BECOMING A PASSIONATE LEADER

Leadership Training Conference Holding @ First Baptist Church, Igbogene-Epie, Yenagoa By Apostle Henry C.A TOPIC: BECOMING A PASSIONATE LEADER Foreword: “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord”. (Romans 12: 11. kjv) Hallelujah! And welcome formerly to the year 2013: since this is our take off programme as the Baptist Student Fellowship of the Bayelsa Baptist Conference. I welcome you all as ‘the glory of all other Baptist Student Fellowship’. Alua! Leadership Training Conference is a programme designed and organised to gather the Baptist Student Leader Representatives at the Local, Association and Conference levels. Therefore, this LTC is wholesomely planned for Bsf Student Leaders; and hence high expectation is demanded on the part of the Student participants. This year’s programme is featuring a very serious theme which I believe that when you give your total attention, you would have ended up engulfed in the vision for the great commission especially unto greatness in all ramification of your life. It is knowledge that God has packaged the teachings, seminars, messages, hymns and celebration that will come up in this conference experience to bless you and then in turn make you channel of blessings to your families and friends. The matter of leadership cannot be restricted to a particular sphere of life and professionalism. This is because without leadership factor every other factors (or resources) would remain useless and idle. Leadership factor helps to channel all other factors/resources into fitting positions of expectancy. Your becoming passionate in your leadership tenure or office begins here in this Conference. The serious attention, interest and commitment you give will determine not only how passionate you will become but will set the track of success for you in any leadership position you undertake in life (marriage, societal and religious). Many thanks to every contributor of this edition of the Leadership Training Conference for your unrelenting commitment and love; on behalf of the Baptist Student fellowship Bayelsa Conference, the Central Bsf officers, I express a deep appreciation. I also appreciate the office of the Bayelsa Baptist Conference President Reverend Dr. Humphrey Edoghotu for his fatherly role and support. My appreciation also goes to Reverend Seitongha I. F. Opuene and the First Baptist Church, Igbogene-Epie for the release of their Church premises. It is our highest expectation and prayer that you will never escape the manifesting glory of God unto equipping you for the task of your life’s journey here and elsewhere. Shalom! Pst Afor Henrywisdom Bsf Zonal Coordinator Eastern Zone III 08062144019. THE HEART AND ACTS OF A LEADER The Heart of a Leader The heart is an important part of the human structure without which the physical being of man may be in question of complete wholesomeness and sanity. Every creature God made has been blessed with a functioning heart. This is a physical dimension to the concept “heart”, there is also the spiritual dimension. The spiritual dimension has been emphasized mostly throughout the Holy Scripture. As far as the physical heart can be fattened and blocked: so, the spiritual dimension informs us that our spiritual heart can be seared and same become dead or dormant. The term ‘heart’ in the Greek language is interpreted as ‘kadia’ and in Hebrew tongue is ‘leb’. This indicates that heart is the centre of physical life, and is used as metaphor for the person (cf. Acts 14:17; James 5:5). It also indicates that heart is also centre of spiritual life. The following are essential for you to know in the cause of this conference meeting and your journey in life. God knows the heart (Lk. 16:15; Rom. 8:27; I Thes.2:4) Used of mankind’s spiritual life (Mtt. 15:18-19; I Tim.1:5) The centre of the thought life (intellect, Mtt.13:15; 24:28; Acts7:23; Rom. 1:21) The centre of the volition (Will, Acts 5:4; II Cor.9:7) Unique place of the Spirit’s activity (Rom.5:5; II Cor. 1:22; Gal.4:6; Eph.3:17) The heart is a metaphorical way of referring to the entire person (Mtt.22:37; Deut.6:5). The thoughts, motives and actions attributed to the heart fully reveal the type of individual. Let us consider a remarkable bible character that epitomised the full characteristics of the heart of a leader. IMAGINATION: Prime-Minister Joseph was a Dreamer. He saw what others could not see. While his half brothers envied and hated him and his father rebuke him for his dreams he kept dreaming. A leader’s should be visionary in spite of whatever condition any leader may find him-self or her-self he/she should never stop dreaming. It is the lack of vision, imagination or dream that destroys people. INTEGRITY: Joseph followed his principle to shun social vices. He decided he was not going to be involved with things that could jeopardise his dreams or vision. He was tempted by portiphar’s wife. He refused to get even when he had his brothers who betrayed him unto slavery. He sought to do the good and right things only. He does not condone evil acts or cheat in his heart. A leader’s heart must be well above reproach (wrong or sin) that is, your standard for life must be higher than what is obtainable with “them” (those friends of yours who are yet accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour, and those who refuse to live a good/righteous life). INVESTMENT: Mr Joseph understood that doing well is like planting for the future. He knew that helping others is helping your-self. He helped men even in prison; he helped Pharaoh and then helped his brothers. A leader’s heart must be willing to sacrifice his agenda for others. INDUSTRIOUS: Joseph was not slacking whenever it comes to working hard (Gen.37:2). A leader must possess a hardworking heart. A leader is always a frontier man. INNOVATION: He devised an ingenious strategy to save the nations from famine and desolation, using godly wisdom. Joseph was a conserver and not wasteful. A leader must not have a wasteful heart. INTELLIGENCE: He was intelligent. He had the God kind of wisdom (Proverb 1:7). He understood some mysteries. A leader’s heart must be wise in the LORD (as this will lead such leader to become wise in the craft of leadership enterprise). THE ACTS OF A LEADER Acts can mean personal behaviours. That is, somebody’s actions considered as entertainment or used as an assessment of that person’s worth. In a simple manner I can say your acts are your characters, who you are when no one is watching. Your character is the foundation upon which considers throwing the weight of leadership on you. Although, here are some lists of overlooked acts of a leader: Speak Up Shut Up Be Kind Say No Say Yes Reflect Be Curious Walk away Receive Critical feedback Develop Others Stay and Fight Love your Followers Forgive others wrongs Step out of your comfort zone Listen to others Reflect Deeply Give others credit Notice: your acts or character(s) is not necessarily what you say or do IT IS WHO YOU ARE! Reference: Ken Blanchard, Arts of Influence: The Heart of Leader. www.aspire.cs.com/30. accessed 24/12/2012. 5:41 PM