45 1) A leader’s spiritual identity is their source and foundation for life. Christian identity formation is at the core of any attempt at Christian leadership development.47 A seven-year study conducted among ministers revealed that personal spiritual health must be the top priority to achieve any resilience in ministry.48 Niemöller’s ability to endure suffering was rooted in his strong spiritual life, and conversely, his inability to love those unlike him reveals a great weakness in his spiritual health. 2) Humble submission and faithful obedience are the beginning of Christian maturity. Niemöller undoubtedly believed that suffering in prison was an act of faithful obedience to God, but most reports of Niemöller describe him as far from humble. Growing in maturity requires the individual to humbly submit to the Lord and pursue daily obedience. Paul David Tripp stresses that “in God’s estimation, long-term faithfulness that produces fruit in ministry is rooted in humble, godly character. . . . ”49 3) A leader must have a worldview that gives meaning to suffering. According to Henry Blackaby and Richard Blackaby, “the key to leadership development lies not in the experiences, whether good or bad, but in peoples’ responses to those events.”50 Leaders must have a preestablished biblical view of hardship, which “offers reassurance that God is still good and working things out for good.”51 Even though his body and mind weakened over time, Niemöller felt his suffering had great meaning, and this perspective helped him endure for quite some time. 4) The key to personal transformation is the consistent pursuit of self-awareness. Throughout Niemöller’s life, he resisted being teachable or pursuing self-awareness. Scholars note the importance of self-awareness for personal maturity, endurance, and resilience in leadership. According to Dallas Willard, ignoring personal transformation has led to the “notorious failures of Christian leaders.” Willard emphasizes that to address this problem, Christians must undertake the challenging work of inner renovation.52 5) Fighting for balance in a leader’s personal life is biblical and vital to survival. Niemöller regularly took on too many things and did not prioritize his marriage and family, or personal rest. Tripp explains that the concept of shalom, “everything in its right place, doing what it was meant to do, in the way God intended CHARACTER FORGED IN ADVERSITY
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