Calling Into Ministry

&
Christian Leadership

Apostle M. Gumbo

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Table of Contents

1. What is calling?

2. What calling is not?

3. Bible Characters who were called in different ways.

4. How do I know that I am called?

5. What is Christian leadership?

6. Christian leadership principles.

7. Leadership qualities that make good leaders.

8. Characteristics every Church leader‘s spouse needs.

9. Family leaders

10. Church Discipline

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What is a “Calling”?

A calling is God‘s divine voice upon an individual with an assignment to be

accomplished for His kingdom purposes; or it is an unbearable selfless passion or
desire towards a particular goal to be accomplished.
It might come from within, that is someone's intensified strong desire or feeling sensed
internal as to achieve a particular purpose.
On the religious perspective, this might come also through a dream, vision or audible
voice in one's inner man.
Again in the religious sense of the word, is a religious vocation (which comes from the
Latin for ―call‖) that may be professional or voluntary and, idiosyncratic to different
religions may come from another person, from a divine messenger, or from within
oneself.

Calling people into ministry is God’s duty and him alone, ours is to
pray only.

Matthew 9:36
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them,

because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said
to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.38 Therefore pray
the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

Ephesians 4:11
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,12 for the equipping of the saints for the
work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,13 till we all come to the unity of the
faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ;14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning
craftiness of deceitful plotting,15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things

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into Him who is the head --- Christ ---16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit
together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every
part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Calling is not:
a. Anger
b. Frustration
c. Disappointment
d. Confusion
e. Conflict
f. Bitterness
g. Revenge
NB: If ever your ministry is founded upon one of the above stated points, just know that
by the time those things get settled your ministry gets collapse.
If by chance the ministry continues/survives, it will suffer the consequences. A real
calling from God for the ministry should be vividly sensed from within by the owner,
vividly seen in a dream or in a vision. Any prophet or a man of God who would come
and point it out, it should be a confirmation but not a surprise to the owner. God does
not go via a second person when he is calling you; we will explain it on the following
examples.
- Whenever you have conflicts with your seniors, just resolve them rather than
thinking of starting a ministry that has erupted from a misunderstanding, what if
you were the one who was wrong in that conflict.
- If a misunderstanding was beyond repair, it is advisable that you take a break
little bit researching for a Bible based church to go and submit and fellowship
with rather than planning to start a church.
- If God has called you, be advised that your spiritual father is the one to mentor
that gift/calling till it is ready for an appointment. Remember there is: (A calling,
Waiting period/Equipping time and an Appointing time). Don‘t confuse calling and
appointing time. Check with the examples of most Bible characters that were
called by God.

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- Discover or discern the office into which you are called for. In most cases God
calls ministers into his field as an expansion not a spilt. It is in rare moments
where people are called to start new ministries but because nowadays people
are after fame or popularity, whenever they sense a calling they rush to start their
own ministries which are not in the plans of God. Check with Isaac when he dug
or revived his father‘s wells (Gen.26:15). Now the Philistines had stopped up
all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his
father, and they had filled them with earth.16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go
away from us, for you are much mightier than we."
17
Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and
dwelt there.18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the
days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the
death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called
them.
- It‘s not about being the senior Pastor or the Founder or the Pioneer but it‘s all
about God‘s work in his field and the name of Jesus Christ.
- God can only call someone to start a new work altogether after seeing a special
need of which the present workers are not well capable of handling it the way he
wants it to look like. E.g.: All the twelve disciples were Jewish people,
accustomed in Jewish systems and focused on Jewish nationals and God saw a
need to bring Apostle Paul on board for the ministry to break across cultural
barriers. That is why Paul referred to himself as an Apostle to the Gentiles
though he was a Jewish man. That is an exceptional situation, and that is the
only time when starting a new ministry is condoned and apart from that, people
should open branches and expand the mother ministry.
- Nowadays churches are started out of little conflicts or some disagreements
among church bodies and that is not godly. I would advise that any conflict
should be godly resolved and people continue together rather than splits after
splits.

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- Church splits cost many lives; some members leave the church and go straight to
the world or may remain in churches but without trust anymore in people called:
(Pastors).
- If it happens that leaders have a serious conflict to a point that a separation is
called for, let the one who is leaving the church not influence members to go with
him/her it is not a good thing to do.
- If a separation happens to take place, the one or the team that is leaving is
advised to find a Bible based church and re-join themselves rather than starting
to plant a new church altogether.
- During Church History, churches were started due to disagreements in doctrinal
issues and that was then because the church was one and it was an infant, so it
should not be taken as an advantage or an excuse.
- Only two reasons can be accepted for a new ministry to start: 1. An Exceptional
Apostolic Calling and 2. Serious doctrinal disagreements.
- The one called for an exceptional apostolic ministry can start a church and it can
be proven by not being a duplicate of his/her former churches. By bringing up
new programs and services which churches were neglecting, this will be the
proof that God saw a need to bring a new ministry into existence.
- Those who leave the church due to doctrinal disagreements should simply go
and join other good administered churches and avoid starting new churches at all
cost.
- If you are called to pastor, please enjoy to pastor under the coverage of Apostles
or Overseers. The same principle applies to a prophet, evangelist, teacher etc.
- If any minister of the holy things of God says to be called, and then start to
conspire about the senior pastor with other prominent members of the church, it
is a clear proof that he/she is not called. If you are really called by God to stand
alone, just move out alone and let God prove that indeed he called you by
providing pillar people to stand with you in building a new ministry. The moment
you steal people or deceive them to follow you from your former church, you are
a clear proof that your leaving was all about power hungry and not a divine

