Thursday 19 April 2018

Remembering Bob Buford, the Christian Leader’s Leader

Rick Warren, Matt Chandler, and other prominent pastors share how the innovative Leadership Network founder influenced their ministries.

A businessman, philanthropist, management coach, and inspirational author, the late Bob Buford worked behind the scenes to build a legacy that quietly extends to some of the most prominent figures, organizations, and megachurches in American Christianity today.

Buford, who died Wednesday at age 78, was a leader’s leader. It’s no wonder that he founded an organization simply called Leadership Network, designed to bring together Christian leaders and help them make their ministries more effective and innovative. Buford was a friend to the famous management guru Peter Drucker and helped introduce his thinking to the church.

The Texas native and former cable TV executive was committed to serving fellow Christians in ministry, always asking, “What can we do to be more useful to you?” and happy to have his fruit “grow on other people’s trees.”

Dozens of those who were mentored and inspired by Buford—also the founder of the Halftime Institute—shared their tributes with Christianity Today.

Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California:

I loved Bob Buford and he loved me. In the ‘80s, we became close friends through Peter Drucker who took an interest in both of us and became our mentor. Peter once told us, “Grow your fruit on other people’s trees,” and that sums up Bob’s life strategy.

For example, after attending our Purpose Driven Church training in 1990, Bob said “Everybody needs to hear this!” so he financed 13 Purpose Driven Church seminars across America. I had every one of those pastors we trained that year—over 30,000—write Bob a personal thank you note, and we’d mail them to him after ...

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