One of my favorite books on leadership, communication, and change is Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols by Nancy Duarte and Patti Sanchez. In the foreword, Patti writes, “Watching the way humans respond to change of all kinds, I’ve learned the hard way that coming up with ideas is easy and getting others to embrace them is not. I’ve come to believe that knowing where to go is important, but explaining why and how to get there is even more important.” The book teaches how leaders innovate and create change while simultaneously leading a group of followers along with them on the journey. One key aspect of their process highlights the importance of the leader being a “torchbearer.”

This image has remained with me since I read this book in 2016. I specifically connect it to the role of a pastor and church leader. We are torchbearers guiding groups of people, often into dark and confusing places; therefore, we need clear calls to action in all our messaging.

An older pastor who often mentors me once said, “He who leads with no one following is simply taking a walk.” That quote is attributed to John C. Maxwell, and (like the book Illuminate) it has stuck with me and embedded into my brain. Leaders with no followers are not really leading.

Let me try to synthesize all this information into a bite-size piece: Pastors and church leaders are torchbearers responsible for leading groups through change.

There are a few areas in that statement where we could fail significantly. One is the issue of torch-bearing. If we are unclear and confusing, we risk losing people on the journey through change. If you’re in a dark forest and two people claim to know the way out, one with a military-grade flashlight and the other with their phone, which one would you trust and follow? Another stress point is the leader who ventures too far ahead of the group. You might have clarity, but if you’re too distant from your congregation and no one is following, then you’re really not leading.

So what is the remedy? Clarity and proximity are of utmost importance when leading your congregation through difficult times of change. People need to know what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how we will accomplish it. They also need a leader who is close to them, illuminating the way forward with specific calls to action.

Next time you communicate with your team, staff, or congregation, ask yourself a few questions.

• How bright is the torch I’m carrying?
• How close am I to the group?
• Will this call to action move them in the right direction?

In all honesty, we will never perfect this in our lifetime. There will always be people who don’t understand where you are leading them (usually because they disagree with the path forward). Sometimes, you venture too far out and have to come back and apologize to the people you left behind. You might even develop the clearest and most effective call to action, but when you attempt to implement it…massive failure for reasons beyond your understanding! Sometimes that happens, and there’s no really clear reason for it.

I’ve been there with you all, and I’ve felt the frustration, confusion, and anger you feel when failure becomes part of our story. Let me encourage you with this truth from Luke 12 when Jesus teaches thousands of people to fear God and acknowledge Christ.

“And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God, but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.” Luke 12:8-12

The most important thing you can do as a church leader is to submit to God’s will and calling on your life and obey. Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord and Ruler of all things, follow Him with your life, and the Holy Spirit, the Counselor and third person of the Triune Godhead, will be with you to provide the right words. I encourage all of you to do everything possible to enhance your messaging so that the congregation finds clarity and sees that you are with them. I also pray that we all recognize our own shortcomings and turn to our gracious Lord, who supplies us with everything we need to fulfill His will.