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 calling. Remember the traditional saying that says: ―Where there is a vision there
is a provision‖.
- How will you kneel down to pray to the God of love while your spiritual father
remained in tears because of the destruction and harm you have caused in his
church?
- You don‘t destroy a fellowship to build another fellowship it will be a biggest
mistake.
- You don‘t dig a pit to fill up another pit; it will be a waste of time and a proof of
insanity.
- It is always advisable to leave in peace and not in pieces.
- It is always advisable to ask from your spiritual father a proper spiritual release
and arrange a duration which you will stay after giving a notice of your moving
out so that together with your father you may agree to train someone to occupy
your office.
- Depending on the spiritual growth and understanding of your father, the release
might be tidy or untidy.
- Never plan with another man to have one vision of starting a church; remember,
no two women can give birth to a one baby. No matter how close you are to each
other as ministers, don‘t ever try to start one church which both of you will be
founders. It might start well but at the end you will be the worst enemies.
- Never ever try to launch a ministry with people you took from your former church,
that church will be a duplicate then what will be the reason of leaving the old one.
Also, the launched one will die slowly but sure until the old members of your old
church are no more so that you can start your real church God called you for. If
your calling was not to start a church you will not be able to stand the test of time
and two things will happen: 1. You will be ashamed to go back to your former
church and end up sitting down not going to any church or 2. You will go and join
yourself to any church.

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 - Below are the Biblical examples of people whom God called for different
purposes and it will teach us the different ways how on how God calls people.

Bible Characters who were called in different ways.

Abraham, Jacob, Judah, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samson, Samuel, David, and
Solomon a successor to David, Nehemiah was not a prophet but passion qualified him.
Jeremiah, Elisha was prophesied by Elijah by throwing a mantle on him, Apostle Paul,
Priscilla and Aquila, Timothy, Titus and Philemon etc.

Abraham (Gen.12:1-6)
Now the LORD had said to Abram:
―Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father's house,
To a land that I will show you.
2
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
4
So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And
Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.5 Then Abram took
Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had
gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to
the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.6 Abram passed through the
land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites
were then in the land.

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Jacob
Gen.25:19 20
This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham begot Isaac. Isaac
was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian
of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian.21 Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for
his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his
wife conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, "If all is
well, why am I like this?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.
23
And the LORD said to her:
―Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger."
24
So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her
womb.25 And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called
his name Esau.26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau's heel;
so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
27
So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a
mild man, dwelling in tents.28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but
Rebekah loved Jacob.
Esau Sells His Birthright
29
Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary.30 And
Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary."
Therefore his name was called Edom.
31
But Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day."
32
And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?"
33
Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day."
So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and
stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his
birthright.

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Genesis 27: Isaac Blesses Jacob
1
Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not
see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, "My son."
And he answered him, "Here I am."
2
Then he said, "Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death.3 Now
therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field
and hunt game for me.4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me
that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die."
5
Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the
field to hunt game and to bring it.6 So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, "Indeed
I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying,7 'Bring me game and make
savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the LORD before
my death.'8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you. 9
Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will
make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves.10 Then you shall take it to
your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death."

Judah
8
" Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise;
Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
Your father's children shall bow down before you.
9
Judah is a lion's whelp;
From the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He bows down, he lies down as a lion;
And as a lion, who shall rouse him?
10
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes;
And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
11
Binding his donkey to the vine,
And his donkey's colt to the choice vine,

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He washed his garments in wine,
And his clothes in the blood of grapes.
12
His eyes are darker than wine,
And his teeth whiter than milk.

Joseph
Genesis 37: Joseph Dreams of Greatness
1
Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2
This is the history of Jacob.
Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad
was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph
brought a bad report of them to his father.
3
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old
age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors.4 But when his brothers saw that their
father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak
peaceably to him.
5
Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even
more.6 So he said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 There we
were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright;
and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf."
8
And his brothers said to him, "Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed
have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his
words.
9
Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, "Look, I have
dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed
down to me."
10
So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him,
"What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers
indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?" 11 And his brothers envied him, but
his father kept the matter in mind.

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Moses
Exodus 2
10
And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her
son. So she called his name Moses, saying, "Because I drew him out of the water."
11
Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his
brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of
his brethren.
14
Then he said, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me
as you killed the Egyptian?" So Moses feared and said, "Surely this thing is known!"
15
When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the
face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.
17
Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped
them, and watered their flock.
21
Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to
Moses.
Exodus 3
1
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And
he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
3
Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does
not burn."
4
So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst
of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."
6
Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father --- the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon
God.
11
But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should
bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
13
Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to
them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His
name?' what shall I say to them?"

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And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the
children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "
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Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The LORD
God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has
sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.'

