Latitude Global Leadership Community
The Latitude IDEA. To inspire, disciple, encourage, and activate the next generation of spiritual leaders to advance the Gospel and strengthen the Global Church.
Latitude GLC desires to be an inspiring influence in the lives of spiritual leaders. Ultimately, God is the source of inspiration: breathing life into leaders, quickening their hearts with bold and creative ideas, stirring their desire to make an eternal difference and showing them a grander purpose for their lives. Latitude wants to help emerging leaders recognize God’s sovereign work in their lives and inspire them to steward their influence for His greater purposes. Through mentoring relationships, internships and training resources, Latitude seeks to stir a generation to rise up and take its place in the Missio Dei.
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Discipleship is the core of Latitude GLC. We equip young adults to become rooted and grounded in the Word of God, obedient to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and fully devoted to Jesus Christ. Our goal is to see every spiritual leader reach full maturity and assurance in Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:28 & 4:12). Latitude GLC equips established adults to come alongside the next generation as mentors, fellow learners and companions in the spiritual journey. We equip young adults to know what to look for in mentoring relationships to help them grow into maturity and intimacy with Christ.
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Latitude knows that the spiritual journey can be challenging and discouraging. Sometimes spiritual leaders have trouble admitting that they need encouragement from others. That’s why mentoring relationships and leadership communities are so important. Burdens are meant to be shared with others who care about us and understand what we are going through.
We also want to encourage leaders when the journey is smooth and seamless. Sometimes leaders become too comfortable and complacent. As agents of change, leaders may need to be encouraged to leave their comfort zones to pursue new opportunities that will stretch them and broaden their influence. We want to encourage them to dream and explore, to take calculated risks of faith under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Latitude training resources help emerging leaders customize their mentoring relationships as they prepare for new opportunities. |
The Holy Spirit sovereignly bestows natural leadership abilities and spiritual leadership gifts on men and women from every culture so they can lead and nurture God’s people and transform their communities with the message and mission of Jesus.
Latitude GLC advances the Gospel and strengthens the global church by making spiritual deposits in leaders so they can serve as catalysts for spiritual renewal and agents of hope and change in the workplace, church and community. We want to activate the next generation of spiritual leaders to be disciples and disciple makers. By faith, we ask God to create a global movement, a spiritual awakening, a transformational community of young adults who feel called to perpetuate His memory to their own generation and cause the nations to praise Him (Psalm 45:17). |
Vision
Through faith, Latitude envisions a global community of young adults embracing their identity from Christ, pursuing intimacy with Christ and attaining maturity in Christ to the glory of Christ.
Latitude is a culture, a movement that empowers leaders to fulfill God’s calling and spiritual mandate in their lives. Watch this video to get a glimpse of the Latitude IDEA.
The West Wing From Founder & President Keith West
Grace-Filled Leadership
Grace-filled leadership will shape a dynamic, servant leadership culture in your spheres of influence through meaningful relationships and safe environments.
Latitude urges spiritual leaders to create and nurture grace-filled cultures in their organizations. Most leaders want this type of environment, but may not know how or where to begin. Jesus masterfully sculptured a grace-filled culture among his disciples that created the mold for the community of faith.
We teach five grace-filled leadership habits based on biblical models that help leaders create an environment where team members want to establish deep roots and develop relationships that are safe, mutually edifying and healthy. We want to help your work culture become a spacious place where creativity and innovation thrive, where people feel loved, nurtured and valued. Our desire is that they see themselves as stakeholders in the culture of your organization, not merely consumers of it. Is that how you see them?
Here is the first grace-filled leadership habit that we see demonstrated in the ultimate leader, Jesus Christ. John declared in his gospel, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:4)
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Grace-Filled Habit #1: CREATE ENVIRONMENTS & RELATIONSHIPS OF GRACE
Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol and Ken McElrath in their acclaimed book, The Ascent of a Leader, made the following observation: “Most people know an environment of grace when they see it. They simply point to the results: people feel safe, they grow up, they trust each other, they live authentically, they celebrate each other, they laugh a lot, they produce better…people feel empowered…they discern a positive spirit that acts as a catalyst in their soul, giving them a sense of hope that ‘this is a place where I belong.’” [Thrall, McNicol, McElrath, The Ascent of a Leader, 1999.]
Would that describe your current leadership culture? That’s what grace looks like in an organization. Theoretically, we all agree that this is the type of environment we want to help create.
On the other hand, if your work culture could more accurately be described as a culture of fear and intimidation, control and conformity, favoritism and competitiveness, negativity and isolation, or performance and insecurity, you have a big problem. Even the most loyal team members will eventually have no other recourse but to flee to the safety of another organization.
Toxic work cultures are characterized by constant stress and fear of failure. No one feels permission to be human or to make mistakes. People leave cultures of “ungrace” with deep wounds and festering bitterness which they often carry with them to the next culture.
The antidote to cultures of “ungrace” is first, to accept responsibility for helping to shape our current cultures. We all have influence, even if it is limited, so we can’t shift the blame to co-workers or senior leaders. What type of self-leadership are we demonstrating in our culture?
Second, we must make deposits of grace every day into our work relationships. Jesus was full of grace and truth because He walked by the Spirit and was filled and empowered by the Spirit (Luke 4:1,14). Spirit-filled followers of Christ will help create “environments and relationships of grace” as an outpouring of the Spirit’s internal work.
