The Leadership Blog Interview: Dave Workman

Dave Workman

Bio: Dave is the Senior Pastor of Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati, OH.

Church: Vineyard Community Church -Cincinnati, OH

The Leadership Blog Interview Questions
1. Dave, What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Dave: "Two things: I love seeing people come to Christ. That’s a window to heaven. Secondly, seeing the “leadership light” come on for someone. When somebody says, “I could do that”, that means that inspiration and mechanics have converged and leadership has done its primary job."

2. What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Dave: "One dimensional definitions for leadership. Churches that are content with where they are. Believers who are not outward-focused."

3. Who made the biggest influence in your life as a leader?
Dave: "A pastor named Clyde Miller who led me to Christ. I was a musician and druggie/drinker. He took the time and risk to pastor the hippies who were stumbling into his traditional Pentecostal church during the Jesus movement. A classic shepherd.
My friend Steve Sjogren. Our leadership styles are so different, but perseverance is what I have learned and admired from Steve. And he’s the most non-religious Christian I know."

4. What books have changed your life?
Dave: "Currently reading: The Productive Narcissist by Maccoby and The Prophetic Imagination by Brueggeman. But the Big Books over many years: Mere Christianity (yeah, I know, but it’s true…) by the patron saint of evangelicalism. Good to Great by Collins. Watership Down by Adams. How can you not be moved by a massive fictional account of the Exodus story…with rabbits?"

5. What's your biggest challenge as a leader?
Dave: "Maintaining intimacy with Jesus…not running ahead, not getting apathetic. The biggest challenge is always self-leadership, isn’t it?"

6. What goals do you have as a leader?
Dave: "To truly mine the depths of what servant leadership is about. To take bigger risks. To inspire people to do what they may have never considered in their journey with Jesus."

7. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Dave: "Hopefully becoming a wise old sage, listening to whatever is the hardcore music scene in 2015, and serving my church."

Thanks Dave for a great interview!