27 Feb Why Pastoral Leadership in Africa
A friend asked me eight year ago “How do you define poverty?” After some twenty seconds of thinking, I told him I will define poverty as a “lack of proper relationships.” What I meant by then was the fact that I see how some people start prospering simply because they know someone who also knows someone. You know how that goes. I see how the networking was working for many people and they are able to start their businesses, getting jobs, getting their educations in best universities in this world simply because they have relationship and connections.
Though this definition I gave eight years ago is not a wrong answer, in fact is still true answer, there is something more alarming about the poverty in Africa: a poor leadership. Poverty, Injustice, AIDS, Parasites, and lack of resources are not the subjects but rather the objects. The subjects are lack of proper leadership and proper stewardship. The Lord, in HIS infinite grace, had blessed Africa’s soil with gold, diamond, and other resources. This is what leads us to ask the question “Why are they where they are? How did they end up there at the first place?
The answer is simple: Lack of proper leadership and proper stewardship. Though the answer is simple the remedy remains complicated and a seemingly unattainable. But because The Lord lives and HE loves Africa, HE has been developing for Himself other leaders. Leaders HE had burdened with the vision of the issues; leaders who are servants with burden for Africa’s salvation.
The notion here is not that Africa is just a victim or just did fall pray for someone. Africa has its own issues and had inhabited for a long time its own down fall. Idolatry, animism, fetishism, and disenchantment still ravage the continent. The Lord’s promises are true to Israel and it is clear that HE is able to do more and abundantly to African if only she will recognize her Creator and returns to HIM.
The Lord said, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive” (Jeremy 29:12-14, NKJV). This wakeup call and a solemn divine invitation will start from the leaders of the local churches.
Pastoral leadership will have a great impact on the mission for turning Africa to God since God is the only and the ultimate hope for Africa. Pastors who are theologically and biblically trained and grounded, and who will teach others what the will of God is for their life and what God expects from them. Pastors who will lead the hearts of Africans back to God and who will teach them how to place their hope in Christ Jesus, the Savior of their souls.
Will you join WALYM make this happen? Will you partner with WALYM to train, develop leaders, disciple them, and plant Bible Believing Churches? Will you help us make the wall and stand at the gap?
God Bless you.
Kossi Eklou
Tony Chuang
Posted at 16:33h, 07 MarchI like how you defined financial poverty as lack of networking. It is important to teach people not just about good networking (that may just lead to opportunism) but rather good leadership and especially good financial stewardship. When I took a team to East Africa a year ago, we taught many seminars to a group of pastors. By far, the most memorable lesson was the one on finances. Leadership and stewardship go together.
WesLead
Posted at 11:53h, 16 MarchTony, your reflection, and remark here are accurate. In addition to leadership, stewardship but be another priority in this endeavor. Thanks for the reply.
Daniel John Matuch
Posted at 09:37h, 16 MarchRather than financial stewardship, a call to action is what I glean from this post. I appreciate the need to avoid opportunism and be proper stewards, and, however, as you say, this is a matter of proper leadership. Much of the world has been opposed to Africa, generally speaking, by seeking instead its own financial gain. Together we see the solution as Christ, our only hope and refuge. Rather than writing off any sinner according to the errors of his or her ways, let us build up true hope!
WesLead
Posted at 11:48h, 16 MarchYou are right on. Thanks for the post.
David J Valente
Posted at 16:11h, 28 JanuaryI agree with you Kossi that poverty is a lack of proper relationships. I would also add its also the lack of interpersonal skills within a person and lack of self control. Some people who poverty mindset often spend their life resources in the way that their role models i,.e parents friends do. So they have had bad examples in their life and they lack the ability to manage their money and network just like you said. Developing those interpersonal skills takes a life time as well as developing self control, accountablity systems, goal setting etc. I love thses quotes from When Helping Hurts!
“Poverty is rooted in broken relationships, so the solution to poverty is rooted in the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection to put all things in right relationship again.” (When Helping Hurts)
“Poverty alleviation occurs when the power of Christ’s resurrection reconciles our key relationships through the transformation of both individual lives and local, national, and international systems.”