Joshua
Joshua 1: God's Commission to Joshua
1
After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD
spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying:2 "Moses My servant is dead.
Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am
giving to them --- the children of Israel.3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread
upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far
as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea
toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.5 No man shall be able to stand
before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not
leave you nor forsake you.6 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. 7 Only be
strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which
Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left,
that you may prosper wherever you go.8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your
mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according
to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will
have good success.9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do
not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Samson
Judges 1324 So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child
grew, and the LORD blessed him.25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon
him at Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

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Samuel
1 Samuel 3: Samuel's First Prophecy
1
Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD
was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.2 And it came to pass at that
time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so
dim that he could not see,3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the
LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down,4 that the LORD
called Samuel. And he answered, "Here I am!"5 So he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am,
for you called me."
And he said, "I did not call; lie down again." And he went and lay down.
6
Then the LORD called yet again, "Samuel!"
So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." He
answered, "I did not call, my son; lie down again."7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the
LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.)
8
And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and
said, "Here I am, for you did call me."
Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy.9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel,
"Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, 'Speak, LORD, for Your
servant hears.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10
Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears."
11
Then the LORD said to Samuel: "Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both
ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I
have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.13 For I have told him that I
will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made
themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.14 And therefore I have sworn to the house
of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering
forever."
15
So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD.
And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.16 Then Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel,
my son!"

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He answered, "Here I am."
17
And he said, "What is the word that the LORD spoke to you? Please do not hide it
from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things
that He said to you."18 Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And
he said, "It is the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him."

David
1 Samuel 16: David Anointed King
1
Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have
rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you
to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons."
2
And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me."
But the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the
LORD.'3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you
shall anoint for Me the one I name to you."

1 Samuel 17:20
So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and

took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as
the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle. 21 For Israel and the
Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army.22 And David left his supplies
in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23
Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by
name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the
same words. So David heard them.24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man,
fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.25 So the men of Israel said, "Have you seen
this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that
the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter,
and give his father's house exemption from taxes in Israel."

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26
Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the
man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this
uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
27
And the people answered him in this manner, saying, "So shall it be done for the man
who kills him."
28
Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was
aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom
have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of
your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."
29
And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?"30 Then he turned
from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as
the first ones did.
31
Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and
he sent for him.32 Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your
servant will go and fight with this Philistine."
33
And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him;
for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."
34
But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion
or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,35 I went out after it and struck it, and
delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its
beard, and struck and killed it.36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this
uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the
living God."37 Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the
lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"
38
So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he
also clothed him with a coat of mail.39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to
walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I
have not tested them." So David took them off.
40
Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from
the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling

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was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.41 So the Philistine came, and began
drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him.42 And when
the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth,
ruddy and good-looking.43 So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to
me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.44 And the Philistine said to
David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of
the field!"
45
Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and
with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the
46
armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my
hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the
carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the
earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.47 Then all this assembly
shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the
LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."

Solomon
1 Kings 3:5-13 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God
said, Ask what I shall give thee.
And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy,
according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of
heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him
a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father:
and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people,
that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may
discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

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And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for
thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine
enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an
understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee
shall any arise like unto thee.
And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so
that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

Nehemiah
Nehemiah 1:1-6 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in
the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them
concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning
Jerusalem.
And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province
are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the
gates thereof are burned with fire.
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned
certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that
keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:
Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of
thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy
servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against
thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:4-12 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the
womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

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Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall
send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto
me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to
pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou?
And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform
it.

Elisha
1 Kings 19:16, 19 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel:
and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy
room. Vs.19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was
plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed
by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

Apostle Paul
Acts 9:1-9 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples
of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this
way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about
him a light from heaven:
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest
thou me?
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou
persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

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And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the
Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must
do.
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing
no man.
And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but
they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Timothy
Acts 16:1-4 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was
there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and
believed; but his father was a Greek:
Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the
Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that
were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

2 Timothy 1:1-6 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the
promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and
Christ Jesus our Lord.
I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without
ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy
grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee
by the putting on of my hands.

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2 Timothy 1:1- 6 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the
promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and
Christ Jesus our Lord.
I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without
ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy
grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee
by the putting on of my hands.

Titus
Galatians 2:1, 3 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas,
and took Titus with me also. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was
compelled to be circumcised:
Titus 1:1- 5 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the
faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto
me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are
wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

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How do I know my calling?
NB: God does not have one formula of doing things; he can do it anyhow and anywhere
in the confinements of being God.
These callings consist of working out your purpose to create service to others. They
may be straight from God and directly to you or purely situational, or they manifest as a
passion that a person develops.
Passion-driven callings
Passion-driven callings arise from an intense desire to serve or create in a specific way.
Such a desire results from an innate talent – such as music, construction, or the visual
arts – or from a painful experience. The person may have personally experienced the
pain, or they empathize strongly with people who have experienced the pain.

1. God might be specific, loud and clear like what he did to Abram (Gen.12:1-3) or
to Saul/Paul (Acts 9:1-7)
2. It might be real voice you can even hear with the physical ears like in the case of
Samuel (1Sam3:1-15)
3. He might cause one to have unbearable burden towards a specific need in the
body of Christ like on the issue of Nehemiah (Neh.1:1-11)
4. He might use the unbearable zeal for helping (defending) his people like in the
case of David (Sam.17:26-30) or Moses (Exodus 2:11-14)
5. He might be specific like in the case of Jeremiah (Jer.1:4-10)
6. It might be in a vivid dream instead of the mere one for example, that one of
Joseph.
7. The unbearable passion towards a particular office might be the pointer to what
God has called you for.
8. Just throw yourself into the field of God (any ministry work) then where you find
happiness and fulfilment might be the office of your calling.
9. The field you embark on and people get blessed then in turn they give a positive
feedback which will confirm what has been already in you might be the office of
your calling.

