OPINION
How Jimmy Carter Imparted Service, Leadership
As the world mourns the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, I'm reflecting on the time I spent with him in 1993, which forever changed my perspective on leadership, service, and faith.
During that weekend in Plains, Georgia, I didn't just meet a former president; I encountered a man whose life embodied the Gospel he taught.
At the time, I was in seminary, pursuing my Master of Divinity degree.
Despite having immigrated to the U.S. from Kerala, India, less than a decade prior, I was welcomed into President Carter's world, not as a foreigner but as a fellow Christian.
I had previously sent questions to him, prior to our meeting, eager to learn how his faith guided his actions in both public and private life.
His personal assistant, Faye Dill, responded with a letter that set the tone for what I would experience. She wrote, "As a born-again Christian, he participates in personal worship, teaches Bible school, and he and his wife read the Bible daily.
"He never found any serious conflicts between his duties as a Christian and as a Governor or President."
When I arrived in Plains, Dr. Dan Ariail, President Carter's pastor, arranged our meeting.
I had heard of his famous Bible studies at Maranatha Baptist Church, which drew people globally. I was eager to witness how a man who had held the highest office in the land could live with such humility.
When I met Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, their warmth and kindness struck me immediately. He treated me as he did everyone he encountered — full of grace and a desire for honest fellowship.
That Sunday, I worshipped alongside the Carters and attended his Bible study. It wasn't his knowledge of scripture that stood out to me, though he knew it well — it was his sincerity.
President Carter's faith informed every aspect of his life, just as Dill's letter had indicated. He once said, "My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference."
This wasn't just rhetoric but reflected in every action and words during my time with him.
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter lived a life of service that extended far beyond the political stage. Carter's work with Habitat for Humanity is well-known, but what impressed me most was how he approached even the smallest acts of kindness with the same level of commitment.
His focus on peace and compassion was evident in his political career and how he served others daily — whether building homes or volunteering at a soup kitchen.
Carter's commitment to service was evident in his approach to his Bible study.
He prepared every lesson carefully, reading and typing a lesson outline early each Sunday morning. In her letter to me, Dill wrote, "His favorite kinds of lessons from either the Old or New Testament are those that can be related most directly to the modern life of those in his class."
His approach to Sunday School lessons embodied his views on leadership. For Carter, whether he was guiding a Bible study or mediating peace in the Mideast, he believed that the lessons of the Gospels should inform his actions.
"Success is not measured by social or political stature or accumulated wealth," Dill shared, echoing Carter's philosophy, "but by the principles described and demonstrated by the life of Jesus Christ."
As we discussed his upbringing, Carter mentioned Lebanon Cemetery, where people of all races, including his own family, are buried.
In many respects, the ecumenical nature of Lebanon Cemetery reflected his own deep commitment to equality and justice.
He once said, "The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices." His belief in unity and equality wasn't just something he preached; it was a principle he lived by daily in Plains.
Before leaving Plains, I watched people lined up after church to take pictures with the Carters. Despite his fame, Carter greeted each person with genuine warmth, treating everyone as old friends. I realized this was the essence of his greatness — not in the title he once held, but in how he lived his life daily.
Jimmy Carter's life illustrated that leadership is found in humility, faith, and service, with success measured not by power or position but by how closely we follow the teachings of Christ. Carter's life is a powerful testament to the fact that we all have the capacity to make a difference, no matter our circumstances or station in life.
Carter's impact extends far beyond the United States.
His example has inspired generations of new leaders globally.
Through his work with the Carter Center, he touched countless lives by promoting peace internationally, monitoring elections, and helping to eradicate deadly diseases.
We honor Jimmy Carter not only for his political achievements but the way he transformed the lives of those around him — including my own.
His legacy is that of a man who touched the lives of many, who shared the Gospel with all he encountered, and who continues to motivate many globally to be a good Samaritan for those in need.
I am grateful to have witnessed that legacy firsthand.
Dr. Victor Joseph is President of Agape Care International, a nonprofit organization promoting human rights, religious freedom, and community empowerment, particularly for marginalized and minority communities worldwide.
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