Pivot

#143: Authentic Christian Leadership: Why Character Beats Charisma Every Time

Jason Jensen of InterVarsity shares how his engineering mindset failed in cross-cultural ministry—and how it reshaped his view of spiritual authority.

What does authentic Christian leadership actually look like in today’s cultural moment? Jason Jensen, Vice President of Spiritual Foundations for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA, discovered the answer through 29 years of ministry at UC Berkeley—one of the most challenging campus environments in the country. After his proven Bible study techniques fell flat in a cross-cultural context, Jason learned that authentic Christian leadership flows from character formation, not charisma or methodological mastery. His supervisor’s simple question—”What do you experience in my leadership?”—launched a transformation that would reshape his entire understanding of spiritual authority.

Drawing from the Gospel of Luke, Jason reveals why the most influential leaders in God’s story are often the unexpected ones, and why aiming for “healthy and holy” beats “smart and fast” every time. He shares how authentic Christian leadership develops through integrity, community discernment, and learning to follow God’s movement rather than trying to fix institutional problems. Whether you’re a pastor, ministry leader, or volunteer stepping into leadership roles, this conversation will challenge you to rethink what true spiritual authority looks like and discover how to lead as “secondary supporting cast” in God’s ongoing story.

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Featuring

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Jason Jensen

Jason Jensen (MA, Fuller) is vice president of spiritual foundations for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA. Jason led InterVarsity staff teams in Berkeley, California, for twenty-nine years. He and his wife, Susi, are based in Madison, Wisconsin, where Jason oversees the formation of InterVarsity staff in Scripture, theology, spiritual formation, and prayer. Their two adult children live in California.

Meet Your Hosts

  • Terri Elton

    The Rev. Dr. Terri Martinson Elton began teaching at Luther Seminary as an adjunct instructor in 2004 before becoming the director of the Center for Children, Youth and Family Ministry in 2008. In addition to her continued work with the Center, Elton accepted the position of associate professor of Children, Youth and Family Ministry in 2010 and associate professor of Leadership in 2014.

    Prior to her call to Luther Seminary, Elton served as an associate to the bishop in the Saint Paul Area Synod where her responsibilities included working with congregations, leadership development, First Call theological education and youth and family ministry.

    Before her work in the synod, she served at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burnsville, Minn. for 16 years. While at Prince of Peace she worked in various roles within children, youth and family ministries, as well as served as the director of Changing Church Forum, an outreach ministry of Prince of Peace. She also authored To Know, To Live, To Grow, a confirmation curriculum, and co-authored What Really Matters, a book for congregational leaders, with the Rev. Mike Foss.

    Elton holds a B.A. degree in communications from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. (1986). She earned both her M.A. (1998) and Ph.D. (2007) degrees in Congregational Mission and Leadership from Luther Seminary.

    Elton’s research and teaching interests include: congregational leadership, leading in the midst of change and conflict, helping ministry leaders craft a missional ecclesiology with an eye toward the First Third of Life, awakening a vibrant theology of baptism and vocation and reimagining faith and mission practices for children, youth, young adults and their families.

    Elton is a member of the Academy of Religious Leadership, the Association of Youth Ministry Educators, the ELCA Youth Ministry Network and the American Society of Missiology and is on the board for Real Resources. Elton spends much of her time working with congregations and congregational leaders and seeks out opportunities for enhancing ministry with those in the First Third of Life within the ELCA.

  • Dr. Alicia Granholm

    Alicia Granholm is senior director of Faith+Lead and a leadership and church consultant based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. She helps pastors and leaders engage culture to make a lasting impact. For nearly two decades, she has trained, equipped, and empowered followers of Jesus to engage their local communities by contextualizing the Gospel and its application. Alicia compassionately crosses cultural boundaries having lived, studied, traveled, and served in 25 countries on six continents. Alicia has a Doctor of Strategic Leadership, Global Consulting (Regent University), MDiv (Bethel Seminary), and MA in Teaching (University of St. Thomas).