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Years ago I entered into the ministry.  I was in my mid-thirties and had already experienced some success.  Then I ventured byond my small denominational culture and became a regular at conferences led by visionaries such as John C. Maxwell, Dan Reiland, Bill Hybels and Thom Rainer. 

At the first meeting I told my story to some other conference attendees.  One of them, a guy in his sixties, looked across the table and me this simple question:  "Have you grown a tough hide yet?"

Twenty-five years later I know exactly what he meant.  Pastor-leaders tend to start out young and naive, but sooner or later we all toughen up to survive.  Sometimes you need to do difficult things.  Sometimes you have to take a hard line by making the right call.  So ask yourself:  Have you toughened up yet?

How does a visionary pastor-leader believe and behave?

Belief
True visionaries are those leaders whose ardent belief in their cause outweighs their words.  Their communication and speaking skills are driven from the deep change within and from their own core values.  They have an indomitable commitment to persuade,challenge and to change the staus quo.  Their leadership doesn't stop when their words do, but continues in their daily condut and seizes every opportunity as a time to cast vision.

Behavior
True visionaries are those leades who behave with passion.  In fact, the visionary has a passion that supercedes spoken words.  He or she is consumed with passion and they behave in a convincing way in the cause and how much they want others to embrace it.

People will oppose your vision.  People will knowingly and unknowingly do everything they can to sabotage and derail the importance of focusing on the vision.  But a wise "toughened" leader knows that getting the vision right and defending the vision is everything in terms of making change and significant growth.

So, what's the lesson here?  Successful leadership isn't about being nice and popular.  It's about standing up for your vision and knowing that your vision will solve most of the old problems and keep your church from going back over ground that is certain to bring more of the same.  The meek inherit the earth, but they will struggle in leadership.

"Vision does not ignite growth, passion does.  Passion fuels vision and vision is the focus of passion.  Leaders who are passionate will create vision and fulfill it."    --Ken Hemphill

"You are nothing unless it comes from your heart.  Passion, caring, really looking to create excellence.  If you perform functions only and go to work only to do processes, then you are effectively retired.  And it scares me__most people I see, by age 28 are retired..."    --Horst Schultze

Barry is Founder and President of Ministry Indicators www.ministryindicators.com, a consulting group to churches 1,000 in attendance and under who are ready for renaissance.  He also serves as a church consultant for the Missouri Conference of United Methodist Churches.