It is a truly horrific tragedy when a Christian leader uses their position to physically and emotionally harm and take advantage of women, those under their leadership, and other vulnerable individuals. Unfortunately, this is not something new to the global Church. Ministers proclaiming the gospel to the masses while actively participating in destructive sin in their personal lives is not an anomaly. One might say this is the result of human nature and having imperfect people serving in positions of authority. But we cannot ignore that this trend has occurred in countless ministries and, in many ways, has been enabled for far too long. It is unacceptable and the Church has to do something about it.

While we should call out injustice, hold perpetrators responsible, and support the victimized, our response cannot stop there. We have to ask questions that dig to the root of the issue, questions that bring to light any blind spots and problematic practices. We need to move towards being preventative instead of simply reactive. In order to do this, we must be dependent on the Triune God. We desperately need His wisdom, discernment, and empowerment.

How do we cultivate healthy Christian leaders?

This is a question that we at Global Frontier Missions are constantly asking ourselves and encourage churches and Christian institutions around the world to do the same. As an organization, we are reliant the Lord's help as we carry the burden of training future cross-cultural ministers. Using strategic, holistic preparation we hope to disciple individuals and equip them with rhythms and tools that will lead to God-glorifying, honorable work that lasts. We believe the following areas are crucial elements of developing and maintaining ministry leaders and would encourage Christian organizations to consider these proactive steps as we seek to end this sobering trend.

Often in ministry, there are more open positions than people to fill them. Because of this, it is tempting to give those positions to every willing and competent person. But we must not forget character. We need leaders with healthy hearts - those that have an ever-increasing understanding of the Gospel, growing awareness of and attentiveness to the Spirit of God, and willingness to deal with spiritual and emotional baggage. Spiritual warfare is an intense reality and is often heightened as one pursues a Kingdom calling. Not attending to heart issues leaves one fragile and open to the attacks of the enemy. 

As part of cultivating and maintaining a healthy heart, one must exhibit the vulnerability to learn and do life within a Christ-centered community of believers. Ongoing discipleship and accountability are crucial in a minister’s life no matter how long they have been serving. Our leaders should not only be discipled in the basics of the gospel but also the continuous, deeper implications of it. How does the gospel influence all aspects of their life - including the way they view and treat those of the opposite sex? Far too often an individual’s position is so elevated that they are free from assessment and correction. This can be avoided if routine, Biblical accountability is implemented from the beginning. Imagine the impact of the Church fostering environments in which those serving in Christian leadership feel safe in confessing their internal struggles and receive support to work through them before they even become an external issue.

The demands of ministry can be high. Many leaders frequently experience transition, trauma, depression, grief, taxing schedules, and burnout. While these things are not excuses for moral failure and perverse leadership, they do leave one especially susceptible to it. Are we giving our pastors, missionaries, and team leaders the tools and professional counseling they need to take care of their bodies, minds, and emotions while they serve? Are we encouraging them to prioritize rest and personal time abiding with the Lord? We are called to love God with our whole lives (Luke 10:27). Well-being is holistic - physical, emotional, and spiritual - and a Kingdom worker’s ministry will suffer if they are personally hurting.

We acknowledge that focusing on these areas is not a foolproof or comprehensive solution. It cannot guarantee that all future ministries will be free of abuse and other forms of corruption . But while issues like this are burdensome and tend to raise more questions than answers, we are not alone . We have the almighty, omnipresent God as our source. In Him, we can place our faith and trust. Through His empowerment, we can step forward and cultivate healthy leaders that exemplify the Kingdom in both their ministries and personal lives.

Written by Mandy Sullivan

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