Page 33 - Empowering Missional Artists - Jim Mills.pdf

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YWAM, we experienced conflict and adversity, which is the crucible for leadership

development. God uses all kinds of organizations to temper us in our formation and we also

need not fear the non-Christian ones. Daniel for instance, though mentored in the ways and

culture of Babylonia, came out more than alright. Nothing can thwart God’s faithful covenant or

nullify His creative zealous capacity to finish the work He began in our lives. (Phil. 1:6) He simply

searches for a whole and willing heart (II Chronicles 9:16a) and then He takes care of the rest.

ADVERSITY: THE CRUCIBLE OF FORMATION

“I never met a leader that did not limp.” Belgian Business Consultant – Jacque Leloup

Adversity is essential for the formation of artists as it is for any leadership role. Most of the

art in history, which is acclaimed today, often sold for millions, was born out of adversity.

Therefore, this idea is not alien to the psyche of an artist. As a matter of fact, it is often a mindset

that needs balance in their lives. Many artists succumb to worshipping at the feet of ‘pain and

suffering’ persuaded that this is the ultimate source of inspiration for art.

It is so true, however, as Leighton Ford declares “suffering is the fertile ground for

leadership development.” (Ford 1991, 134) He quoted Augustine’s profound one-liner: “God

had one son without sin; he has no sons without suffering.” (Ibid) Any serious study of the

Biblical narrative of leadership (men and women) from Adam to Abel to Abraham to Jacob to

Joseph to Moses to Aaron to Miriam (Micah 6:4) to Samuel to David to Esther strongly

underscore the basic premise that God, employs testing by fire in the process of finishing His

work of “leader-making.” God’s leadership formation takes place in the context of His creatively

arranged wildernesses experiences even as it did with Jesus our Lord. (Matthew 4:1) Douglas

Webster calls this phase the essential wilderness experience and defines accidental wilderness

as that season in our lives which occurs through our own or others’ wrong choices. Honestly, I

prefer to label all wilderness experiences as God’s intentional wilderness provision. He

providentially and faithfully fulfills His gracious agenda to finish the work He has begun (Romans