In the early 1990s, Rev. Stephen Hale, alongside Rev. Karl Faase and Rev. Peter Corney OAM, recognised a significant gap in leadership development within the Australian church. There were many emerging leaders, but few had the necessary training and support to thrive in ministry. This need was especially urgent as churches were growing and ministry demands were increasing.
In 1994, Stephen and Karl, deeply engaged in ministry, organised a groundbreaking conference for emerging Christian leaders. Held by the Australian committee of the Lausanne Movement in Melbourne, the event gathered 300 leaders, both emerging and established, from across Australia. The overwhelming response confirmed a deep desire for an ongoing leadership program to equip young leaders for long-term ministry.
Inspired by their experience, Stephen and Karl turned to the Arrow Leadership Program developed in North America by Leighton Ford. After a visit to the American program, they adapted it for the Australian context, founding Arrow Leadership Australia in 1995. Peter Corney became the first director, and Stephen Hale served as the inaugural Chair of the Board. The program’s first cohort graduated in 1996 with Leighton Ford himself as the guest speaker.
A life of ministry and leadership
Stephen’s ministry background is as diverse as it is influential.
A retired Anglican bishop, Stephen has dedicated his life to Christian leadership, youth ministry, and church growth. He trained at Moore Theological College and served in various leadership roles, including as a parish rector and bishop, before becoming involved in Arrow.
Stephen’s work in developing youth ministry in the Diocese of Melbourne, as well as his leadership of Arrow Leadership International Development, has had a global impact.
Stephen’s journey of faith began in his teenage years after resisting his brother’s persistent invitations to youth group. At 16, he embraced Christianity, drawn to its greater purpose and compelling truth. He pursued university education at Sydney University before being sent to rural New South Wales as a teacher, where his call to ministry was solidified.
Arrow’s early days
According to Stephen, the initial vision for Arrow was a simple yet powerful one: to create a leadership program that not only developed top-tier Christian leaders but also equipped them with the tools to lead with confidence and creativity.
“It was meant to be an elite program,” Stephen explained. “You’d get opportunities to receive training that you generally wouldn’t get in the church, and also make key connections that, in God’s providence, could lead to further opportunities.”
The early days of Arrow saw a shift away from the typical, more rigid models of leadership training. As Stephen explained, “It was about finding a balance between investing in the right people and ensuring there was enough space to expand, but that was never easy.”
From local to global
Arrow’s success in Australia laid the foundation for its global vision. Stephen played a crucial role in helping Arrow expand beyond Australian borders, adapting the program to suit the global context while respecting local cultures and leadership needs.
A key challenge during this transition was ensuring that Arrow did not simply export a Western model of leadership, but rather created a network of like-minded leaders who could learn from each other across cultural boundaries. As Stephen observed, many in the majority world couldn’t afford the expensive Western model, so Arrow adopted a more sustainable and collaborative approach, working with local leaders and parachurch organisations.
Arrow’s international expansion faced several hurdles, including financial constraints and unforeseen global events. A turning point came when a New Zealand businessman, motivated by the vision for the Global South, provided crucial funding. This allowed Arrow to begin expanding into regions such as Africa and Southeast Asia. However, the journey wasn’t without setbacks. The outbreak of war in Ukraine, during efforts to launch a program there, added further complications. Despite these challenges, Stephen and the Arrow team persevered, and the vision for a global leadership program began to take shape.
Shaping leaders for the church and beyond
As Arrow’s global presence grew, Stephen’s vision for leadership development expanded beyond the church. He believed that Christian leaders needed to be equipped not just for church ministry but also for roles that could influence culture and society.
“We need leaders who can cope with major change and lead organisations through transitions,” Stephen argued. He also emphasised the need for leaders who could engage the broader community with the gospel, particularly in the workplace.
Stephen has long been committed to the idea that Christian leadership involves service and sacrifice. The Arrow program focuses on developing leaders who are not only competent but also servant-hearted, preparing them for impactful ministry in both church and secular contexts.
This broader vision is where Stephen’s convictions about leadership really come into focus. Arrow wasn’t about producing leaders who could simply manage church activities; it was about developing individuals who could lead organisations, shape culture, and make lasting impacts in their communities.
“We need leaders who are equipped to cope with major change, who can transition organisations and pull off challenging tasks,” Stephen argued. “Christian leadership isn’t easy, and we need people who are ready for it.”
Moreover, Stephen has long believed that Christian leaders must also develop a “bigger vision” for how they can reach their communities with the gospel. He noted, “I think we’ve lost a lot of confidence in the evangelism space. We’ve become a bit too inward-focused, dealing with our own people rather than engaging the world outside.”
This conviction has led to a strong emphasis in Arrow’s training on equipping leaders to reach beyond the church walls, particularly in the workplace, an area that Stephen emphasised has become a key focus in recent years.
“The world is full of challenges, and we need leaders who are confident, equipped, and ready to face those challenges with the gospel in hand.”
The call for more leaders
Looking back on Arrow’s history and the journey it has taken, Stephen is grateful for the impact it has had. “It’s been a long journey,” he said, “but it’s worth it when you see the leaders who’ve emerged and are now impacting others.”
For Stephen, the work of leadership development is never finished. As he sees it, the need for great leaders—those who are both skilled and servant-hearted—is paramount to the future of the church.
The success of Arrow, and the legacy it continues to build, is proof that when people are equipped to lead with courage, creativity, and conviction, the results can be transformative.
—
This story is Part 2 of a three part series on ‘Arrow, a legacy of transformed leaders’.
Recent Comments