The unexpected highlight of the latest Willow Creek Leadership Summit was Mama Maggie Gobran, the diminutive Coptic Christian who works in the slums of Cairo, Egypt, with destitute children, both Christian and Muslim, who "are hungry every hour."

While she heads an organization, Stephen's Children, it was clear that the power of her leadership was a more mystical kind than normally spotlighted at leadership summits.

In her remarks, Mama Maggie said, "The hardest task of a leader is to get to know the Almighty and to keep your heart pure." One way to do that, she said, is through silence. There "you discover a taste of eternity." Her means:

"Silence your body to listen to words.

"Silence your tongue to listen to thoughts.

"Silence your thoughts to listen to your heart beating.

"Silence your heart to listen to your spirit.

"Silence your spirit to listen to His Spirit."

The leaders at the summit were fascinated by the power of her gentle spirit. Afterward, Marshall Shelley and Drew Dyck asked ...