Third, we must have the courage to talk about the toxicity in our cultures. We have to stop the exodus of good people who quietly leave our organizations with wounded spirits rather than having difficult conversations that create temporary discomfort, but have the ability to affect positive change.
Will you join the Latitude community in being a catalyst for environments and relationships of grace?
Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol and Ken McElrath in their acclaimed book, The Ascent of a Leader, made the following observation: “Most people know an environment of grace when they see it. They simply point to the results: people feel safe, they grow up, they trust each other, they live authentically, they celebrate each other, they laugh a lot, they produce better…people feel empowered…they discern a positive spirit that acts as a catalyst in their soul, giving them a sense of hope that ‘this is a place where I belong.’” [Thrall, McNicol, McElrath, The Ascent of a Leader, 1999.]
Would that describe your current leadership culture? That’s what grace looks like in an organization. Theoretically, we all agree that this is the type of environment we want to help create.
On the other hand, if your work culture could more accurately be described as a culture of fear and intimidation, control and conformity, favoritism and competitiveness, negativity and isolation, or performance and insecurity, you have a big problem. Even the most loyal team members will eventually have no other recourse but to flee to the safety of another organization.
Toxic work cultures are characterized by constant stress and fear of failure. No one feels permission to be human or to make mistakes. People leave cultures of “ungrace” with deep wounds and festering bitterness which they often carry with them to the next culture.
The antidote to cultures of “ungrace” is first, to accept responsibility for helping to shape our current cultures. We all have influence, even if it is limited, so we can’t shift the blame to co-workers or senior leaders. What type of self-leadership are we demonstrating in our culture?
Second, we must make deposits of grace every day into our work relationships. Jesus was full of grace and truth because He walked by the Spirit and was filled and empowered by the Spirit (Luke 4:1,14). Spirit-filled followers of Christ will help create “environments and relationships of grace” as an outpouring of the Spirit’s internal work.
Third, we must have the courage to talk about the toxicity in our cultures. We have to stop the exodus of good people who quietly leave our organizations with wounded spirits rather than having difficult conversations that create temporary discomfort, but have the ability to affect positive change.
Will you join the Latitude community in being a catalyst for environments and relationships of grace?
The Timothy Principle
The Latitude discipleship mandate can be summed up by the words of the Apostle Paul to his beloved brother Timothy.
“The things that you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses,
entrust to faithful men and women who will be able to teach others also."
2 Timothy 2:2
“The things that you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses,
entrust to faithful men and women who will be able to teach others also."
2 Timothy 2:2
Why Latitude?
What makes Latitude GLC a solid leadership resource for churches and faith-forward organizations? Here are the four key components that make Latitude a unique platform for spiritual formation and leadership development.
We take our time developing spiritual leaders.
Our mission isn’t about the number of people mentored and trained to be world-class leaders. It’s more about the slower, deeper work of discipling men and women to be spiritually formed in the image of Christ and to present them as fully mature and assured in Christ.
We value the shared journey of leadership.
We have no desire to be seen as the “sage on the stage,” having all the answers for emerging leaders. We prefer to be the “guide on the side,” being embraced as fellow learners and spiritual companions who share a curiosity and passion for great leadership.
We stick with the basics.
We offer practical learning and resources for adult learners, coupled with learning tasks, mentoring relationships, hands-on serving opportunities and constructive feedback.
We expect leaders to be great for God.
We believe that running the race well and finishing strong are the birthright of every leader who follows Jesus Christ. We expect them to humbly model a life worthy of the calling they have received and to intentionally mentor the next generation of leaders who will be able to “consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7, NIV).
These practices make Latitude GLC a valued partner and trusted advisor to organizations interested in making spiritual mentoring and leadership development a pivotal part of their ministry.
We take our time developing spiritual leaders.
Our mission isn’t about the number of people mentored and trained to be world-class leaders. It’s more about the slower, deeper work of discipling men and women to be spiritually formed in the image of Christ and to present them as fully mature and assured in Christ.
We value the shared journey of leadership.
We have no desire to be seen as the “sage on the stage,” having all the answers for emerging leaders. We prefer to be the “guide on the side,” being embraced as fellow learners and spiritual companions who share a curiosity and passion for great leadership.
We stick with the basics.
We offer practical learning and resources for adult learners, coupled with learning tasks, mentoring relationships, hands-on serving opportunities and constructive feedback.
We expect leaders to be great for God.
We believe that running the race well and finishing strong are the birthright of every leader who follows Jesus Christ. We expect them to humbly model a life worthy of the calling they have received and to intentionally mentor the next generation of leaders who will be able to “consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7, NIV).
These practices make Latitude GLC a valued partner and trusted advisor to organizations interested in making spiritual mentoring and leadership development a pivotal part of their ministry.
Now & Then
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News & Notes
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What People Are Saying
Keith has been a consistent source of wisdom and encouragement to me throughout the years. I can think of no one more equipped to create leadership communities that encourage and develop the next generation of leaders!
Bill Roberson Creative Director, Focus on the Family |
The road less traveled is brought to life when in fellowship with Keith. His experience and dedication to his faith gave me the courage to develop as a Christian man out in the World. His guidance carries an effortless and welcomed authority that leads to organic growth in the ecumenical community.
Jerry Welch Senior Director, Product Engineering |
