Leadership might not be the first thing you think of when you hear Billy Graham’s name, but his role as a leader of leaders has been central to his ministry. Billy Graham’s lifetime of vigorous leadership invites every leader to engage with the same spirit, to consider his example, and to dig, as he did, into the rich resources of leadership literature that resonate with biblical examples, according to Matt Woodley in his book Billy Graham: Leading With Love: 5 Timeless Principles for Effective Leaders.
So what sorts of leadership lessons can we learn from Billy Graham? The author looks at five different aspects of leadership:
- The character of a leader: Early in his ministry, Billy and his team created a written covenant, the Modesto Manifesto, detailing how they were going to deal with temptations.
- The mission of an organization: Billy’s clear focus on his calling has led him to reject good opportunities which were not directly aligned with his mission.
- The importance of teamwork: By finding the right chemistry, Billy led a team which stayed together for decades.
- Common challenges faced by leaders: By offering his critics kindness rather than vengeance, Billy won some powerful allies.
- How faith in God has shaped Billy’s life as a leader: Humble openness made Billy a lifelong learner on the Christian journey.
There is something awkward about books which lionize individual Christians, and I was also slightly uncomfortable about the way the book speaks of Billy Graham in the past tense rather than the present. Nonetheless, the book is filled with many interesting stories from Billy’s life, and there is a great deal of wisdom to be learnt from his experiences.