Getting Stuck in the Battles of the Past Is Not a Winning Strategy (Leadership & Ministry Lessons Part 7)
Consider these words from the Captain, “Before considering several engagements of this type that occurred during the World War, let us review some of that same war’s lessons, albeit, no human being can say whether or not they will apply to the war of the future. Indeed, there is tragedy in the fact that the […]
Here is What is Creating a Disconnect in our Churches and Why So Many Leave (Leadership & Ministry Lessons Part 6)
I have been writing a series of posts on leadership in ministry based on the book Combat Leadership by Captain Adolf Von Schell. This sixth post is probably the most important one yet. So important, that I changed the title in hopes of getting more response out of this one. Please read the whole post, especially if […]
Leadership & Ministry Lessons from a World War One German Officer (Part 5)
When you lead people into battle, there are going to be times of intense stress and anxiety. One of the things Captain Von Schell was good at was finding ways to put his soldiers at ease when their lives were on the line, “I noticed that my men were uneasy; they were now waiting for […]
Leadership & Ministry Lessons from a World War One German Officer (Part 4)
People want to follow a leader who has made a name for himself. Captain Von Schell talks about how much of a moral booster it was to his troops when they knew they were following the orders of a famous leader. “[The experienced soldiers] said, ‘We are fighting now under Hindenburg who has already beaten […]
Leadership & Ministry Lessons from a World War One German Officer (Part 3)
Leadership requires making decisions without all the information. Combat leadership prior to the advent of satellites and advances in communication technology meant that decisions had to be made without all the relevant information. Even with all the advances in technology that is still true in war and it is true in ministry. You may think […]
Leadership & Ministry Lessons from a World War One German Officer (Part 2)
As Eric mentioned in the previous post’s comments, this has a lot to do not only with leadership but also with discipleship. How do you get people from pew to carrying crosses? Here is a quote from Von Schell that offers a solution, “The men, although well trained and of a high morale, were inexperienced […]
Leadership & Ministry Lessons from a World War One German Officer (Part 1)
My brother recently pointed me to a book by Captain Adolf Von Schell called “Battle Leadership“. Based on the forward it looks like recommended reading in the United States Marine Corp. Schell fought for the German army in WWI and shares his insights on the psychology of war, combat readiness, and leadership. There are a […]