Salt of the Earth leadership

There are people and moments that leaders should have etched in their minds as part of their framework for how they make decisions. For me, one of those moments and individuals came halfway through my first ministry assignment.

I was a seminary student trying on the clothes of a pastor in Edson-Peers, Alberta. Ten weeks of on-the-ground learning. My first sermon was orated using soggy papers after a spill caused by my shaking nervous hands around a glass that had been neatly tucked within the pulpit. The foibles and learning continued for nine more weeks. I was refined by the grace of God through the members of that small church.

Midway through the summer, I decided to visit the elderly Mrs Heuvel (not her real name). From my early impressions, I noted that she attended regularly, gave consistently and showed loyalty to the church family despite living 90 minutes northeast of Edson! What kind of a woman would show that kind of commitment? I had to find out.

Communion of the saints

I drove down gravel roads that eventually turned to mud-packed laneways. I pulled up to a dented trailer on a property miles away from any neighbour. A large oval metal fence ran from one corner of the trailer to another to contain their six pigs. There was no garage. A few pieces of old farm equipment were strewn around. 

Walking into her abode, I saw dated furniture and threadbare rugs. A worn family Bible had a place of prominence on the coffee table, along with a tea set and white quilted doilies. She offered me her late husband’s easy chair, the best spot in the room. In that moment I graduated from a simple young intern to the honoured guest, the pastor. It was as if she was expecting Jesus.

Mrs Heuvel’s husband had died the year prior. She had two sons: one who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and the other unemployed due to injury. She was having a difficult time hanging on. While she talked, I am not sure I had much to offer her except one well-intentioned verbal commendation. Speaking from the seat and vantage of the Good Shepherd, I conveyed my appreciation by saying something like: “Thank you for being so devout, consistent and faithful to the church body from so far away. Lesser obstacles would keep many people away from church, church life and church disciplines.”

She was a giant! My idea of a faithful church member just flipped as if I had seen the same widow Jesus did putting two coins into the temple treasury.

My years in ministry have been many and varied, but that afternoon with Mrs Heuvel remains a root of my leadership decisions and behaviour since. When money was to be spent, decisions made, structures decided and strategies followed . . . would we be honouring the faith of the Mrs Heuvels of our community?

If you are a leader or serve on a leadership board in your Christian community, remember salt-of-the-earth people like Mrs Heuvel.