The Grace Goes With the Chair: A Journey in Leadership

Stu has put together much powerful wisdom and insight on how to be a more godly, and hence more effective, leader and team member. I used his book for our annual executive offsite, focusing on specific chapters selected by the team members. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the book, and we each came away with valuable insights and motivation on how to better incorporate God and His teachings in our day-to-day lives—not only as leaders and team members, but also as spouses, parents, friends and individuals.

—GUY GARDNER

PRESIDENT, WILLIAMSON FREE SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL TRADES

FORMER SPACE SHUTTLE ASTRONAUT

FORMER COMMANDER, U.S. AIR FORCE TEST PILOT SCHOOL

AND NASA AND FAA EXECUTIVE

I had the privilege to preview the manuscript of The Grace Goes With the Chair. I believe that this is a book everyone needs to read. Stu’s years of leadership in the Air Force, commanding thousands of men and women during his career, was solidly founded on biblical leadership principles. Further, he refined these principles as a pastor and church-association executive. The book will help you no matter where you are in your leadership journey . . . in every area of your life.

—ARNI JACOBSON

AUTHOR, FORMER MEGA-CHURCH PASTOR

EXECUTIVE, GRACE INTERNATIONAL

Stu Johnson is one of the most gifted leaders of our day. Through his career in the Air Force leading thousands of troops and civilian employees and the last decade of overseeing thousands of pastors as the Executive Administrator of Grace International, he knows the chair of leadership better than anyone I know. For those who want to be effective leaders, learning from those who have mastered the journey is essential. From his many years of experience, Stu deals with a leader’s personal development and how to develop tools and skills that cause people to willingly and faithfully follow. A must-read for every leader and for those aspiring to be!

—STEVE RIGGLE

PASTOR, GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH, HOUSTON TX

PRESIDENT, GRACE INTERNATIONAL CHURCHES AND MINISTRIES

PRESIDENT, KING’S UNIVERSITY

The experiential scope of Stu Johnson’s managerial and spiritual grasp as a leader provides a remarkably practical manual for all of us commissioned to lead. His background in both military and church leadership (presently staffed at a mega-church that also serves a huge church network) brings so much to the table that no reader will go away disappointed. There’s a fund of wisdom and resource here that will serve you for years to come.

—JACK W. HAYFORD

CHANCELLOR, THE KING’S UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES

The Grace Goes With the Chair is not a book to be skimmed and checked off the list. If you want to become an effective leader, then this book is a must read. Each of us need to thoroughly and thoughtfully consider, act upon, and revisit on a regular basis, the concepts in this book and their applications. This is true whether you lead a few or many, volunteers or paid, in any organizational construct.

—KATHY ROBERTS

BRIGADIER GENERAL (RETIRED), US AIR FORCE

This book contains simple yet profound principles. Pastor Stu’s views in the area of leadership are enlightening and unique. Because of my experience, I congratulate my friend and pastor for this great work of literature, and I am certain it will be of great benefit to those who venture into leadership roles. Readers will discover a different perspective on the area of service.

—GENERAL (RETIRED) ROMEO ORLANDO VASQUEZ VELASQUEZ

FORMER COMMANDER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF HONDURAS

THE

GRACE

GOES WITH

THE CHAIR

STU JOHNSON

WITH ROBERT MIMS

THE GRACE GOES WITH THE CHAIR

By Stu Johnson with Robert Mims

Published by Excel

A Charisma Media Company

600 Rinehart Road

Lake Mary, Florida 32746

www.charismamedia.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked THE MESSAGE are taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked TLB are from The Living Bible. Copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.

Design Director: Bill Johnson

Cover design by Nathan Morgan

Copyright © 2012 by Stu Johnson with Robert Mims

All rights reserved.

Visit the author’s website: www.gracegoeswiththechair.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: 2012940596

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-62136-068-1

E-book International Standard Book Number: 978-1-62136-069-8

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers and Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication.

DEDICATION

I want to dedicate this first book to my wife of forty-three years, Debbe. She is my best friend, the love of my life, and the best gift God has given me other than the death of Jesus Christ for my sins. Debbe, thank you for your encouragement, partnership, and inspiration.

Also, I love and thank my two children, Andy and Lisa, who were the laboratory for many of my leadership successes and failures. Not only are they my dear children, but they are also my dear friends.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

IT HAS BEEN more than ten years since the Lord gave me the thought on an airplane about writing a book on leadership character. I started off with a rush, writing the first five chapters in a few weeks, and then got stalled in the middle when a writer-friend told me that another Christian leadership book would not be attractive to publishers.

