Alumni Feature: Steve French (NBC 1980)

Steve French graduated from Northeastern Bible College in 1980 with a major in theology. Originally from Caldwell, NJ, he now lives in Orlando, Florida. We spoke with Steve to learn about his work in the leadership development space, and hear how Northeastern contributed to his understanding of faith and work.

Where do you work, and what do you do?

I am the president of Lifework Leadership, which is based in Orlando and has affiliates around the U.S. and the world. I’m responsible for its global vision, for making sure our community of Christian marketplace leaders is well served, and for the content of our program. Our core competency is offering a 9-month course that follows how Jesus developed His twelve marketplace leaders. The program does three things: it seeks to help leaders identify their calling; it helps them to discover a biblical worldview about work and character; and it challenges them to be engaged in serving their local city with their gifts. We incorporate live case studies of men and women in the marketplace, bringing them in from their own cities. Everything is locally driven and overseen in each city where we have an affiliate; I train trainers to deliver this program.

How would you summarize a Christian worldview of work and character?

I don’t see any divide between sacred work and secular work. All honest work is sacred to God, whether foreign missions or Wall Street finance. So we talk to our leaders about that—and we talk about character traits that leaders are not often hired for, but are often fired for not having: integrity, humility, generosity, legacy, courage, relationships, and calling.

Did you ever picture yourself doing what you do now?

Yeah, I think so. When I was in high school, I wanted to be leading leaders. I got involved in youth ministry after college and enjoyed that for ten years, primarily in Wheaton, Illinois. Then I went on staff with Willow Creek Community Church, where I was inspired to—as the Bible says—“fan into flame” my gifts. That church ignited a heart for using leadership to serve others well, and I was especially interested in working with men and women who were influencing large organizations. Over time the Lord gave me that opportunity, and I’m very grateful.

What was your first job? What were some early lessons you learned about work?

I was a newspaper boy. I loved delivering newspapers and throwing as far and as accurately as I could. Several newspapers did land in hedges and bushes, but I never broke a window! Whether I was doing maintenance work at Northeastern as a teenager or doing my first job as a newspaper boy, I always wanted to do things well. I felt as though if I could do well with the little things, over time I would be given opportunities to do things with more responsibility—specifically involving people.

How do you feel about your work now?

I am in a “zone.” I’ve been very fortunate to have great health, but also a conviction to persevere. What I do is a challenging thing financially. Lifework Leadership is a non-profit organization, and because we focus on leaders, there is a perception that we have no need for finances. This is the opposite of the truth, because we are committed to avoiding conflicts of interest, and so we do not ask our leaders for money. We certainly let them know about it if they ask, but we want our leaders thinking about their spheres of influence when it comes to their finances and the way they use their talents. We encourage them to give to the local church, support local charities, and of course invest in other things our Lord has given them a passion for. So my perseverance has been tested over time. What gives someone perseverance to hold up over time? It has everything to do with whether or not he has gotten clear on his calling. If you’re clear on your calling you can persevere through nearly anything.

What types of challenges are you presented with at work? What habits have you developed to address them?

I have the great fortune of being around some very high-level leaders. One challenge is humility—another is coveting, or jealousy. I really have to be sure to understand that God has given me the privilege to be alongside these people. He has not given me the privilege, or I should say the challenge, of possessing their things. Truthfully that’s a blessing in many ways, but last I checked, I still have some human flesh to me, and I need to be careful to understand that I’m just simply someone who is leading these people to the heart of Christ. I am not someone who needs to have the same kinds of influence or possessions that these leaders have.

How does your work influence others?

I’ve been able to mentor personally a couple of very influential leaders. They in turn, because of their position, affect the people under their care. So I have a direct influence and a multiplied influence, immediately. I’m also able to have leaders think through and dream about using their influence for greater kingdom good in their cities and around the world. It’s a thrill to see these leaders responding and influencing people in their homes, as well as their colleagues at work, and certainly the people in their cities.

How has Northeastern influenced your work and life?

I actually grew up on the campus of Northeastern Bible College. My dad was a professor there for fifteen years. I saw some amazing students come and go. As a little boy looking up to these college students, I wished I could be like them one day. So many of them had given their lives fully to the mission of Northeastern Bible College, which was full-time vocational Christian work. I remember when I was six, being a part of a prayer service to send two Northeastern graduates to Papua New Guinea as missionaries. Looking at the globe that was in my room at that time, I realized how far away they were willing to go because of their sense of calling. When I became college-aged, I went to Biola University on a soccer scholarship, but transferred back to Northeastern and really enjoyed it. So there are different ways in which Northeastern and its students influenced me, but they caused me to see the joy and privilege it is to commit one’s life fully to the work of Christ.

Any significant professor or staff relationships?

I loved my time at Northeastern overall, but a year or two after I was out, I let the faculty know that I had missed the absence of emphasis on leadership. Although I appreciated and took advantage of numerous opportunities to lead, including serving as the student body president for the last two years of Dr. Anderson’s tenure, there were no mentors I could really glean things from. I taught myself about leadership for many years. Finally at Willow Creek, I was surrounded by great leaders: certainly Bill Hybels, who drives Willow Creek’s vision, and Don Cousins, who drove its mission, and a number of others. They were so significant in influencing my life.

How did Northeastern shape your faith?

I gained an incredible commitment to being biblical. There are a lot of ideas about what Christianity could and should be, but at the end of the day, I trust we all wish to be biblical. Northeastern gave me a love for God’s word and knowledge of how to read, interpret, and apply it. That has shaped my faith greatly.

What’s your favorite memory at Northeastern?

The opportunity to lead the student body for two years was a real privilege. I got to understand what it means not only to work with peers but to work through various committees that any educational institution might have. I worked with the dean and the president of the school, and it was an opportunity to represent the student body in a way that was honoring and pleasing to the Lord.

Your favorite class?

Hermeneutics with Dr. Jim Bjornstad. I believe he also taught at The King’s College after Northeastern was folded in 1990. I met Jim Bjornstad when he was a freshman in college in 1962-63 as a young boy. I saw him grow in his faith as a student; in time he came back to Northeastern to teach, and equipped me with tools that would grow my faith.

What piece of advice would you give to current King’s students?

Jesus is a model for life AND leadership. My perspective on Jesus is that He came to model how to lead by modeling His life with twelve marketplace leaders, who were ultimately challenged by Jesus to go change the world. I believe that Jesus focused on developing leaders, and that’s what He wants to do at The King’s College: take your gifts and passions and put some leadership in that mix, so you can influence culture deeply.