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nurturing servant leaders in religious education - Scholarly ...

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From participant answers, it would appear that one way purpose is achieved <strong>in</strong> the<br />

CES is through effective empowerment of participants <strong>in</strong> help<strong>in</strong>g them to know and<br />

realise their abilities and strengths through serv<strong>in</strong>g others. Each participant seemed to<br />

take on the responsibility of help<strong>in</strong>g others feel like they are a part of an<br />

organisational whole. This appeared to be an important goal for which participants<br />

strove, as was help<strong>in</strong>g others to better realise their potential as part of the garden.<br />

Love: Life-force of the garden<br />

In th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g of the life force for which the garden exists, my m<strong>in</strong>d returned repeatedly<br />

to love. Like the animat<strong>in</strong>g force of life, without love noth<strong>in</strong>g really lives. Life is the<br />

animat<strong>in</strong>g force that allows people, plants, everyth<strong>in</strong>g, to progress, to move and<br />

experience. The garden is made up of life. Without this force there is noth<strong>in</strong>g. All, as<br />

partakers <strong>in</strong> life, should have the chance to live <strong>in</strong> all that the word love means.<br />

Participants seemed to serve because they felt a genu<strong>in</strong>e love for others. The CES was<br />

seen as a forum <strong>in</strong> which to express love. There were no unwill<strong>in</strong>g hearts among<br />

participants, s<strong>in</strong>ce each had accepted their current assignments through personal<br />

choice. Participants <strong>in</strong>dicated that through serv<strong>in</strong>g others they felt they were serv<strong>in</strong>g<br />

their God. Participants also <strong>in</strong>dicated they were learn<strong>in</strong>g how to give more generously<br />

than they had known how to before. Increased generosity through service helped<br />

participants to <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> love and feel closer to their God. A New Testament<br />

scripture illustrates,<br />

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is<br />

born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is<br />

love…And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love;<br />

and he that dwelleth <strong>in</strong> love dwelleth <strong>in</strong> God, and God <strong>in</strong> him (1 John 4:7-8, 16).<br />

Participants gave of what they had, did what they could, and often more than was<br />

expected,<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the CES, is just, for me, a part of a responsibility. It doesn’t matter how<br />

many hours I put <strong>in</strong>to it as long as they (the students) get someth<strong>in</strong>g (VT 8).<br />

84

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