Multidirectional Mission: Special Operations Principles for Leading God's Mission in His Church

Abstract

The church and Special Operations Forces have multidirectional missions. A multidirectional mission is a complex end state with emerging objectives that require a spectrum of alternating activities and efforts. With the surmounting challenges facing American evangelicals, church leaders should consider utilizing biblically redefined Full Range Leadership (FRL) that faithfully pursues high-capacity and high-competency to accomplish God’s mission. This argument is supported with a combination of past studies in secular leadership theory, leadership in the Special Operations Forces, and a leadership case study of the success and failure during Operation Anaconda. These findings are filtered through in depth biblical analysis of leadership principles that provides pastors and church leaders with a new framework to consider when leading God’s mission for His church. This framework includes five principles of Full Range Leaders derived from special operations: define the mission, take command, plan backward, kill complacency, and lead the fight.