A letter from Drew Benson, PhD, LP.
Over the past couple of weeks, I've enjoyed sharing some of the lighter and brighter moments in LeaderWise's history. But the story of an organization that has been around for more than 50 years would be incomplete without acknowledging some of the challenges it has faced along the way. After all, resilience isn't developed in the absence of challenges but through the ways we respond to them.
When I joined LeaderWise in 2019, one of my responsibilities was providing leadership for our counseling practice. As Mark and I discussed this work, I learned more about the crisis that led to the addition of counseling services in 2012.
Those of you who serve as pastors, denominational leaders, and nonprofit executives understand the tension of leading organizations whose primary purpose is service rather than generating revenue. At the same time, as the saying goes, "No margin, no mission."
By 2011, the effects of the 2008 economic downturn were becoming increasingly apparent at North Central Ministry Development Center (as LeaderWise was then known). Declining seminary enrollment and fewer individuals entering the candidacy process raised significant concerns about financial sustainability. In consultation with the board and staff, Mark began exploring new ways to use the organization's expertise to serve others. In 2012, counseling services were introduced and gradually grew over the following years.
Of course, no one could have anticipated what was coming less than a decade later.
During the pandemic, our therapists accompanied pastors navigating congregational conflict over masking and social distancing, leaders struggling with isolation and the feeling that they could “never get it right," young adults whose sense of community and connection had been disrupted, and countless others navigating uncertainty, grief, and loss.
I've often reflected on how a decision made in response to one period of uncertainty positioned LeaderWise to respond to another. What began as an effort to strengthen the organization's financial sustainability became an opportunity to walk alongside people during some of life's most difficult moments.
And therein lies something important about resilience. It isn't simply about surviving difficult circumstances or returning to the way things were. Sometimes, resilience means adapting, discovering new possibilities, and emerging with a renewed capacity to fulfill our purpose. Just as importantly, it means recognizing that we don't have to navigate life's challenges alone.
The addition of counseling services strengthened LeaderWise while expanding our ability to support the resilience of others. And we haven't done this work alone. Throughout our history, board members, staff, partners, and supporters have invested their time, wisdom, and resources in helping us navigate challenges and embrace new opportunities. Their support remains an important part of our story of resilience.
Next week, I'll share how the expansion of our leadership development services represents another chapter in this ongoing story of growth and resilience.