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 10. You might have it but still struggling to figure out, up until your mentor or spiritual
father gets to identify it like in the case of Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:24-28),
Timothy (Acts 16:1-4), Titus (Galatians 2:1, 3) etc.
11. God can send his servant/prophet to tell you but still it should be a confirmation
of some sort. It should trigger what has lying idle though sensed but not activated
rather than to be told a new thing altogether.

NB: The following topic is an extract from ―Campbellsville University” (© Copyright

2020)

What Is Christian Leadership?

―Leadership is the act of influencing / serving others out of Christ‘s interests in their
lives so they accomplish God‘s purposes for and through them,‖ according to Bill
Lawrence, president of Leader Formation International, at Bible.org.
Christian leadership is not rooted in worldly notions of success, such as the love of
money or power. Jesus Himself spoke against this when expressing the importance of
serving others.
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ―You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord
it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so
among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — just as the Son of
Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.‖

– Matthew 20:25-28, NKJV

Leaders are not to oppress and overpower others with their authority, like the Gentiles
practiced. Instead, leaders serve others, which Jesus demonstrated when He ―made
Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of
men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became
obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross‖ (Philippians 2:7-8).

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Christian Leadership Principles
1. Love
God is love (1 John 4:8) and ―the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the
Holy Spirit who was given to us‖ (Romans 5:5). Expressing the power and influence of
the love of God is difficult to overemphasize. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul famously wrote
about the transformational nature of love and how it is greater than spiritual gifts like
faith and hope. Jesus told His disciples that other people will know them by their love
(John 13:35).
Love is central to Christianity and every Christian. Any Christian leader should be driven
in his or her life by the love of God in anything that he or she does. In this light, may
other people recognize the heart and motives of that leader.

2. Modesty
―We‘ve all encountered the know-it-all leader, the ‗submit-or-else‘ type of leader,‖
according to writer Brent Rinehart at Crosswalk. But Proverbs 16:5 says the proud of
heart are ―an abomination‖ to God. Being arrogant does not help model or demonstrate
Christ‘s interests. Rather, it is in direct conflict with Christian leadership.

Pride goes before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
– Proverbs 16:18-19

3. Self-development
Jesus modelled self-development, according to Ron Edmondson, pastor of Immanuel
Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky. Jesus, often ―constantly slipped away to spend
time with God.‖
One of the most striking examples of this is when Jesus prayed in the garden at
Gethsemane just before His arrest. Jesus knew ―all things that would come upon Him‖

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 (John 18:4), including the painful flogging and crucifixion. This caused intense anguish
and sorrow, which is evident from Luke‘s account. Luke, who was a physician, was the
only writer in the gospels to describe Jesus‘ sweat as blood — referring to a rare
condition called hematidrosis.
And He was withdrawn from them about a stone‘s throw, and He knelt down and
prayed, saying, ―Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not
My will, but Yours, be done.‖ Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven,
strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat
became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
– Luke 22:41-44

Christian leaders can follow Jesus’ example of seeking God for insight into His will
and for strength. Becoming more righteous is a lifelong process for all Christians,
and leaders need to make time to grow spiritually.

4. Motivation

Instead of misleading or exploiting people, good leaders motivate others, Grunlan

said. In Nehemiah 2:17, “Nehemiah fearlessly motivated the people to rebuild the
walls of Jerusalem,” Grunlan wrote. “He laid out a vision, he shared a plan and he
reassured God’s people that God was with them. When we are moving people for
our benefit, we manipulate and exploit them. But when we call people to a higher
purpose, we motivate them.”

5. Correction

Correcting others in the right way is important for all Christians. Many passages in
Scripture speak to this principle, as the following examples illustrate:

 “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but
exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching”
(Hebrews 10:24-25).
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 “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over
you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their
work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn
those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with
all” (1 Thessalonians 5:13-14).
 “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a
servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in
humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them
repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses
and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2
Timothy 2:23-26).
How can Christian leaders approach correcting others in the right way? Lawrence
offers the following tips:

 By understanding their temperaments

 By respecting their concerns
 By believing in their gifts
 By supporting their dreams
 By challenging their flaws

6. Integrity

- Good leaders practise and value integrity.

Righteous lips are the delight of kings,

And they love him who speaks what is right.

– Proverbs 16:13
“People don’t follow leaders who lack integrity,” Grunlan said. “Integrity involves
actions as well as words. Now, I am not so much referring to things like not
stealing as I am to hypocrisy. Integrity involves practicing what we preach; being

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consistent and dependable, doing what we say we will do and living in such a way
that others will trust us.”

7. Follower of God’s Will

“Is there anything more important in a leader than he or she seeking God’s
direction?” Rinehart asked. “A good leader seeks the Lord, commits his way to the
Lord and the Lord establishes the next steps.”

