Day 21 of Gratitude - John Barce

31 Days of Gratitude - In an attempt to publicly express my gratitude for the people that have impacted me in some way in 2015, I'm setting out to write one post a day sharing what I appreciate about them or what moment that marked me. Some of these people I know well, some I've only met, and some I'm just getting to know. There is no ranking to these posts and they aren't meant to put anyone on a pedestal. They, like you and I, are imperfect people with their own flaws, some you may have experienced. Despite those flaws, I believe we all need to have our positive characteristics called into light and celebrated. This is that attempt. 

John is one of the greatest men I've known in my 34 years of life. Big statement to make, but I can't imagine another person that has believed in me as a person and as a professional as deep as John has. John had the concept for NeighborLink, the org I run now, and co-founded its creation 12 years ago. John and his wife, Katie, have invested more into NL than I've ever seen a couple do in a nonprofit they believe, and I'm not just talking finances. John and Katie may give dollars to our organization, but they give so much more in terms of board leadership, project volunteerism, and getting others involved. Eight years ago, John gave me the chance to come on board as the executive director of this small grassroots nonprofit and try to make something of it. John and the previous director had done a phenomenal job creating the foundation for a great organization, but it needed something and I ultimately wasn't sure I had what it needed. However, John did and I trusted that what he saw in me was worth investing. 

Since then, John has become a trusted mentor and created an environment as the ultimate decision maker as board president, that has allowed me to explore my professional abilities and do what I've felt was right for the organization with strong governance oversight and little day-to-day supervision. Since day 1 on the job, I've seen John hold NeighborLink loosely like a true steward of God's resources should and never once take credit for ways we've been provided for year-after-year. NL was never, and will never be, John's in his mind. I greatly appreciate this perspective and it's been the greatest illustration of what biblical stewardship really is to me. It's given me the perspective that NL doesn't have to exist, no one has to support it, and God doesn't have to work through it. We don't own NL and we're not owed anything. We're merely in a position to be obedient to help others connect to their vulnerable neighbors and attempt to do it to the best of our ability with the most radical grace possible. Never has John asked me to lead in any other way, and it's paid off because we can look back and see so many successful projects and relationships built that practically shouldn't have happened because of the scope. When you're just a steward, you recognize that nothing we have is ours in the first place, and our mission is to give everything away to the best of our ability. 

This environment that John has created has been vital to my personal and professional development. I've gotten to concept and execute ideas that have been both wildly successful and utter failures. I've told John that I no longer feel like I'm the right person leading NL a half-dozen times and he's always just listened, asked really great questions, pointed out truths to things I was questioning about myself, and encouraged me to make the right decision regardless of the outcome. I can't imagine any other board president responding as well as he has over the years to my uncertainty and growth challenges. I'm grateful that John has trusted me, created an environment that allows me to lead well, and always been the stability that has made NL and myself thrive over the past 8 years since I've been around. 

I'm grateful that I've seen a man who could easily justify never volunteering or investing much time into NL due to a busy family and a very demanding job as an attorney never forget just how important interacting with the poor is for himself, his family, and the church community he's a part of. John is the best example of a servant leader that I personally know and have seen. When I grow up, I want to be like the Jesus I seen shining through John's life. The grace and love for others. The sacrificial living and truth I see spoken. The love and priority he gives his family and community. Thank you for giving me so many things to admire and to emulate as a man, leader, father, and professional.