The Leadership Blog Interview: Bob Roberts

Bob Roberts

Bio: Bob is founder and Senior Pastor of NorthWood Church. The church started September 15, 1985. NorthWood’s membership is now over 2500 and weekly attendance averages 2000+. NorthWood has planted in excess of 89 churches in the US.

Bob is a national and international speaker and thinker in transforming people, churches, communities and the world. He works throughout the world on nation building projects. He has been instrumental in building schools, clinics and hospitals in other countries. He has worked extensively on church planting with many denominations, institutions and organizations throughout the US in identifying new places to start churches and train church planters and in the placement and strategy of new churches.

Church: NorthWood Church

The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. Bob, what gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Bob: "Seeing someone raised up and doing things they never thought they could or would."

2. What is your biggest pet peave as a leader?
Bob: "Dealing with people, laymen and pastors, who don't see the whole or the big picture."

3. Who made the biggest influence on your life as a leader?
Bob: "No one person--but many, Bobb Beihl, Bob Buford, Robert Clinton, Leith Anderson - lots of biographies"

4. What books have changed your life?
Bob: "The Bible first and foremost would probably be the only one that has changed me, but many have impacted me. Willard - Divine Conspiracy, Stanley Jones - Mastery - and anything else he wrote. Bonhoeffer, Ghandi's Autobiography, Tolstoy - The Kingdom of God is within you and Confessions"

5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Bob: "To stay focused - I'm a local church pastor. We plant lots of churches, I also work globally - keeping it all streamlined and integrated. I've had to learn to say no a lot the past 5 years, hasn't been easy."

6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Bob: "I want to first and foremost know God deeply and hear His voice where I am doing exactly what He wants. Secondly, I want to have fun with my wife and raise 3 world class leaders in my children. Thirdly, I want to redefine what church is."

7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Bob: "Continuing to love God, having fun, and taking risks "

Thanks Bob for taking the interview!