Vineyard Church North Phoenix | Being a Life-Long Learner

A Conversation with John Wimber

John Wimber frequently talked about the importance of being a life-long learner for effective Christian leaders. Here are excerpts from an interview with John Wimber on this topic conducted by Betsy Glanville...

What do you mean by a “life-long learner?”

John: In my years of service to the Lord I noticed that many people grow older, but do not mature in the process. After thinking about it and praying about it over the years, it became clear to me that at some point, and for some reason, they decided to stop learning.

I determined I wanted to live my life as a learner. This meant I often had to live in a vulnerable way, such as acknowledging when I didn’t know something, and communicating honestly on a subject because of that.

Over time people would say to me, “You’re so honest,” or “You’re so disclosing.” All I was trying to do was to follow through with my determination to grow. It was during that time that I coined the phrase, “I want to grow up before I grow old.”

In my mind, maturing is not just the acquisition of information. It’s the pursuit of a combination of information and formation. I want to mature in my character and personality behavior, as well as acquire information that will help me in the pursuit of pleasing God and doing a better job. That’s what I mean by a “life-long learner.”

How can we maintain a posture as life-long learners?

John: It begins with honest self-appraisal. We need to look at ourselves realistically. What are our areas of limitation? What have people said back to us?

I would also encourage interaction with other people you trust. See if their perception of you is radically different from your own and take that into consideration. Husbands and wives, immediate family and close, long-term friends sometimes have a much better understanding of you than you do of yourself.

I would give 80% of my effort to maximizing my strengths. These are the things that are already in place. God is already using them to some measure and my friends are acknowledging them. Then why not hone them, make them better, and stronger? I can de-emphasize weakness by a combination of confession and good behavior, while emphasizing strengths by acquiring new information as well as formation.

However, from time to time the Lord has directed me specifically in an area. It is important to recognize that God is, indeed, in charge of our lives. He’s often produced circumstances in my life that have developed areas of character I never knew existed. My wife would say I’m a much more sensitive and more open person in my personal relationships after having gone through years of various illnesses. I am much quicker to deal with things. Sometimes the Lord will initiate an area of development in your life. All you have to do is cooperate. If the Lord says it’s time to learn something, learn it and respond to it.

From a 1995 “Vineyard Reflections” newsletter. (reprinted with permission)