Wednesday I met Dr. Rhoden in Arlington, VA and drove to Valley Forge Christian College to pick up the students that would join us for the trip. To put in perspective the respect that I hold for Dr. Rhoden I feel that he is one of the top ten Christian leaders I've known. I was thrilled last fall when he invited me to attend this trip. He asked me to do some driving, and went on quite a bit about how thankful he was to have me drive. To be honest, I would have pushed the van around all week to get the chance to be with him.
Dr. Rhoden reached a place several years ago when the station of his life had brought him to a place of investing in the future. He has adopted the motto: "Your potential is my mission", and has put his ministry where his mouth is. In trying to discern how he might affect future generations he decided to open the circle of his relationships, one way, by offering this experience to eight Valley Forge students each year. This is the first year he has included pastors as well.
From pulling out of the parking lot at Arlington Assembly of God Dr. Rhoden began investing in me. Our conversation ranged from price/earnings ratios to ministry memories. Throughout the trip anytime Dr. Rhoden shared, it made an impact. On Saturday morning we picked up Joan Rhoden, a wonderful lady, in the Richmond area and she brought out parts of Dr. Rhoden that were inspiring as well. Here was a couple that has been married 43 years!
He shared openly and candidly about any topic or question that came up, and he modeled for the students a brilliant brand of leadership. At one point he said, "Come on now, I know you can keep up with this 60 year old buck." But I'll tell you it wasn't easy. He kept the pace like I drove the van: pedal to the metal.
The most meaningful part of the trip was standing on the front porch of Commonwealth Chapel in Richmond, VA. We had dropped the group at the steps and then he and I went to park the van. As we walked toward the church I was sharing with him about the potential that I feel is in my own life and ministry. Dr. Rhoden stopped walking and said, "You know, Ben,". I have been around Dr. Rhoden only a handful of times, but I have come to know that when he starts a conversation that way he is about to bring it. What he shared with me over the next one to two minutes were some direct affirmations and diagnosis of where he saw my potential being, and how he felt I would get there. It was very personal, and so I'm not quite ready to share it here in this essay. I will say though that it was the highlight of my week. Those words, at that place, were the kind of thing that should make me build a memorial or altar to the Lord.
I hope that every follower of Christ will hear those kinds of words from a godly leader, and that I'll be able to offer those words to others that I lead.
--Ben
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