No part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in
any form or by any means - electronics, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
any other method than for private study, without permission from the copyright
owner.
I am grateful to every individual that contributed to
the actualisation of this book: may the Lord reward you more abundantly.
I thank Pastor and Pastor Mrs. Asaba for the pieces of
their advice so far, and I appreciate the unrelenting efforts of Mrs. M.
Okerentie: I pray that your labours of love will not go unrewarded in Jesus
name. Amen.
My bosom friend, Ibukun Damilola, I say thanks in
uncountable times.
I also thank my Father in the Lord, Rev. Dayo Adewumi,
for his spiritual and physical impacts over my life.
To my parents and siblings, thanks for the
encouragement.
I, also, appreciate
my friends and colleagues for their immense supports.
To all that time will not permit me to greet, I say, a
big 'thank you'.
This book is dedicated to all youths and teenagers,
who are leaders in the various departments/ministries – existing in the Church
of Christ, throughout the world.
It is an undisputable fact that many books have been
written on leadership (ranging from secular to religion-organisational
leadership).
However, this time, you will read the book which has
its focus on the “ethics” of a youth's and a teenager's
Christianity-Leadership. I therefore, want you to note that all you will read,
here, is about “moral-discipline and human-relationship” of a youth and a
teenage Christian Leader.
So what are ethics? Ethics are simply your
self-legislations, moral-discipline or the standards which you have set for yourself
as a leader: They are the portraits of your characters.
I want you to understand the word “ethics” as it
applies to the Christendom and let me also say that, one of the major things
you will learn in this book is “moral-values” or “character-formations” as a
leader.
Leadership is a derivative of the word leader. The
Oxford Dictionary of Advanced Learner described a leader as a person or thing
that leads, and that, a leader is a person or thing that is the most successful
or advanced in a particular area.
A leader is also a person who receives blames and
praises of the outcomes of any activities executed under his/her leadership. A
leader is a person whose duty is to ensure that things are done in a right way
that will produce the desired results, while ethics are a set of moral
principles.
This book is determined to transform its reader for
the right attitudes of leadership. Ethic is self-legislation; it is one's Dos
and Don'ts.
In this computer age, when everything, especially
integrity, seems to be going out of hands, I have discovered that many people
are craving for power in order to be famous and also noticed that they do not
care of how they get it. I discovered that most of the leaders (nowadays) are
in their positions for selfish reasons.
This book brings to the notice of its reader that,
leadership is given by God and that leaders are accountable to God and will be
dealt with - if failed to work in the ways of God.
The book teaches on moral values in leadership; it is
a must read for growing ones who care to please God through their life-style.
It noted that leadership is done by working with God.
It will also help growing ones to prepare themselves
for effective, successful and credible leadership. Enjoy your reading and make
use of every advice you may come across in this book.
Every liability in this book is to the best of my
knowledge.
What is Leadership ethics? It is a set moral
principles that are practiced by a leader: the set of moral principles that
form the leader's discipline.
Now, I want you to read with all attention to
understand this book properly.
There is no organisation that should not have a system
of leadership: In the religious circles there are leaders; in the seculars’ -
we have leaders. There cease to be leaders when the world is no more, but all
leaders must know that, without them in those positions, things will move on,
as many of their followers are capable to hold the positions they are holding.
Sooner or later, each leader's tenure will end.
“Vanity
of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is
vanity." What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under
- the sun? One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the
earth abides forever. The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to
the place where it arose. The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to
the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit.
All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; To the place from
which the rivers come, There they return again. All things are full of labor;
Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled
with hearing. That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what
will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.”Eccl 1:2-9, NKJV.
Answering this question begins with one’s
understanding that where there is no law: there is no sin. Hence, where there
is no leader: there is no orderliness.
Take the government for an example. If there is no
Head-of-State, the affairs of a nation will be in jeopardy.
Therefore, no matter how big or small an organisation
is, once there is somebody in the leadership - things will work better. Leaders
are assigned in order to have an effective and accountable running of their
organisations.
A leader is an overseer, which exercises control on
the affairs of his/her organisation, ensuring that all the followers under that
organisation are protected and that their needs are met. “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as
an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”Josh 1:6-7, NKJV.
There must be people in the organisational leadership
just as a father is a leader in his family
Therefore,
Leaders are inevitable.
The
following are the essentials of good leaders:
·Leaders
are vision and mission drivers.
·Leaders
are assigned to govern the affairs of their respective organisations.
·Leaders
are assigned in order for the members of their organisations to pursue/achieve
common goals.
·Leaders
are the heads: others form the bodies.
·Leaders
are assigned in order to have accurate accounts of their organisations'
activities.
·Leaders
are assigned to encourage team play among the followers in their organisations.
·Leaders
are assigned to have a method of checks and balances in their organisations.
It is also important to note that leaders are
privileged to be in their various positions, because, they have some prejudices
over others (their followers), but a leader must lead with ethics and his/her
ethics must be aligned with the word of God.
As a leader, you must love all your followers equally
to avoid being sentimental, which is capable of creating factions under your
watch.
The following Bible passages should enlighten your
mind on self-legislation as a Christian leader.
“Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify
your Father in heaven.”Matt 5:16, NKJV.
“Do not
judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."John 7:24, NKJV.
A leader must be somebody who has the fruits and the
gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed below: However, it is not compulsory that a
leader have all the fruits and the gifts of the Spirit before s/he can function
in his/her position, since the followers are meant to augment his/her actions. “There are differences of ministries, but
the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God
who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one
for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the
Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another
faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to
another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of
spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation
of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to
each one individually as He wills.” 1
Cor 12:5-11, NKJV.
4.Gifts of
healing (though, not all leaders can have this, because, it is in your
relationship with God, when you may have understood His mysteries, that He will
grant this to you).
5.Discerning
spirit (is needed in everything that you do).
6.Speaking
in tongues (mainly for your self-edification or fortification).
7.Working
of miracles. Or do you think that it is impossible for you to do this.
Notwithstanding, it takes one’s 'understanding' of the mysteries of faith to do
it, but just ask with 'unwavering faith' and you will see the manifestation of
the name of Jesus.
8.Interpretation
of tongues. You may be surprised at how this gift could be used, but I tell
you, most of your followers could be drawn closer to Jesus through it – you
will just discover that you do not need to be preaching to them any longer.
9.The gift
of prophecy, which allows you to declare God’s agenda into the future. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”Matt 6:33, NKJV.
If you tutor your life in the pattern of this last verse
(Mat 6:33), you will discover that people (your followers) will be glorifying
God in your life; they will always want to see you around them because you
generate joy whenever you are with them.
Central
Truths:
·“Leadership
is a case study: You move from one solution to another challenge.”
·“In
leadership - defeat is not ascribed to ‘us’: victory rather.”
·“You
will not know, until you know - what influence does in leadership.”
·“Leadership
can be taught and learnt: improve your leading skills.”
·“The
Holy Spirit is the perfect counsellor who will make sure that your leadership
is successful.”
“If you
love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you
another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom
the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you
know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”John 14:15- 18,
NKJV.