The Lord kept the book percolating in my spirit, though. After halting for a few years, I got going. I finished the first draft a couple of years ago but did not know where to go next. A good friend, Arni Jacobson, told me to contact Bob Mims (www.mimsmedia.com).

Bob had written and edited a number of books for Arni and others; he had Arni’s highest recommendation. Arni was right. Bob has taken my rough draft and made it read so much more smoothly. He has been able to put himself in my shoes and express my thoughts even better. Bob, thanks for your incredible skill and effort. Thanks also for your friendship and prayers.

I also want to thank my mom, Helen, who influenced me to give my life to Jesus Christ and planted so many good seeds in my heart.

Next, I want to thank three men, Bill Hudspeth, Gary Coombs, and Dave Malkin. Bill led me to Christ in a dormitory hall at the Air Force Academy. He took the time to share some words that forever changed my life. Gary Coombs, who is now deceased, challenged me when I was timid about sharing my faith in Christ to come out of my shell of fear and live for Him. Finally, Dave Malkin, who headed Action Life in the early 1970s, led me into living in the power of God’s Holy Spirit. His influence launched Debbe and me on our faith walk.

I want to also acknowledge Pastor Don Van Hoozier, who pastored High Point Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia, for over fifty years and influenced our Christian growth more than any other person. He and other pastors were the first to confirm my call to ministry in an ordination service in 1978. Our visits and calls over the years have been an incredible encouragement.

I further thank Retired Major Generals Bernie Weiss, Bob Drewes, and Tim Malishenko and Retired General Les Lyles. I served under all four of these leaders and learned by observing and interacting with them. They each had very different leadership styles, but they all impacted my leadership journey in a very positive way.

I want to also recognize General Romeo Orlando Vasquez Velasquez, who recently retired as the Commander of the Armed Forces of Honduras. I shared most of the principles in this book with him and his staff during many visits to Honduras. He also encouraged me to finish this book. Thanks, my friend!

Thanks also to Pastor Paul Adams, who introduced me to Grace International Churches and Ministries, where I now serve as Executive Administrator. Paul has been a tremendous friend and encourager to me as a military and Christian leader. Also, thanks to Pastor Steve Riggle who is the president of Grace International and is an incredibly wise and visionary leader. I have learned much from you.

Finally, I want to commend our three family dogs, CJ, Bailey, and Rocco. They have taken thousands of prayer walks with me over the last thirty-plus years. Every morning, they eagerly waited for our walks, and on these walks God sowed many leadership lessons into my life.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

1 The Character of the Leader

2 The Attitude of the Leader

3 The Care of the Leader

4 The Diligence of the Leader

5 The Courage of the Leader

6 The Grace of the Leader

7 The Flexibility of the Leader

8 The Focus of the Leader

9 The Inadequacy of the Leader

10 The Insecurity of the Leader

11 Helpful Principles for the Leader

12 The Contentment of the Leader

13 The Leader God Uses

About the Author

Contact the Author

INTRODUCTION

EARLY ON IN my thirty-year career as an Air Force officer, I had a revelation—an epiphany, really—that would prove to be the foundation for everything I would learn and later teach about effective leadership. That foundation was laid as I listened with spiritual ears to the Holy Spirit’s still, small voice saying, God’s grace goes with the chair.

I remember that moment with crystal clarity. Preparing for a leadership position, I was carefully—and with increasing insecurity—watching the senior officer I would be replacing go through his paces with confidence and effectiveness I admired. And, thinking ahead to when I would be expected to do his job, I suddenly felt like I was drowning in a sea of expectations.

As he addressed one challenge after another, I remember thinking to myself, I would never have thought of that. I cannot do this job. I am going to fail!

It was then, even as my heart began to sink, that the Lord spoke to me. My predecessor seemed to do the job with so much grace, I thought. To me, grace meant—and still does today—having God’s wisdom, strength, courage, and stamina, and the contacts to do what you need to do.

Then the Lord softly, yet firmly, filled my mind with peace and assurance. Yes, it was grace that was needed, and I would have it as I grew into my new position. The grace goes with the chair. In other words, God’s favor for me—for all who truly trust Him—empowers us as we settle into our journeys. If God puts you into a position, His grace goes with the job!