The preparations of the heart belong to man,

But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. …
Commit your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established. …
A man’s heart plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
– Proverbs 16:1, 3, 9

Developing Christian Leadership

Everybody defines leadership differently but I really like the way John C Maxwell defines
leadership, ―A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.‖
Irrespective of how you define a leader, he or she can prove to be a difference maker
between success and failure. A good leader has a futuristic vision and knows how to
turn his ideas into real-world success stories. In this article, we take an in-depth look at
some of the important leadership qualities that separate good leaders from a bad one.

Leadership Qualities That Make Good Leaders

Want to become a great leader? Here are fifteen leadership qualities that can make you
a good leader.

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 1. Honesty and integrity
2. Confidence
3. Inspire Others
4. Commitment and Passion
5. Good Communicator
6. Decision Making Capabilities
7. Accountability
8. Delegation and Empowerment
9. Creativity and Innovation
10. Empathy
11. Resilience
12. Emotional Intelligence
13. Humility
14. Transparency
15. Vision and Purpose

1. Honesty and Integrity

Leadership qualities: The 34th President of United States, Dwight. D. Eisenhower once
said, ―The supreme quality of leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real
success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an
army, or in an office.‖ Honesty and integrity are two important ingredients which make a
good leader. How can you expect your followers to be honest when you lack these
qualities yourself? Leaders succeed when they stick to their values and core beliefs and
without ethics, this will not be possible.

2. Confidence
Leadership qualities: To be an effective leader, you should be confident enough to
ensure that others follow your commands. If you are unsure about your own decisions
and qualities, then your subordinates will never follow you. As a leader, you have to be
oozing with confidence, show some swagger and assertiveness to gain the respect of
your subordinates. This does not mean that you should be overconfident, but you

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should at least reflect the degree of confidence required to ensure that your followers
trust you as a leader.

3. Inspire Others
Leadership qualities: Probably the most difficult job for a leader is to persuade others to
follow. It can only be possible if you inspire your followers by setting a good example.
When the going gets tough, they look up to you and see how you react to the situation.
If you handle it well, they will follow you. As a leader, should think positive and this
positive approach should be visible through your actions. Stay calm under pressure and
keep the motivation level up. As John Quincy Adams puts it, ―If your actions inspire
others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.‖ If you
are successful in inspiring your subordinates, you can easily overcome any current and
future challenge easily.

4. Commitment and Passion

Leadership qualities: Your teams look up to you and if you want them to give them their
all, you will have to be passionate about it too. When your teammates see you getting
your hands dirty, they will also give their best shot. It will also help you to gain the
respect of your subordinates and infuse new energy in your team members, which helps
them to perform better. If they feel that you are not fully committed or lacks passion,
then it would be an uphill task for the leader to motivate your followers to achieve the
goal.

5. Good Communicator
Good Communicator – Until you clearly communicate your vision to your team and tell
them the strategy to achieve the goal, it will be very difficult for you to get the results you
want. Simply put, if you are unable to communicate your message effectively to your
team, you can never be a good leader. A good communicator can be a good leader.
Words have the power to motivate people and make them do the unthinkable. If you use
them effectively, you can also achieve better results.

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 6. Decision-Making Capabilities
Good leaders: Apart from having a futuristic vision, a leader should have the ability to
take the right decision at the right time. Decisions taken by leaders have a profound
impact on masses. A leader should think long and hard before taking a decision but
once the decision is taken, stand by it. Although, most leaders take decisions on their
own, but it is highly recommended that you consult key stakeholders before taking a
decision. After all, they are the ones who will benefit or suffer from your decisions.

7. Accountability
Good leaders: When it comes to accountability, you need to follow the approach
highlighted by Arnold H Glasow when he said, ―A good leader takes little more than his
share of the blame and little less than his share of the credit.‖ Make sure that every one
of your subordinates is accountable for what they are doing. If they do well, give them a
pat on the back but if they struggle, make them realize their mistakes and work together
to improve. Holding them accountable for their actions will create a sense of
responsibility among your subordinates and they will go about the business more
seriously.

8. Delegation and Empowerment

Delegation and Empowerment – You cannot do everything, right. It is important for a
leader to focus on key responsibilities while leaving the rest to others. By that, I mean
empowering your followers and delegating tasks to them. If you continue to
micromanage your subordinates, it will develop a lack of trust and more importantly, you
will not be able to focus on important matters, as you should be. Delegate tasks to your
subordinates and see how they perform. Provide them with all the resources and
support they need to achieve the objective and give them a chance to bear the
responsibility.

9. Creativity and Innovation

Good leaders: What separates a leader from a follower? Steve Jobs, the greatest
visionary of our time answers this question this way, ―Innovation distinguishes between

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a leader and a follower.‖ In order to get ahead in today‘s fast-paced world, a leader
must be creative and innovative at the same time. Creative thinking and constant
innovation is what makes you and your team stand out from the crowd. Think out of the
box to come up with unique ideas and turn those ideas and goals into reality.

10. Empathy
Good leaders: Last but certainly not the least, is empathy. Leaders should develop
empathy with their followers. Unfortunately, most leaders follow a dictatorial style and
neglect empathy altogether. Due to this, they fail to make a closer connection with their
followers. Understanding the problems of your followers and feeling their pain is the first
step to become an effective leader. Even that is not enough until you work hard and
provide your followers with the suitable solution to their problems.

