43 CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP AND FINDING MEANING AND PURPOSE Teaching 6 20 Serving 6 12 Modeling, Role Modeling 6 9 Counseling & Coaching 4 8 Administrating 3 4 Volunteering/Altruism 3 3 The study discovered that a leader’s generative acts or expressions provide meaning-making opportunities. Meaning was created and expressed through the participants' faith, roles, and purpose. Specifically, participants derived meaning from their faith and relationship with God, which was expressed through discipleship and living out their biblical, Christian worldview. Another finding suggests a relationship between the participants’ generative expressions, meaning, and their calling. Michael Steger and Bryan Dik’s research indicated that meaning in life appears related to calling: “People who feel their work is a calling also feel their lives are more meaningful.”59 In the interviews with Christian educational leaders, it appeared that participants’ lives were meaningful to the extent they were acting within their God-given calling. If a leader can foster meaning and growth in followers through generative expressions, this can have a profound impact on society. When a Christian leader guides followers in discovering purpose and significance in their lives, it not only enriches the individual but also contributes to the betterment of the community and society as a whole. C.S. Lewis’s analogy of irrigating deserts rather than cutting down jungles highlights the importance of nurturing and cultivating follower potential rather than merely enforcing conformity.60 By nurturing followers’ and students’ thoughts, beliefs, and abilities, a generative leader creates an environment where varied perspectives are valued, critical thinking is encouraged, and personal growth in Christ is prioritized. In essence, a generative Christian leader seeks to inspire, empower, and equip followers to become agents of positive change in their communi-
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