True leadership isn’t about status or control but rather responding to a call to serve. Authentic leaders embody both fraternal humility and magnanimity — lowering themselves to uplift others while also daring greatly. Together, these virtues define the type of leadership that transforms lives.
Fraternal humility asks leaders to acknowledge their limitations, listen more than they speak, and understand that the mission surpasses them. I encountered this lesson during a mission trip to Haiti, as I was struck not only by the dire material circumstances but also by the resilience and dignity of the people. Fraternal humility demands that we go beyond ourselves and serve others by walking alongside them in solidarity.
Magnanimity — defined by a largeness or generosity of spirit — drives leaders to dream boldly and act courageously. Leadership demands the courage to act, rally others around a vision greater than oneself, and trust in God’s providence even when the path is unclear.
By practicing both fraternal humility and magnanimity, we can cultivate authentic servant leadership that transforms lives and communities for the greater glory of God.
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JACOB NIEMEIER is the founder and executive director of Vera Aqua Vera Vita, an organization that helps communities in developing countries generate clean water solutions. A husband and father of four, he is a member of St. Jude Council 11293 in Allen, Texas.








