10 Questions for Leaders: Scott Marques

Scott leads River of Life Church, Harare and oversees the Newfrontiers churches in Zimbabwe. He also runs a number of businesses and gives leadership to a range of development initiatives in Zim. As well as having huge energy levels Scott is the most consistently cheerful and optimistic person I know – which is all the remarkable considering what has been happening in Zim over recent years. I think there is a case to be made for an international standard measurement of optimism in ‘units of Scott’!

Who is your leadership hero? Why?
Jesus – obvious. Apart from him, I would have to say Nelson Mandela. I sat ‘next to’ him in a theatre production at Christmas last year and realised that he is to leadership what Nick Price is to golf. You think these guys are extraordinary when you see then from a distance and then you realise the reality of their abilities when you are close-up. (I have walked 18 holes with Nick Price and nearly gave up golf as a result!) Mandela’s presence and influence is massive and seems to flow from a genuine meekness, dignity, grace and sincerity that radiates from him. There are a number of close friends and father figures I could quote here, but I think I am safe with Nelson for now!

How long have you been in leadership?
+- 20 yrs

What was your first leadership role?
Leading a dormitory group and presenting a talk on a Christian Camp.

How long have you been in your current role?
Family – 14yrs, Business – 12 years, Church 8 yrs

How long has your church been established? Did you start it?
+- 10 yrs. No.

What has been the growth curve of your church?
Up and down over the last 3 years between 300 and 400 people

What has been your biggest leadership challenge?
Developing a growing work in the context of a precipitously collapsing economy.

What has been your greatest leadership success?
Catalysing a dynamic group of men who, together, can effectively strengthen a growing number of churches within our sphere of Newfrontiers.

How are you developing new leaders?
Adding new guys to existing meetings....new guys into elders meetings, new guys into life-group leaders meetings, new guys to special meetings like Prayer & Fasting, ‘Time with Terry’, ‘Time with the Holden’s & Poe’s’ etc., etc. In 2009 we hope to run some more formal leadership training blocks to equip and develop leaders with greater intentionality.

How are you continuing to develop your own leadership gifts?
I try to keep willing to take risks, try to be at as many of the leadership gatherings of our family of churches, try to keep reading and applying sound teaching from our fold and others.