11. Resilience
Resilience: When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. You might have heard this
adage many times, but did you know that great leaders also follow this rule. They are
resilient and have a positive attitude. Irrespective of how difficult the circumstances
might be, you will find them rallying their followers. While most people are busy in
complaining about the problems, great leaders always focus on solutions, not the
problems.

12. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence: Good leaders always have higher influence but how do they
increase their influence on the point where people accept what they say. They do this
by connecting with people emotionally. That is where emotional intelligence comes into
play.
Here are some of the reasons why a leader should be emotionally intelligent.
- Manage emotions effectively
- Better social awareness
- Seamless communications
- Conflict Resolution

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With emotional intelligence, leaders can control their emotions, which prevent negative
emotions from influencing their decision-making skills. As a result, they are less likely to
make hasty decisions. Moreover, emotionally intelligent leaders are great at
understanding the emotions and care about the feelings of others. That is not all,
leaders who have this leadership quality not only handles conflict in a better way but
also play an important role in conflict resolution.

13. Humility
Humility: ―Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.‖—Thomas Merton
How would you feel when you are promoted to leadership status? You will feel proud. A
good leader is always selfless and always think about his or her followers. That is why
the leadership styles most great leaders adopt put lots of emphasis on problem-solving
and team dynamics instead of focusing on self-promotion.

14. Transparency
Transparency: One of the best ways to win the trust of your followers is by being
transparent. Instead of hiding information, you should openly share it with them. By
giving visibility to your followers, they will buy into your vision and support you with
conviction in achieving the goal. More importantly, it gives your followers clarity,
autonomy and make them feel more empowered while keeping them engaged.

15. Vision and Purpose

Vision and Purpose: ―Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision,
passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.‖—Jack Welch
Good leaders always have a vision and purpose. They not only visualize the future
themselves but also share their vision with their followers. When their followers were
able to see the big picture, they can see where they are heading. A great leader goes
above and beyond and explain why they are moving in the direction they are moving
and shares the strategy and action plan to achieve that goal.

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Characteristics every Church Leader’s spouse needs

NB: The following information is an extract from: Chris Hefner a senior

pastor at Wilkesboro Baptist Church in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. He’s
also professor of Western Civilization and Apologetics at Fruitland Baptist
Bible College and Ph.D. graduate from the Billy Graham School of The
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

―Your wife will either double your ministry or cut it in half.‖ That observation came from
one of my mentors. Over a forty-plus year ministry, he‘d watched pastors thrive or fail.

His point is well-taken. A godly, supportive spouse will enhance your gifts, talents, and
ability to minister. A selfish, unsupportive spouse will inhibit your ministry significantly.

Let me offer a few disclaimers regarding this post.

First, a minister doesn‘t have to be married to thrive. But if a minister is married, their
spouse is the single most important human relationship he or she has.

These five characteristics are indispensable if your marriage, family,

and ministry are to remain stable.

1. THE LIPS OF A GODLY SPOUSE WILL SPEAK TRUTHFULLY.

To have a godly spouse who speaks the truth in love is a treasure. There are times
when I need to hear an honest assessment or candid advice.

My wife has told me lovingly to get help with my temper. She‘s candidly advised me
regarding ideas or sermons. It‘s to my benefit and the benefit of the church for my wife
to speak truthfully.

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2. THE EYES OF A GODLY SPOUSE WILL DISCERN CLEARLY.

Discernment is an important gift. If you have it, then thank God for that blessing. If you
don‘t, then you must surround yourself with people who do and listen to them.

Early on in our marriage, my wife prayed God would give her discernment, and that gift
has been proven time and again as she has discerned the character of people or the
right advice in a given situation. Her discernment has protected our church and me.

3. THE EARS OF A GODLY SPOUSE WILL LISTEN CAREFULLY.

Serving in ministry can be lonely. Ministers have to protect confidences, forgive wrongs,
refuse to hold grudges, discern God‘s direction, speak God‘s word, and lead their
ministries.

While I don‘t tell my wife everything or break confidences, I‘m deeply grateful for her
listening ears. She‘s encouraged and motivated me more than she‘ll ever know just by
listening.

4. THE HANDS OF A GODLY SPOUSE WILL SERVE HELPFULLY.

My wife is talented and gifted as a singer, educator, administrator, caregiver, graphic

designer, and servant. I could go on, but you get the idea. Yet she doesn‘t try to do
everything.

We‘re blessed at our church to have many who are gifted and a church without explicit
expectations on my wife‘s area of ministry. But my wife loves to serve.

She functions as a single parent on many ministry days, manages our household, cares
for friends and church members, and finds service areas at our church.

5. THE HEART OF A GODLY SPOUSE WILL LOVE DEVOTEDLY.

I‘ve been heartbroken at the stories of friends and acquaintances in ministry whose
marriages have dissolved. Countless reasons exist for the dissolution of marriages.

But I‘m deeply grateful for my wife‘s love and devotion. She‘s constant, and her
devotion as a wife and mother is a pillar in my life and ministry.
Thank your spouse often for their role in making sure your ministry thrives.

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If you‘re unmarried and heading into ministry, don‘t settle in your marriage. Make sure
you marry someone who loves Jesus more than they love you.

If you marry, your spouse will play a vital role in your future ministry. It‘s wise to find
someone who has a sense of calling as well.

If you‘re a church member, don‘t take your minister‘s spouse for granted. When the
minister is studying, serving, preaching, teaching, dealing with crises, leading, attending
meetings, etc. the spouse is taking care of everything else.

