By Nicky Smith
July 6, 2025
Listening to Pastor Morris Brown’s sermon today left me deeply moved and challenged in ways I had not expected. His courage to tackle the difficult question of how we can love both Christ and country during these politically turbulent times resonates with something I’ve been wrestling with in my own call to serve our community as a future city council member.
After 47 years as a business owner, I’ve learned that true leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room or pushing your own agenda. It’s about listening, serving others, and building bridges. Pastor Brown’s message today reminded me why these principles matter even more in public service.
The story of Nathan confronting King David reminds me why I feel called to serve. Like Nathan, we must keep our priorities straight. Our highest commitment isn’t to a political party or ideology, but to something greater: to the values that call us to serve ALL people in our community, regardless of their political beliefs.
When Pastor Brown shared the story of Nurse Edith Cavell, who cared for soldiers from every nation because “Christ has called me to care for ALL people regardless of their nationality,” I found myself leaning forward in my pew. That’s what servant leadership looks like. It’s about serving every person who needs our help, regardless of whether they voted for me or against me, or whether they’re conservative or liberal.
What particularly moves me is Pastor Brown’s emphasis on maintaining a “critical perspective” while still loving our country and community. This isn’t about being negative. It’s about loving our community enough to ask hard questions and hold ourselves accountable.
Throughout my decades of business leadership, I’ve learned that the best decisions emerge when we’re willing to listen to diverse perspectives and challenge our assumptions. As someone seeking to serve on the city council, I must be willing to be questioned, challenged, and held accountable.
I’m moved by the balance Pastor Brown strikes between prayer and action. Abraham Lincoln’s approach (praying not that God would be on our side, but that we would be on God’s side) offers a powerful model for public service. It reminds me that leadership isn’t about imposing my will, but about seeking wisdom in serving the common good.
But prayer without action is incomplete. Pastor Brown’s call to “put our faith into action” challenges me to move beyond passive observation. I cannot be a passive observer in the face of division and injustice.
Perhaps most importantly, Pastor Brown’s reminder that we’re part of a “worldwide community” speaks to what I believe is missing in so much of our political discourse today. This is the heart of servant leadership: recognizing that every person in our community is precious, that every voice matters, and that our decisions affect everyone.
As I sat in the sanctuary this morning, I realized Pastor Brown’s sermon doesn’t offer easy answers, and I’m grateful for that. Instead, it provides a framework for navigating the complexity of serving in divided times. True leadership isn’t about winning political battles. It’s about being a servant to the entire community.
Nathan’s courage inspired me, Edith Cavell’s compassion, and Lincoln’s humility. These examples remind me that servant leadership isn’t about being popular or politically safe. It’s about being faithful to the values that call us to serve all people with dignity, respect, and love.
In these divided times, our communities desperately need leaders who can walk that tightrope Pastor Brown described, not by playing it safe, but by being brave enough to bring people together rather than drive them apart. That’s the kind of servant leader I aspire to be as I seek to serve on the city council.
This sermon reminded me that my calling to serve isn’t just about policy positions. It’s about showing up for every person in our community with the same heart that Nathan showed King David, the same compassion that Edith Cavell showed to wounded soldiers, and the same humility that Lincoln brought to his presidency. After nearly five decades of leading in business, I understand that real leadership means serving others. Now I’m ready to bring that same servant’s heart to the city council.
Nicky Smith is a business owner and community leader with 47 years of proven leadership experience, now seeking to serve on the city council with a commitment to bringing people together across political divides.
If you believe in a future where Greensboro thrives through new housing, jobs, innovation, and accountability, please consider donating to Nicky’s campaign today. Even a $20 contribution can help us drive real change and keep our city moving forward.
