As we continue to register for home cells, November focuses on leadership. The Cathedral has the cream of top leadership in this nation and the church. I hope that as you evaluate your skills and ability to serve others next year, you will choose the path of servant leadership. I wish to share with us five marks of a servant leader as stated by Jon Bloom from desiring God ministries.
• A servant leader seeks the glory of his master. Jesus said in John 7:18, “the one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. The primary authority of any Christian leader is in Christ, not public, not position nor financial ability. A good leader swears to his/her own heart and does not change (Psalm 15:4).
• A servant leader sacrificially seeks the highest joy of those he serves. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples (John 13:13-17), reminding them to do the same to others as a symbol of humility and service to the follows. Every leader is meant to be a servant of all. Jesus stretched beyond what we can handle by laying his life on the cross for his followers (Mark 10:42-45).In which ways can we lay down our lives for the followers?
• A servant leader will fore go his/her rights rather that obscure the gospel. A leader’s identity and trust are not in his calling but in Christ who called him. In 1 Cor. 9:19, Paul became a servant of all in order to win them for Christ. Paul was beaten, homeless, endured harsh weather, worked hard, and imprisoned, all these he did for the gospel to be preached. Are you an obstacle to the preaching of the gospel? You need to let go so that Christ can be preached in your
office, home or wherever your sphere of influence is.
• A servant leader is not preoccupied with personal visibility and recognition. A servant leader is one who realizes that he or she is just one part of the body which cannot function in isolation (1 Cor. 12:12-26). Grow others and allow them to understand and appreciate their gifts. This will foster tremendous growth and participation by everybody.
• A servant leader anticipates and graciously accepts the time for his decrease. Every leader will retire. There are times when you used to perform but now you are dragging, nagging, forgetful, always late, you need to slow down and allow others to thrive under your mentorship. May be your season in that office is over and God is calling you somewhere, listen and allow God to take you to another level. That is true service to the Lord.
The Very Rev. Canon Dr. Rebecca Nyegenye
PROVOST