Brian Houston’s Turning Point GLS Session | Leading in Fear vs. Leading in Freedom

No one really knew about John Witte’s fears because he appeared to most as the most confident person they knew. As a teaching pastor at City Church in San Antonio, Texas, speaking in front of people every week, and formerly a long term missionary in East Africa for 17 years, no one had suspected that he dealt with fear. “I’ve struggled with fear my whole life due to a series of events that happened to me from age 6-12. I didn’t discover why until I was 52,” said John. “I always appeared as one of the most confident people you would’ve known, but deep down I knew there were many times when I would not undertake a task or I would propose and idea, and then not follow through to make it happen. I simply wasn’t sure I had what it took to make it work.”

John had built up a false confidence to hide behind his fear. “I rarely ever asked God for assistance in the past. Oddly enough, I always thought He should help someone less capable than myself,” John shares. “If I needed Him, I’d call him… but I never called. It was my pride at work.”

Reconnecting with God

During the Global Leadership Summit in 2015, during Brian Houston’s session, something stirred in John’s heart. “During the end of the Brian Houston interview, they talked about the impact of music on self-leadership, and how music had helped him deal with an issue of fear he was facing, the Spirit of God did something in me that had not happened to this point in my life,” John said. “I simply came to the point where I knew I was tired of living in fear. I realized so clearly that because of my relationship to Jesus Christ, I don’t have to fear – in that moment, I laid my fear aside. I prayed and told the Lord, ‘I will do what is in my heart. I’m done with fear.’”

A grander vision is ignited

John had a God-given grander vision on his heart for a long time—one that he had let fear hold him back from pursuing. But at the Summit, he found just the encouragement he needed to move forward and take a risk. John has become free from fear, putting all his trust in God moving forward to create a place for leaders to rest and engage in conversations about their lives and the Lord. In February, he and his wife, Linda bought 125 acres of land in February, and though plans are still underway, they already have a lot of interest. “Linda and I have set a couple of very specific goals,” said John. “The first is for the way we manage the place, how it looks and the quality of what we produce to bring honor to God. We are developing the water resources on the land, and preparing to expand the agricultural and livestock production. Linda and I both have a lot of skills related to helping people think through their lives and ‘write a better life story.’  We want to have those same kinds of conversations in a peaceful, rural setting where people can come away from their daily routine and grow closer to God.”

Leading in freedom from fear

“Purchasing the farm is an example of leading in freedom from fear,” said John. “It’s the most challenging thing I’ve ever done. It’s the biggest risk I’ve ever taken, and I’m leading our family to establish a homestead we never would’ve established otherwise. I’m taking on new projects and putting myself in a position where I have to learn new skills and depend on other people to help teach me things I don’t know. Now, when I face fears, I acknowledge them and right away ask God’s help or correction about what I’m thinking about doing. I ask!”

“The Summit always puts me together with high quality people,” said John. “When you get around great people you get better yourself. One of the most important values a humble, servant leader can have is the value of learning. The Summit is a great chance to learn. I always go just hoping to come away with one major learning that will effect my life, and in 2015, I experienced a turning point.”