Encourage the ministry spouses in your church. Offer to babysit. Pay for their dinner.
Write them an encouraging note. Pray for your church leaders and their spouses.

You may not be able to make the weight they carry any lighter, but you can encourage
them and make their day brighter through thoughtful acts of kindness.

Something to remember when defining a ―godly wife‖ is that she‘s a sinner in need of
grace. Also, a marriage goes both ways and the lack of support comes from the
husband or the weight if the world in general.
A wife can have all of these qualities, but still be desperately unhappy and struggle with
the life that is involved. Her ability to cope and thrive in this role does not define her
godliness. Being a child of God whom Christ died for does.
The husband‘s first vocation is to love and care for his wife and family. They are gifts
from God. Paul‘s letter to Timothy makes it clear his priority is order in the home and
Ephesians makes it clear he is to love His wife as Christ loved the Church and be willing
to die for her,
Too often, a wife‘s ―halfing‖ her husband‘s ministry isn‘t because she despises it but
because the devil, the world (including the congregation) and her (or the whole family‘s)
sinful flesh attacks. She needs mercy.

We thank God for the information and knowledge shared by Chris Hefner above.
As we continue we will look unto other factors that contribute to the destruction of the
church from a spouse.

- Lack of spiritual growth (Character Devastation).

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- Prayerlessness.

- Wordless.

- Unwillingness to initiate some church duties or services.

- Unwilling to cooperate.

- Unwilling to upgrade in this scholasticism era.

- Not able to keep secrets or confidential issues.

- Short temper.

- The “I don’t care mentality”.

- Lack of choice of words can chase members from the church.

- Hurting jokes.

- Blame shifting.

- An attitude that does not appreciate.

- Defensive spirit in the place just apologizing.

- Arrogance or pride.

- Unfaithfulness in all areas of life.

- Undisciplined character.

- Abusive actions.

- Disrespectfulness to the servant of God or church members.

- Not showing love or concern to the members of the church.

- Possessiveness on the servant or the maidservant of God to a point that church

members are no longer feeling his/her leadership.

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 NB: Remember, a pastor fills the gap of a father, mother, brother and a sister.
Some people are lacking such sense of love and attention; therefore it is the duty
of a pastor to discharge but carefully. ( Matt.10:16)

- Character plays a pivotal role on the spouse of a leader.

The Character of the Christian: Family Leaders

By Tim Challies
Let us explore how the various character qualifications of elders are actually God‘s
calling on all Christians. While elders are meant to exemplify these traits, all Christians
are to exhibit them. It‘s very important for parents—both elders and all Christians—to
lead their families in a God-honoring way.
We read in 1Timothy 3:4-5, ―[An elder] must manage his own household well, with all
dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage
his own household, how will he care for God‘s church?‖ Paul likewise tells Titus that
elders should have ―children [who] are believers and not open to the charge of
debauchery or insubordination‖ (Titus 1:5–6). So, what does that mean and why is it so
important?
Quite simply, it means that a man‘s leadership within the home proves his ability to lead
within the church. Conversely, an inability to lead within the home proves an inability to
lead within the church. In this way the home rather than the office or classroom is the
testing and proving ground of a man‘s leadership ability. Why? As Alexander Strauch
explains: ―Managing the local church is more like managing a family than managing a
business or state. A man may be a successful businessman, a capable public official, a
brilliant office manager, or a top military leader but be a terrible church elder or father.
Thus a man‘s ability to oversee his household well is a prerequisite for overseeing
God‘s household.‖
But what, then, does it mean for a man to manage his household well? John Piper
offers an illuminating alternate translation of the Greek: ―leader of a well-ordered
household.‖ He explains, ―He should have submissive children. This does not mean
perfect, but it does mean well-disciplined, so that they do not blatantly and regularly

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disregard the instructions of their parents. The children should revere the father. He
should be a loving and responsible spiritual leader in the home.‖
Again, if a man cannot tenderly lead and sacrificially love his own family, he must not be
given the privilege and responsibility of leadership in the church. If he cannot excel at
the one he will not excel at the other. Thus if a man has a family, any process of
evaluating him as a candidate for eldership must involve a close look within his home.
Thabiti Anyabwile warns of ―men who could be too preoccupied with the affairs of the
church and too little occupied with what‘s going on under their own roof. One thinks of
Eli‘s hasty and mistaken rebuke of Hannah as she prayed, while simultaneously
abdicating responsibility for his wayward boys (1 Samuel 1–2). An elder tends to affairs
at home.‖
And what about the big question of what it means for children to be believers? This is a
tricky text that has been the subject of much discussion, but I find myself in substantial
agreement with Justin Taylor‘s skillful handling of the passage. He points out that the
word translated as ―believers,‖ as in ―children [who] are believers,‖ can also be
translated as ―faithful.‖ This translation allows the text to nicely complement 1Timothy
3:4 with its emphasis on control, obedience, and submission. He concludes, ―What must
not characterize the children of an elder is immorality and undisciplined rebelliousness,
if the children are still at home and under his authority.‖
Now, what about Christian parents who are not elders? How do we honor the text even
as we widen its application? Well, these people, too, must exhibit skill and godliness in
their family relationships. They, too, must seek to be exemplary. Fathers must lovingly
lead and teach their children, mothers must joyfully care for their children, exercising
patient, kind authority over them. Paul writes, ―Fathers, do not provoke your children to
anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord‖ (Ephesians 6:4;
see also Genesis 18:19; Psalm 78:4; 2 Timothy 3:15). In the Shema, God through
Moses tells the Israelites, both men and women, ―these words that I command you
today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children‖
(Deuteronomy 6:6–7; see also Deuteronomy 4:9; 11:19).
Similarly, the Proverbs repeatedly portray the importance of disciplining your children.
―Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline

