Some are interested and attend various services, conferences and other events of which many are offered in these days. Others see the future of Iceland by removing Christianity but instead handing the future of this land over to humanism and secularism.
A key for the future of this land is to have individuals who are whole as leaders, both in words and deeds. We have had people like bishop Sigurbjorn Einarsson. That was a man who build up the internals of this nation. Sadly, we also have recent examples of public leaders who have utterly failed when their character was tested. To be in leadership puts pressure on the character of the leader. This pressure is increased with increased responsibility and visibility. Leader's competencies or knowledge does not matter if he has a broken personality that can not withstand the pressure that leadership brings.
In the gospel of Mark 3:14-15 it says: He appointed twelve whom he called apostles. They were to accompany him and to be sent out by him to spread the Good News. They also had the authority to force demons out of people. (GW) We need to use the same method to build whole and healthy leaders.
"Accompany him" - leaders grow up in an spiritual environment with Jesus.
Community - Jesus called them together - they spent time with one another and share life with one another and Jesus. Today we need whole leaders who know how to communicate and interact with others.
"Sent out" - leaders who have not only received knowledge but also wrestled with demanding assignments.
In this environment Jesus taught his disciples. In turn these same disciples continued and changed the world after being filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. In this we have a model to build leaders: spiritual (with Jesus), in community, experience (doing things) and then with right teaching. It is not enough to stuff books and lectures into our potential leaders - we need to mold their whole life and change it permanently.
King’s Garden is a new school that uses this model to build leaders. Our handball team has reminded us Icelanders on the fact that Iceland is a small but powerful nation, just like our land is small but powerful. The people of this land are our greatest resource – let us put our focus to attend to and use this resource above all others.
Agust Valgard Olafsson
