Though I don’t quite get the connection with Taylor Swift, her take home point seems to be that leadership is not for wimps, and that if a leader is unable to or refuses to (humbly) take criticism, he/she will invariably be a horrible leader.

You nailed the essence of what Chris Brown preached:

“Shepherding is not to change people, but to offer them space and freedom where change can occur. It is not an invitation to adopt the lifestyle of the shepherd, but the gift of a chance for the sheep to find its own.”

Space and freedom. Chris Brown used Old Testament examples of good (Pharoah) and bad (Saul) leadership events. He called it “making room in your chariot for a younger leader to take your power and credit”.

In the past and even today most churches require that you believe before you can belong. Such churches will likely continue to die out because of their exclusive and elitist tendencies. Today, the churches that thrive are those that make you feel that you belong even if you don’t believe. Both Newbigin and Tim Keller have strongly advocated this.

UBF has become so unique (insider prayers, unusual speaking and sermon style, foreign accents, sometimes even by Americans!) that they are so unlike the culture in America that unless you first believe and feel loved many newcomers will just feel that our church atmosphere just seems so unnatural, odd and even “cultish.” Only what the younger people do “feels” normal, such as the music, or skits or drama. This was most evident at the ISBC.