In our modern world, social media, rapidly evolving technologies, and global events can easily distract us from keeping our eyes on Christ. Today, we need leaders who prioritize compassion, humility, and unity over popularity. As Dr. Bryan Froehle of PBA’s School of Ministry shares below, leaders who want to impact the world for Christ must first surrender to God’s will.
No matter how we identify ourselves as Christians, we can all learn something from the recent election of Pope Leo. Recent events were full of drama: the death of Pope Francis the day after Easter, the funeral, and the conclave to elect a new Bishop of Rome—culminating with the formal installation of Pope Leo on May 18, 2025. We know something of drama: that which identifies us as Christian, and the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Lord. And we know that God is with us throughout the dramas of our lives if we let Him enter in.
These events in Rome led to a new leader, someone not at all expected. As Pope Leo recently said: “I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of God’s love.” The Pope also spoke of “an indispensable commitment for all those in the church who exercise a ministry of authority. It is to move aside so that Christ may remain, to make oneself small so that he may be known and glorified, to spend oneself to the utmost so that all may have the opportunity to know and love him.”
Christian leadership also echoes the words of John the Baptist (John 3:30): we must decrease; Christ must increase in ourselves and in our witness. This is what PBA seeks to do as a Christ-first university—and especially within the School of Ministry: form servant leaders who walk on the path of God’s love.
There are some lessons on strong Christian leadership from these recent events. The first is all about humility. Those called to Christian leadership are not called because of merit. Christian leaders have no business basking in glory or seeing themselves as deserving. Great Christian leadership is about being open to receive graces precisely because we ground ourselves in God’s providence. It is God who initiates; the task of the leader is simply to respond to God’s call on our lives with wisdom and discernment. We become strong leaders when we walk humbly. PBA forms students who know that leadership is not about oneself but about God.
The second lesson reminds us of words from Paul. Christian leaders are called to be all things to all people (1 Corinthians 9:22). Leo has been called to lead in a city where Peter led the church and where he and Paul died as martyrs. The language spoken is Italian. Leo will put aside his native English for the language of the people. Likewise, when he was bishop in a small Peruvian city, he embraced a Spanish-speaking cultural context. Strong leadership requires taking on the culture of those we are called to lead. We cannot lead or even worship together well if we cannot understand the cultural context. For this reason, PBA’s School of Ministry goes deep within our missiologically-oriented Master’s in Intercultural Studies and all we do in training our students for ministry.
The third lesson about strong church leadership comes from Augustine of Hippo, who wrote some of the great classics we teach at PBA. Leo quoted one of Augustine’s sermons at the start of his new ministry: “The church consists of all those who are in harmony with their brothers and sisters and who love their neighbor.”
May the PBA community likewise be inspired to form great leaders who can build harmony among the body of Christ and witness to the love of Christ in all they do.
Dr. Froehle is professor of practical theology and director of the Ph.D. in practical theology program in PBA’s School of Ministry. He is the immediate past president of the Association of Professors of Mission and widely published on practical theological methods, contextual ecclesiology, and congregational studies.