Summary

In this episode, the conversation explores the journey of leadership within the context of missions, focusing on the experiences of Steve Schmidt, a reluctant leader who transitioned from missionary work to leadership roles. The discussion emphasizes the importance of building trust, navigating conflict, and the need for humility and self-awareness in leadership. Listeners are encouraged to embrace their strengths, support their teams, and lead with kindness and understanding.

Links mentioned in the episode.

1. Watership Down by Richard Adams
   A classic adventure novel about a group of wild rabbits seeking a new home.
   🔗 Official Publisher Page – Simon & Schuster

2. Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World by General Stanley McChrystal
   Explores how organizations can adapt to complexity through decentralized leadership.
   🔗 McChrystal Group Official Book Page

3. The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business by Patrick Lencioni
   Focuses on the importance of organizational health for business success.
   🔗 The Table Group – Official Book Page

4. The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande
   Provides a biblical approach to resolving personal conflicts.
   🔗 Relational Wisdom 360 – Official Book Page

5. PeaceWise
   An Australian organization offering biblical peacemaking training and resources.
   🔗 PeaceWise Official Website

Takeaways

• It's okay to play to your strengths.

• Building trust is essential for effective teamwork.
• Conflict can be a catalyst for growth.
• Humility is crucial in leadership roles.
• Leaders should support and empower their teams.
• Listening is a key skill for leaders.
• Navigating conflict requires a thoughtful approach.
• Emerging leaders should be kind to themselves.
• Leading up involves building trust with superiors.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Personal Journeys

03:02 The Reluctant Leader's Journey

06:06 Building Trust and Team Dynamics

08:58 Navigating Conflict in Leadership

11:56 The Importance of Humility and Self-Awareness

15:05 Leading Up and Supporting Others

18:03 Final Thoughts and Encouragement for Emerging Leaders

Summary

This conversation explores the multifaceted role of field leaders in missions, emphasizing the unique challenges they face, the qualities that make effective leaders, and the importance of pastoral care and conflict management. The discussion also highlights the need for specialized training and the biblical foundations of leadership, providing insights for those in or aspiring to field leadership roles.

Takeaways

• Field leaders may not be in their sweet spot or leading out of their strength.
• Leading a field is a different skill set than many types of ministries.
• Effective leaders listen through emotions to understand the heart of the issue.
• Field leaders are often leading diverse teams with different focuses.
• There is a pastoral component to leadership that is unique to religious organizations.
• Conflict management is a crucial skill for field leaders.

• The Bible provides insights on leadership that can guide field leaders.
• Field leaders often feel isolated and need support from peers.
• Building relational bridges is essential for effective field leadership.

Chapters

00:00 The Unique Role of Field Leaders

02:29 Qualities of Effective Leaders

08:02 Navigating Field Leadership Challenges

15:50 Leading Diverse Teams

22:41 The Pastoral Component of Leadership

30:36 Skills and Training for Field Leaders

38:36 Biblical Insights on Leadership

In this episode of 'Going: where God is at Work', the hosts discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence and missions. They explore the importance of ongoing learning, share their experiences with various AI tools, and reflect on the benefits and drawbacks of using AI in ministry. The conversation emphasizes the need for creativity, human interaction, and the potential impact of AI on job markets and personal standards in creative work.

🛠️ AI Tools Discussed:

• Gamma AI – Used for automatically generating slide presentations from text.
  Suggested Link: https://gamma.app

• ChatGPT (OpenAI) – For translation, word processing, and conversational language learning.
  Suggested Link: https://chat.openai.com

• Napkin AI – Mentioned as a visual thinking/brainstorming tool.
  Suggested Link: https://napkin.one

• NotebookLM (RAG - Retrieval-Augmented Generation) – AI tool for querying uploaded documents.
  Suggested Link: https://notebooklm.google

• International Coalition for Evangelical Theological Educators (ICETE) – Mentioned in relation to polycentric missions training.
  Suggested Link: https://icete.online

• Evangelical Missions Quarterly (EMQ) – A resource used for ongoing missiology learning.
  Suggested Link: https://missionexus.org/evangelical-missions-quarterly

• Canva – Used for document translation and design.Suggested Link: https://www.canva.com

🌍 Events & Networks:📚 Recommended Reading & Journals:🎨 Creative & Productivity Platforms:

Takeaways

• Ongoing learning is essential in a rapidly changing world.
• AI tools can significantly reduce time spent on tasks.
• There is a risk of lowering creative standards due to convenience.
• AI can assist in language learning and translation.
• The importance of human interaction in ministry cannot be overlooked.
• AI may lead to job displacement in certain fields.
• Using AI should be approached with caution and awareness of its limitations.
• Engaging with AI can be seen as a game to reduce pressure.
• It's crucial to maintain personal skills in communication and creativity.
• AI can be a valuable resource for research and information gathering.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Hosts

02:42 Exploring Artificial Intelligence in Missions

04:03 The Importance of Ongoing Learning

11:20 Experiences with AI Tools

25:03 Benefits and Drawbacks of AI in Mission Work

32:01 Concluding Thoughts on AI and Human Interaction