Connecting Leaders to Christ, Impacting the World

January 22, 2014

Leadership matters! When Darlene McLean became more passionate about good leadership, it was God’s calling to get involved with the Christian Embassy, a ministry that works directly with some of the nation’s most influential leaders.

For McLean, now the Christian Embassy’s director, the path to ministry in the political world wasn’t straightforward. She began her career as a teacher and later became a leader with Power to Change Students in Quebec, where she gained experience serving in a largely secularized region. Her interest in leadership and connecting Canadian and international leaders began to grow around 2002 when she started to sense God calling her to work in this area – not only in Quebec, but beyond. “Even though I felt unprepared to work with political leaders, God let me know that it wasn’t politics that I had to know; it was Him.”

After joining the Christian Embassy in May 2006, Darlene was invited to take over the leadership of the team and strategy in May 2012, which she felt was a great opportunity. “I was excited to discover what God would do to reach leaders in a new way with lasting impact,” she says. “It was really all God’s idea, and I wanted to answer that call.”

Since 1984, the ministry has had a long history of helping leaders discover a relationship with Jesus that results in transformation personally as well as in their spheres of influence.

“Currently the team works with some 800 diplomats and ambassadors and their spouses, 413 political leaders (MPs and senators), and other leaders in business and education across Canada,” McLean states.

By inviting ambassadors, diplomats, and parliamentarians to outreach events, business tours, language classes, and more, the Christian Embassy team provides value-added services to these leaders and faithfully represents the love and truth of Christ to their needs. “By building into their lives, we can help leaders thrive in their positions and ultimately come to a place of spiritual vitality,” McLean says.

With a ministry that relies so much on relating to and building into leaders’ lives, the major challenge is what McLean refers to as the “availability of leaders,” who have very full days. It’s not easy trying to coordinate meetings with parliamentarians whose demanding schedules include 80-90 hour workweeks and often last-minute travel plans.

Yet despite the challenges, the Christian Embassy has made great strides this past year. One highlight was the Parliament Hill Christmas Celebration, where over 230 guests from many nationalities heard a clear and compelling message about the truth of Christmas from Minister Kenney, a leading minister of government. Kenney challenged his audience not only to discover this gift of life but also to be a gift in others’ lives, and to live according to the “law of the gift.” Leaders in attendance came out feeling impacted and inspired to serve others. Over 80 guests sought out Gideon Bibles that evening, and a number of others indicated the desire to know more about the Lord.

McLean is passionate about seeing the lives of leaders changed and impacted for Christ through the ministry. “Our goal is to help leaders become ambassadors for Christ,” she says. “We want leaders who are believers to realize the huge impact that they can have for eternity, and to give them more opportunities and tools to help others experience Him.”

2 Responses to “Connecting Leaders to Christ, Impacting the World”

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• David says:

  March 30, 2015 at 2:55 am

  We need good leadership programs in our life in order to achieve better development. Leadership attitude is not an easy thing for that we need better concentration and also need leadership coaching programs. Apart from coaching we need the support of different programs like how to develop our inner trust by joining different embassy or groups.

• Sharon says:

  March 30, 2015 at 8:42 pm

  good article thank you for posting this