THE RACE TO THE POLES: LESSONS FOR LEADERS
Pastoring a church, like leading an expedition to the South Pole, requires more than courage.
Charles Burkeen
October 1, 1989
In January 1911 two expeditions landed along the Ross Ice Shelf off Antarctica, each seeking to plant a flag at the South Pole first.
The best-equipped, best-led expedition to ever leave British shores was under the command of Captain Robert Falcon Scott.
Roald Amundsen and his Norwegian crew, on the other hand, began the expedition with half the resources of the English team. In fact, Amundsen set sail secretly at midnight, worried that his creditors would withdraw their support.
Amundsen and Scott were both courageous leaders. Yet one led men to success, the other to their deaths. Although pastoral leadership rarely produces such life-and-death drama, it does require a similar courage. But leaders of both expeditions and churches need more than courage. The stories of Scott and Amundsen afford some lessons to pastors seeking to lead their congregations.
Do the Right Kind of Homework
Recognizing the uniqueness of the Antarctic ecology, both Amundsen and Scott studied the region. Amundsen not only studied everything available on Antarctic travel, he also spoke to previous explorers of the region. More important still, he spent time in the polar regions doing his own research, especially during the polar winter just before the expedition.
Scott, however, thought his naval training prepared him for any situation. His crew did spend that polar winter listening to lectures, but they learned polar meteorology and geology, not how to ski. They debated politics, but never learned to drive a dog sled.
On an earlier trip to Antarctica, Amundsen observed that men who ate seal meat resisted scurvy. Medical experts denied any connection. (The discovery of vitamin C, abundant in seal meat, was still decades away.) But Amundsen made seal meat ...
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 20,636 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
| 
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
