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In the Part One, we explained servanthood, service, equipment and facilitation as some of the key factors that characterise true Christian leadership. We will consider others in this part.
Pursuit of Purpose
Christian leadership is about pursuing the purpose of God for your life. The Lord Jesus came into the world for a purpose. He knew His purpose, pursued His purpose, lived by His purpose and died for His purpose.
“I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose” (Luke 4:43).
“…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1John 3.8).
Jesus did not minister and suffer without reason. Everything He ever did was purposeful. Knowing and being committed to His purpose, Jesus said: “I must do the work of him that sent me…” ( John 9:4).
Christian leadership, therefore, must be purposeful, focused and determined. All of these aim at achieving an intended outcome for the glory of God.
Being Example and Practical
Moreover, it must be understood that leadership in the Church is not just theoretical. It is practically leading by example. That was how Jesus and the earliest apostles understood leadership.
“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:15).
They instructed others to do what they themselves had previously done. Thus, Christian leadership is about walking your talk. That is, practising what you preach and teach. It is living your word in order to avoid being a hypocrite.
Recruitment
Again, Christian leadership involves recruitment, a term used in the security services. Ministers of the gospel are soldiers of Christ, so God recruits them into ministry.
According to Apostle Alfred Nyamekye, leader of House of Faith Ministries God, God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit believed and practised recruitment (Luke 10:1-2; Psalm 68:11; Exodus 31:1-2 and Acts 13:1-2).
Speaking at a recent event under the theme, “Recruitment and Empowerment Conference” the man of God stressed that the early apostles also believed in and practised recruitment. They raised their successors.
Today’s church leaders must see the need to help identify and mentor people God calls into ministry. Only those who understand that Christian leadership is about service to others gladly do this.
It is not surprising, therefore, that a wise and generational Christian leader raises people to become better leaders than they are. This is necessary for the expansion of the Kingdom of God on earth.
Mentorship
The last thing we want to talk about in this Part is mentorship which is closely linked to recruitment. In mentorship, a leader accepts to help aspiring leaders to learn, grow and become more effective in their chosen fields.
The Lord Jesus did not just appoint men to be apostles. He mentored them. He did that by sharing His knowledge and experiences with them, encouraging and motivating them, asking and being asked difficult questions.
Again, Jesus prayed for them, spent quality time with them, often times fed them thereby contributing to their spiritual growth and ministry successes.
Many times, the apostles, especially Peter, demonstrated immaturity, but Christ was patient with them as He corrected them, forgave them and continued to walk with them.
You have clearly seen that Christian leadership has nothing to do with positions, titles or seats which many pay huge sums of money to acquire them.
However, it is concerned with pursuit of purpose, being example and practical, recruiting and mentoring other believers for the advancement of the gospel.
In the Part Three (3), we will look at other things that explain and characterise Christian leadership to ensure effective and efficient ministries in the Church of God.
By James Quansah
