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Bishop Dr Joseph Ighalo Edoro is the Presiding Bishop of ‘A Touch From Heaven International Ministries’ and the President, ‘A Touch of Love Humanitarian Foundation’. Bishop Edoro, the Chairman, International Council Of Apostles and Bishops for Africa Regeneration, an elite group of Bishops of the United Gospel Churches Association of Nigeria (UGCAN), wrote this piece for Sunday Independent; a MUST for Nigerian clergymen. Excerpt:
Leadership is not to rule over people, but to lead them. The essence and content of selfless leadership is engraved in the principle of ‘More of the people, more for the people and less of yourself’.
Jesus Christ taught us that and instructed that we learn of Him and His humility. This is the foundation upon what selfless leadership is built. This essentially cannot be denied. Leaders must see leadership as an honour and a call to serve rather than to rule over.
To lead is to serve and not to be served. It should be how to uplift everyone within your radar of leadership to feel an emotional proclivity and sense of belonging and pride. A sense of satisfaction.
Selfless leadership does not segregate, but congregates continually, seeking the benefits of its constituents or congregation. It is always giving and working for the good of others. Christ is our model. He served and loved and helped and listened and loved and loved enough to give up his life. This model is rife over ages. The core of true selfless leadership is centred on the led.
For the leader, this comes with a price of loneliness and negation of personal goals, dreams and ambitions. There is leadership and selfless leadership. One is hateful and draconian and the other loving. Selfless leadership is all about strength, stoicism and boldness. It is the willingness to accept all in love, loving each without discrimination. It is a process whereby you apply empathy, healing, persuasion, concern, stewardship, commitment, foresight and more. All for your people. A style of pastoral leadership devoid of this is therefore a scam.
Sadly though, most church leaders, for reasons of pecuniary gains, have negated this principle. Yet, pastoral leadership is a call to selflessness and a pull from the pit. Many church leaders in the present generation have not only forgotten this, but also have entered ministry from ensuing precedence of materialism and affluence exhibited by founding fathers of faith in Nigeria.
There is a symbolism of the sheep and the shepherd analogy prominent in the Bible. God enjoins the appointment of men over others. But again, not to Rule Over, but to Serve them. Today’s generation of pastors have discarded this principle and instructions. Church leaders must think of flock strategy and sheep strategy symbolism.
However, pastors are more worried about fame, power and money using their members as puns. Their desires are unto the rich and the politicians than the ones they are called to do. Sadly though. They corner so much wealth for themselves from the poor through fraudulent means and manipulations and later build an unreachable posture from the very ones they are called to serve. The ones they are called to serve, who have sweated and swotted, find it impossible to reach their pastors, bishops and apostles. These leaders who encourage their flock to trust in God’s protection carry along with them a bevy of armed security operatives. Sad!
This is where we are and I challenge them and call them out. Enough of this bad precedence and wickedness of church leaders against the poor. They take their monies to build their cathedrals and give them back seats, to build schools and make it inaccessible. Hospitals are inaccessible…It is unthinkable that these leaders think about money… money… money… money… Then, power…power… power.
Shame unto them and woe unto them. When I see members of big and small churches cry to me for help, I ask them to ‘Go to your church for help’; and they will say: ‘I can’t see my pastors’. Woe is me if I cannot live my life for my people.
The hour is now for a change of heart and approach. God is coming for a cleansing. Big churches will crumble. People will begin to worship God more at home and in smaller congregations. The days are coming when the Lord will strike these leaders with a rod on their cheeks.
