I have taught classes on leadership for the last 40 years. What I teach has nothing to do with being in charge, being the visionary out in front of the crowd, or being the person who makes all the decisions. Leadership is influence and the leadership principles that I teach is about leading by example, motivating people who are your peers by how you treat and honor them, being the kind of person that is so admired by others that they unconsciously imitate your behavior and speech.

I offer the 7 month class once a year starting in October to whoever wants to take it. It isn’t an easy class and a number usually drop out each year because the homework takes too much time for their schedule.

For the first month of the class I teach about the power of goal setting to control your life, to establish priorities in your life, to change your life, and to accomplish a lot with your life for the glory of God and for the blessing of your family, church, and business. I also teach the mechanics of goal setting and how to use it as a tool to discover the will of God for your life.

This year I have about 20 in my “Woman’s Leadership Class,” about 25 in my “Men’s Leadership Class,” and 20 in my “Leadership II Class” which is open for both men and woman who have gone through their respective leadership I classes.

Everyone writes at least a dozen goals and turns them in, and today I read them all. It was a very blessed and encouraging time to see what so many wanted to accomplish with their lives. Everyone had a Bible reading goal, a prayer goal, and a Bible memory goal. Almost all of them had a pray with their spouse and children goal. Many had exercise and weight goals. Most had some kind of Christian ministry goal and personal evangelism goal. Almost all had some kind of goal to change bad behavior habits like anger, swearing, drinking, smoking, overspending, excess TV viewing or Facebook time.

I am so thankful to the Lord that I get to teach people principles that help change their lives to be more godly and useful to the Lord to do His work. I don’t take this blessing from God for granted, but I pray a lot for each student each week and for my own wisdom in teaching and motivating and that God will work through His Spirit in my life and those I teach.