Leadership as Calling and Vocation

Colossians 3:23–24 “23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Paul’s reminder to the Colossians reframes our leadership: everything we do here at HLGU—meetings, budgets, student decisions, even the unseen details—is ultimately service to Christ. We are not just administrators; we are servants of the Lord Christ.

Each of you is in this room because God has entrusted you with influence at HLGU. You don’t simply hold an administrative role — you carry a calling; a vocation. Leadership, at its core, is not about position, power, or platform. It is, by my own definition, self-emptying service shaped by Christ for the flourishing of others.

That perspective changes everything. Above measuring leadership by outcomes, accolades, or worldly success, we see leadership as a vocation—a context where God is shaping us into Christlikeness. Leadership is not the end in itself; it’s the classroom where God is forming us.

Consider Moses. When called to lead, he immediately saw his own inadequacies: “I’m not eloquent; I can’t do this.” And God’s answer was not to boost his confidence but to remind him, “I will be with you.” The truth is, our leadership often reveals our own weaknesses. And that’s good news. Weakness isn’t failure; it’s the soil where faith grow. As Paul reminds us, God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.

At HLGU, your leadership will stretch you. You’ll face difficult decisions, complex relationships, and seasons where you feel inadequate. But that very tension is where God is forming you—refining trust, deepening your surrender, and teaching reliance on his strength rather than your own.

At the same time, remember this: Your leadership is never just about you. It is for the flourishing of others—students, colleagues, faculty, and ultimately, the Kingdom of God. The world prizes leaders who build platforms. But Christ modeled leadership with a basin and a towel, stooping low to serve. Our calling as administrators is the same: to steward influence not for personal gain, but for the good of others and the glory of God.

The question we must ask ourselves is this, then: Am I leading for my own platform, or am I leading for the flourishing of others in Christ?

So as we step further into this school year and, in many ways, a new season for HLGU, let’s see leadership as both a calling and a context for formation. Let’s work heartily—not for human approval, but for the Lord. And let’s model Christlike leadership by serving, so that those under our care may flourish.