Leadership: Alpha 2 West

We started out hardly knowing each other. We were given a hall of 33 girls and told to lead them well. Sure we received training, but most learning usually happens on the job.

Some of us were very similar... we bonded right away. Some of us were very different... we struggled. Not because we didn't like each other, but mainly because we didn't understand each other. Some of us started as rivals... comparing ourselves to each other and wishing we were more like the other person. It threatened our unity as a team. But we fought hard to stay together. We dealt with it and became friends. Good, solid, amazing friends.

We have learned the amazing value of being unified as we lead.... and that unity has led to hall unity. It has been humbling to know that the way I behave will directly affect those I lead. I have seen it in my failure as well as my success. I have found immense joy in knowing that our leadership team has represented unity, love, prayer, and support to the women that we lead.

Trying to lead a hall when we hardly know each other is an amusing business... hall leadership meetings (Gaggle as we called it) were sometimes awkward... until we became friends. When we try to pinpoint when that was, we are quite unable. It just happened. Experiencing frustration and disappointment, as well as joy and excitement together will lead people to become friends.

Often it was in the moments of our weakness that our dependence on the Lord and our dependence on one another came out the most. We learned the power of prayer. We became a praying leadership team.

And that changed everything.