Servant Leadership at Its Best

 This morning we watched the worship service from The Village Church at Shell Point Retirement Community.  The residents who participated by reading scripture and offering the pastoral prayer were Jerry and Peter Nanfelt.  Dr. Peter Nanfelt was president of the Christian and Missionary Alliance from 1998 to 2005.  Jerry is his lovely wife.

During the era of Dr. Nanfelt’s presidency, we attended the C&MA National Council on a yearly basis.  Because our son was the only child still at home and was homeschooled, he attended this national meeting with us.  There were always activities in which he enjoyed participating, but he was also tolerant of being dragged along on adult events.  One year when he was a preteen, we were invited to a luncheon attended by about 30-40  others.  We were among the last to arrive and ended up toward the end of a long table with empty seats next to us.  We sat down with our son between us, but he quickly analyzed the situation and offered to trade places with me so that he was next to the empty chair, and I could more easily talk to people across the table from us.

The program and meal were almost ready to begin when Peter Nanfelt walked in.  His attendance at this event had not been announced.  No special place had been saved for him, so he sat down next to the young boy.  I was laughing inwardly as I thought of all the people at that council who had agendas, and who would have loved to have the ear of the president during lunch.  So, what did the president of this national organization and our son discuss during the meal.  Well, of course, it was baseball.  At one point, I looked over and saw Peter sketching out a play on a paper napkin.

The incident was a lovely example of a gracious and humble leader in action, but there was more to come.

A few years later, our son was a teenager and attended Life, which is a nationwide youth conference the C&MA holds every 3 years.  One evening, he called me with delight in his voice.  His comments went something like this:

“Mom, you won’t believe what I just saw.  Dr Nanfelt and his wife were directing traffic in the dining hall.  He was not on the platform telling us he was the C&MA president.  He was in the dining hall helping kids find their way.  And I am one of the few people who even realize who he is.”

Our son learned more about servant leadership that day than he ever could have listening to a lecture, reading a book or attending a conference on that topic.

I am a grateful mother.