On February 13, we attended the Archbishop’s annual leadership service, where prefects from Anglican schools were dedicated, prayed for, and taught by the Archbishop. It was an inspiring experience. This year’s theme was Leadership Under Christ.

The Archbishop spoke about Jesus feeding the 5,000. I expected him to focus on the miracle itself—providing food in an impossible situation. Instead, he emphasized what motivated Jesus to act: compassion.

"When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd." (Mark 6:34)

The Archbishop explained that the Ancient Greek word translated as compassion in English could be more accurately understood as feeling like being kicked in the guts. Jesus saw how lost and directionless the people were, and he was deeply moved—he physically felt their need.

True compassion, the Archbishop taught, doesn’t stop at emotion; it leads to action. Jesus didn’t just feel for the people—he fed them. But he didn’t feed them directly. Instead, he gave the responsibility to his followers.

At first, the disciples were reluctant. They had limited resources and saw the task as impossible. But Jesus used them anyway. The lesson? Jesus works through reluctant, limited people to do the impossible.

Ironically, this message came the day after I returned from a three-day camp with our Year 10 students. It had been exhausting. And, to be honest, I felt like a reluctant leader—low on energy, short on patience, and frustrated by my own “lost sheep.”

The Archbishop’s words reminded me that leadership isn’t about stepping up in grand moments; it’s about showing up in the small, everyday ones.

Sitting on the bus ride home, I realized: I need Jesus to give me a spirit of compassion. I need to feel deeply for those who are lost, take action—even in small ways—and trust that Jesus works through reluctant, limited people like chaplains, teachers, and parents.