three leaders share their personal stories as followers of Christ and as military officers.

On this first installment, Gwyn, Bruce, and Scott discuss how leaders can approach employing God’s Word effectively, integrating the calling to serve in uniform and the calling to serve the Lord, and leading in times of crisis. The cornerstone of being an effective leader who can do these three things well, they assert, is being a leader of character.

Gwyn and Bruce’s recently released book, Lead to Serve and Serve to Lead: Leading Well in Turbulent Times, inspired today’s roundtable conversation and the two to come. Gwyn describes his and Bruce’s book as a “discipling guide on how to lead things and get things done in a way that honors Christ with a tactical-level implementation,” written for people of all ages and walks of life.

If you would like to share your own story, complete the form on OCF’s “Be a Guest” webpage. Alternatively, if you have an idea for a guest or topic I should consider for a future episode of the show, send an email to [email protected].

As you listen to this conversation with Gwyn, Bruce, and Scott, here are a few questions to ponder in your personal time, with a small group, or with a mentor:

1. Scott described character as the “cornerstone of an effective leader.” What examples, biblical or personal, prove that concept?
2. For biblical principles of effective leadership, Gwyn references Philippians 2:3-4, and Bruce references Proverbs 12. Read those passages for yourself and consider what you can apply to your own leadership roles.
3. Throughout your military career, you’ll likely find yourself in conversations about leadership where you can incorporate biblical principles. What verses can you incorporate into those conversations?
4. As a uniformed service member, how can you share your faith in a wise and understanding way?
5. Bruce says people won’t remember a crisis, but they’ll remember how a leader performed during a crisis. What crisis response comes to mind when you hear Bruce’s point, and what can you learn from the leader’s or leaders’ response to said crisis.