A Light Unto Our Path: Fearless Leadership in the Power of His Presence, Love, and Spirit

Catherine Sackey, MPAP

Master of Public Affairs and Politics | 2024 Princeton P3 Scholar | 2022 Rutgers University Paul Robeson Scholar | Analyst | NJ Certified MWBE | Community Development Advocate | Leadership Development Consultant

May 31, 2025

"You don’t have to fear what’s ahead, because the God who goes with you (Deuteronomy 31:6) is the same God who gave His Son to save you (John 3:16)."

Leadership is often described as vision and strategy—but for the Christian leader, it is first and foremost a walk of faith. Scripture doesn’t just instruct—it walks with us. The Word is both light and compass, presence and promise.

In seasons of transition, when God calls us into unfamiliar territory, we are reminded: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid… for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). The same God who delivered His people through the wilderness and raised Christ from the dead walks with us today.

Reflection: Where in your leadership journey have you felt the most afraid—and how might God be asking you to trust His presence there?

When I got baptized at a church in New Brunswick—not when I first became a Christian, but when I made a public declaration of faith—I carried a quiet fear. I had heard about the Holy Spirit, particularly the gift of speaking in tongues, and I didn’t understand it. Before I stepped into the water, I told God inwardly: “I don’t want that gift.” It wasn’t defiance—it was uncertainty. What I feared was the very thing designed to empower me.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and sound judgment” (2 Timothy 1:7). Even in my resistance, God met me with patience. And He continued walking with me until I was ready to fully receive.

Reflection: Have you ever resisted a spiritual gift or calling out of fear or misunderstanding? What might God want to show you in that area?

As my faith grew, I came to understand that God doesn’t just give us comfort—He gives us power. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him won’t perish but will have eternal life” (John 3:16). That love—sacrificial, unconditional—is the root of Christian leadership. It’s not built on applause or status but on the willingness to give, serve, and carry burdens for others.

Reflection: In what ways does your leadership reflect God’s sacrificial love? Where might He be inviting you to lead differently?

When I launched Policy Over Politics, I had a strong vision and deep conviction, but my spiritual alignment wasn’t complete. I was leading from strategy, not surrender. As my relationship with Christ deepened, I began seeing my work through a new lens. The Bible became more than devotion—it became direction. “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3). “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6).

Reflection: What does “surrendered leadership” look like for you right now? Are there plans or roles you need to place fully into God’s hands?

God began to prune. What started as a consulting firm evolved into something bigger and deeper—Christian leadership development, global advocacy, and theological integration. I also realized that not every calling needed to be monetized. Some parts were for service, not income. Some were seeds, not storefronts. “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:2).

Reflection: What are the “branches” in your life or leadership that God may be pruning—not to take away, but to make room for more fruit?

As I prepare to start the United Nations and Global Policy program at Rutgers this fall, I now see that what began with a desire to influence my local community has grown into a global assignment. But I’m not just pursuing policy—I’m also taking courses at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. I’m not going full-on into theology, but I believe that folding theological learning into my policy education will ground my leadership in both spiritual truth and systemic insight.

Reflection: How can theological or biblical learning be more intentionally integrated into your leadership practice, no matter your field?

Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not a bonus—it is the very power that transforms hesitant followers into bold leaders. “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4). And Jesus promised: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

I now pray for the gift of tongues—not for spectacle, but for spiritual connection. I believe that if God sends me to different nations, He can also equip me to speak with divine understanding. I no longer resist the Holy Spirit—I welcome Him as my guide, advocate, and communicator.

Reflection: In what ways do you currently rely on the Holy Spirit in your leadership? What might change if you invited Him into more of your daily decisions?

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). As I look ahead, I no longer fear where God is sending me. I trust Him to go before me, to light the way, and to equip me with everything I need. I now understand that leadership is not a platform—it’s a path of obedience, empowered by the Spirit and guided by grace.

Final Reflection: What’s one step you can take this week to lead more from presence than performance? What would it look like to build something Spirit-led, Kingdom-aligned, and eternally impactful?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the light of Your Word, the love of Your Son, and the power of Your Spirit. Prune me where You must, send me where You will, and fill me with what I need to walk boldly into purpose. Let Your power rest on me—not for applause, but for assignment. Amen.