I still remember the day that Bill Kirk became the pastor at the church I grew up attending. The older I get, the more I cherish and value his leadership in that season.
We had experienced a challenging year of transition. A church conflict led to a new church forming in the area. The pain and disappointment affected each party involved.
Pastor Kirk served in Niagara Falls before coming to Binghamton. He had the monumental task of leading the church through a season of healing. As with any conflict, he would have to build trust with a group of people who felt hurt.
I remember so many of his messages growing up in the church. He would repeat two phrases over and over again to us:
Unforgiveness is the poison we drink as we wait for the other person to die.
Resentment is allowing a person to live rent-free in your mind.
— Bill Kirk
Pastors get described as shepherds. I think that picture often gets lost on us as modern people. A shepherd walks with hurting people through the fine line of sitting with the pain and offering a picture of hope through healing. Sometimes they prod and others times they hold. Their heart is motivated out of love.
I have shared about Patrick Lencioni calling leaders, the Chief Repeating Officer. Pastor Kirk modeled that. We need to repeat vision as leaders, but repeating requires us to speak grace and truth for the healing of the organizations we lead. Stepping into hurt and pain of the people we lead necessitates a shepherd offering a picture of healing.
Consider the season we have walked through – full of anxiety, grief, mourning, anger, exhaustion, etc. Yes, repeat the vision, but don’t forget to repeat the words of healing for the future.
I’m so grateful for the leadership of Pastor Kirk because his leadership into healing still influences me today.
What does it look like to lead through healing? Share in the comment section below.