By: Charles W. Smith, Jr.
I‘ve been asked to reflect on the team God has assembled here in Kansas City. I must admit that I approach this topic with mixed emotions. Knowing that any progress we have made was God’s doing, I am hesitant to give anyone but Him credit. And yet, it seems the greater risk is to deny the glorious reality that God uses people to accomplish kingdom purposes. This, after all, is the story of Scripture: God calling and commissioning sinners for His glory and the good of the world. Far from diminishing His glory, reflecting on the way God is using His people multiplies it.
For nearly sixty-five years, God has called, empowered, and gifted countless leaders at Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College. They come in all shapes and sizes. We have team members from China, Chile, California, and from just down the road in Chillicothe, Missouri. If you were to join us for our all staff meeting, you would observe those with gray hair and others with what could only be described as wild hair. Some wearing a freshly-pressed suit with others showcasing their new Jordans.
But just beneath this display of diversity are striking similarities that I believe God has used to bless our institution over the past decade.
First, our faculty and staff are united by a shared vision For The Church. I first heard that phrase in the Fall of 2012. Dr. Allen had been elected a few weeks prior and was beginning to triage things in Kansas City. Part of that early process was working with a design firm to help rebrand the school. During their first visit to campus, the firm took us to breakfast to begin discussing a new vision for Midwestern. A process that normally takes months and the help of countless advisors was over before our food arrived. While stirring his coffee, Dr. Allen calmly settled the matter: Midwestern Seminary exists for the Church. It was clear our new vision was not up for discussion or debate. Though I did not realize it at the time, we had just made a decision that would inform countless others in the coming years.
The significance of this moment is not in Dr. Allen’s brilliance or foresight. The significance is in the authenticity and clarity of these foundational convictions. From the earliest days of his administration, Dr. Allen knew who God was calling us to be and where God was calling us to go.
Ten years later, for the Church continues to inform our work and unify our community. We recruit students, donors, and ministry partners in light of these convictions. Our vision informs who we hire and which strategic opportunities we pursue. These convictions have encouraged faculty and staff to serve regional churches as pastors, deacons, and ministry leaders. They have even shaped our curriculum, which is designed to equip those serving the local church. Chapel and conferences are both focused on modeling faithful exegesis and preparing future ministry leaders. Our residential and student life activities prioritize the local church. The content we produce is designed to engage, equip, and encourage those serving the Church. Indeed, it is difficult to reflect upon the past decade without acknowledging how God has used those three words—for the Church—to focus our work and enrich our fellowship.
Second, our faculty and staff are united by shared values. Over the past ten years, our administration has worked to articulate and reinforce a set of organizational values. Whereas our vision describes why we exist, these values articulate who we are and how we behave. Both are incredibly important and signs of God’s grace. Though these values have been expressed in different ways over the years, we commonly define them as: Humble, Hungry, Smart, Happy, Hopeful.
Over the past ten years, I have watched God use these values to foster godly ambition, humility, hospitality, creativity, collaboration, peacemaking, innovation, resilience, and even courage.
Above all else, we strive to be a Christ-like community marked by humility. According to Tim Keller, “the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.” That does not mean these individuals are insecure or ineffective. Quite the opposite, they recognize that God has given them pronounced gifts and weaknesses. In the case of both, others are the focus. Their strengths exist to serve others and their weaknesses are an invitation to depend on God and the strengths of others. Humble team members also assume the best of others and are willing to “sweep floors” to support the team and get the job done.
Humble team members are folks like Midwestern’s Director of Campus Operations Skye Singleton. Over the years, I have observed Skye’s humility in countless ways. Despite holding a significant leadership role, I have seen Skye cheerfully pick up trash, solve problems he did not create, fulfill last minute requests, and go the extra mile for anyone that asked. I am convinced that God has blessed our institution, in part, through the Christ-like humility and service of men and women like Skye Singleton.
The people of Midwestern also strive to be hungry. According to our values, hungry team members are passionate about progress and eager to leverage their gifts to serve the greater good.
They are continuously moving forward, innovating, and improving. Hungry team members are determined, self-motivated, and eager to take ownership.
Hungry team members are leaders like Grace Pike. A recent graduate and new member of the communications team, Grace takes great pride in advancing our social media and content strategies. She is constantly researching her field, trying new things, and submitting proposals to advance our work. Without individuals like Grace who are hungry for Godward progress, institutions grow stagnant and eventually fail to accomplish all that God has for them.
Midwesterners also strive to be smart. Yes, we have highly intelligent people on our team, but this institutional value prioritizes relational intelligence. Smart team members seek to understand people and projects. They naturally see and appreciate underlying relational dynamics, allowing them to develop solutions and effectively serve others. As for projects, smart team members intuitively connect dots, see the big picture, and look for creative solutions to challenges. They ask lots of questions and assume there is almost always a better way to do something.
Midwestern’s Registrar, Jared Kathcart, is one of the smartest leaders I know. Yes, he is actually brilliant, but more than that, he has a tremendous gift for balancing people and projects. Jared anticipates questions, contextualizes his answers, and rarely loses sight of the big picture. As a result, Jared and countless others like him are among our greatest assets.
Finally, we strive to be leaders who are happy and hopeful. These leaders are kind, encouraging, and optimistic. They engage people and projects with a joyful heart and attitude to serve. They assume the best of others, are fun to be around, and do not take themselves too seriously. Crucially, these team members are committed to hope and optimism. Yes, they are realistic, but they are also determined to be a voice of joy and courage.
Taylor DiRoberto is one of the most contagious leaders I know. He is relentlessly optimistic and eager to tackle whatever you put before him. Just this morning I was in a meeting with about twenty other members of our faculty and staff. As much as I love what we do, this particular meeting was rather uninspiring (I was leading it!). During the meeting I looked across the room and saw Taylor sitting up in his chair, nodding along with the speaker, taking notes, and smiling. Taylor was happy and hopeful about our work. As a result, others were too.
In the grand scheme of things, ten years is not that long. But it is long enough to see God’s gracious hand on our work. I am convinced that God has blessed our institution, in part, because we have a community of humble, hungry, smart, happy, and hopeful saints laboring together for the Church. What a gift of grace.
May God give us the courage to recommit ourselves to these ends until He returns.