While I am convinced the grace goes with the chair principle is a universal one, my own journey on the leadership road has been very different from most. Later in this book, I will share more about that. But for now, here’s a thumbnail sketch of my beginnings.

I grew up in Montana, and soon after graduating from high school in 1965, I began life as a cadet at the US Air Force Academy.

The academy instilled discipline and focus into my life—skills that were a good framework for the military career that followed. More important, though, was that I accepted Christ as my personal Savior my first year there. I would need both the training and, most certainly, the guidance and blessings of my Savior through the rest of my academy years and then the three decades I served in the Air Force.

That I spent such a long time in the military was ironic. At first, I had not planned on making the Air Force a career. But I found that as the years passed, I was enjoying the leadership challenges—and personal, spiritual growth—that serving my country provided. I know now that those thirty years were indeed God’s plan for my life, and the experiences gained on that journey prepared me uniquely for the pastoral and ministerial leadership roles that would follow.

While answering to both God and Uncle Sam, I had assignments in no less than twelve locations, each of which tested and stretched me both professionally and as a Christian. My responsibilities were varied and challenging, and I was blessed to serve under many superb commanders—men of integrity and wisdom who honed my own leadership abilities.

As I grew under these officers’ tutelage and listened to the lessons and insights of that still, small voice of God along the way, I realized that it really was a privilege to lead others—to live and work for a purpose beyond one’s self, and to guide and mentor others along the way.

I first spread my Air Force leadership wings at age twenty-five as a lieutenant in charge of a team of three. When I retired from the military many years later, I had completed my most memorable and challenging assignment yet: as the commander of nearly six thousand people, including thirty subordinate commands, spanning the western United States and responsible for billions of dollars of Department of Defense and NASA contracts.

God had blessed me and guided me through those years in the Air Force, and when I became a civilian in 1999, He led me into a new, exciting realm of service: the ministry. I first was called to be an assistant pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in San Pedro, California. A year later, I became the senior pastor of Sonrise Christian Center in Sun City, California, serving a wonderful and growing congregation for eight years.

While still pastoring at Sonrise, I became a district superintendent of our church association, Grace International. Then in January 2008, I assumed my current position as that global Christian fellowship’s Executive Administrator, overseeing Grace International’s day-to-day operations.

The stereotype of a military commander is one of an uncompromising, sometimes dictatorial top-down boss who has little patience for any feedback from subordinates other than a quick, Yes, sir! While there are some who fit that description, the most successful officers I’ve met, worked with, and tried to emulate built sterling reputations by mixing firm yet compassionate leadership with proactive team-building.

In other words, they sought, calmly and incisively considered, and were not afraid to implement ideas from those under their command. Good leaders put aside their own egos to praise the work of their subordinates; they took an interest in their lives, and both gave—and received—trust.

So, my transition from Air Force leadership to the ministry was not as difficult as you might imagine. Early on, as a newly minted officer, I had received some advice that I never forgot. An older, wiser mentor shared some great advice: God is in charge of every assignment and detail of my life. He will send me where He chooses to grow, use, and mold me. I needed to start seeing my journey in the Air Force as under God’s care and direction. I was to serve with diligence, and share the love of God wherever possible.

I embraced that advice. I remembered it at times when I felt I might lose my way. I claimed it, believed it, and found that as I honored it, God honored me with His favor!

This is advice that can be applied to any profession God guides you into. Our Father wants to direct your paths, to help you use the gifts He has invested in you—to shine through your life in order to touch others for Him.

While I have tried to share leadership principles by example, and occasionally with individuals under my authority, I never really thought I had that much to share on a bigger stage—certainly, not in a book!

However, God dreamed something bigger for me. I had learned some important lessons, and some years ago, I learned one more: The Lord had no intention of letting me hide that wisdom like the proverbial lamp under a basket.

In October 2000, I was asked to speak about leadership at our church association’s convention. I thought, What do I have to say to these pastors that they have not already heard, in one way or another, many times? I was mulling that over as I was on a plane flying to Houston, where the conference was being held.

As I watched the clouds slide by, I heard God’s voice speak to my heart that, actually, I had a lot to say about leadership. The Lord made it clear He had been pouring into me leadership principles, lessons, and character qualities for many years—and these blessings were too precious not to share.

My mind flooded with scenes from my life that had a common theme, one of God’s clear and patient direction. He had been depositing experiences, insights, and wisdom about interpersonal relationships and much more, and now it was time for those things to be invested into His broader kingdom. That would be done through messages I could share at various forums and then expand those