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him‖ (Proverbs 13:24; see also Proverbs 19:18; 22:15; 23:13–14; 29:15, 17). A host of
narrative passages display the danger of neglecting such care and discipline. The
author of Hebrews likewise emphasizes the importance of disciplining your children as
an expression of your love for them. He asks, ―What son is there whom his father does
not discipline?‖ (Hebrews 12:7). Indeed, God ―disciplines us for our good, that we may
share his holiness‖ (verse 10; see Hebrews 12:3–11 for the context).
Women specifically play a vital role in the family. Paul instructs Titus, ―[Older women]
are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and
children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own
husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled‖ (Titus 2:3–5). Again, Paul writes, ―I
would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give
the adversary no occasion for slander‖ (1 Timothy 5:14).
From beginning to end the Bible places upon every parent the responsibility to teach
and train children and in that way to exercise kind, caring, loving oversight of them.
Self-Evaluation
Do you look for ways to improve in the ways you teach and discipline your family?
When your family is in public, are your children out of control, or do they generally follow
your lead and respond to your correction?
Can you speak to your children‘s spiritual state? Do you know the condition of their
souls? Do you pray for them in specific ways?
Fathers, do you lead your family spiritually? Is family devotions part of your routine?
Mothers, do you teach and train your children, do you pray with them, do you lovingly
discipline them?
Prayer Points:
Our heavenly Father is eager to help us earthly fathers (and, of course, mothers).
Consider praying in these ways as you seek to humbly and boldly parent your family
well:
I pray that you would make me a faithful and patient leader in my home.
I pray that you would help me show my children that I love them in both tough and
tender ways.
I pray that I would display the gospel in the way I love, lead, and care for my children.

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I pray that I would have a deeper understanding of what it means that God is my Father
so I can imitate him in the way I care for my children.
Next week we will consider what it means for elders and all Christians to be mature and
humble.
Leaders, be careful that members will end up not calling you to their houses or homes
just because your kids are naughty and undisciplined. If they go along with you in
membership visits they should not climb tables to a point of breaking people‘s property.
It‘s disgracing for a child of a leader to be out of hand to that extent. You might think that
they will be young but as long you can‘t control them at any stage you won‘t be able to
control them at any stage. You will see people avoiding to have coffee with you as their
leader and you wonder why, check your kids very well, they might be the root cause.
Some teenagers are very naughty and marked with disrespectfulness; leaders try to
avoid that route on your children. You will not be able to control the church just because
your children ore out of hand.

Church Discipline

Def.: It is a process by which the church deals with a public and known sin in order to
defend its sanctity and reputation.

If ever this practice is neglected in the church, Christianity becomes a social club
instead of a God kind of life. It is true that church discipline is one of those difficult
practices to be administered, but we should do it where it is necessary and it should be
done in the confinements of scriptures.

It is done by confronting, chastising and correcting the sinful act done by Christian
brothers and sisters for the purpose of restoring them to the fellowship with God and the
church.

The scriptures to be used on disciplining are:

- Matt.18:15-20

- 1 Cor.5:1-13

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- Gal.2:11-14

- 1Tim.5:1, 19-20

- 2Thess.3:6-15

NB: The main purpose of church discipline is to confront sin in the body so it can be
corrected, the church purified and the sinning member restored to fellowship.

According to Dennis J. Mock, “Church discipline is not for retribution, punishment,

revenge or simply to expose a member’s sin – it is remedial and restorative”
(Heb.12:5-11). It is also for the purpose of training in righteousness. Purging from sin to
keep the church pure is the basic purpose of discipline. (1Cor.5:6-7)

Let it be known that the church is not to be involved on personal church member’s
issues except if it affects the church as a whole.

Church disciple should apply to actions that negatively impact the church and are a
reproach to the name of Christ.

- The people involved should be kept to a minimum.

- The church should publicly get involved only where absolutely necessary and
appropriate and no more details should be shared than are absolutely essential.

- Church leaders should not get favours when it comes to discipline but it should
be done with much wisdom lest it may destroy the church. So, sensitiveness of
the case should be thoroughly checked or investigated when it comes to the
disciplining of a leader.

- Some stages should be followed like personal warning, admonishing, private

rebuke, confession, correction when possible.

- Public rebuke, confession and correction only when necessary.

- A probationary period for the offender under an elder’s supervision is always

wise.

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 - Removal from church membership as a last resort.

- Whenever an offender refuses to be put under a disciplinary action, the church

body should thoroughly investigate it and if it’s found necessary the person
should be approached and told that his/her membership would be no longer valid
in that particular local church.

Compiled by: Apostle M. Gumbo

Cell: +27 76 800 0216
Email: ev.gumbo@gmail.com

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