As I write this blog, African leadership is grabbing headlines. For example, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the Director General of the World Health Organization. (did you see the word "Jesus" at the end of his name?). Right now he has his hands full with the corona virus.
Tedros' fellow Ethiopian, Abiy Ahmed Ali is Prime Minister of Ethiopia. I'm sure you've heard that he received the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for ending the 20 year war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. (Have you heard of the impact of evangelicals upon Abiy Ahmed Ali's life? Read more about him on Wikipedia.)
Another African leader, not so well-known, is Sam Adeyemi, a pastor in Nigeria who founded Daystar Christian Center in Oregun Ikeja, Lagos. Attendance at the church is more than 25,000 weekly. Sam managed to reach deeply into the psyche of Nigerians who are tired of corruption, empty promises and poverty.
Sam Adeyemi believes in honesty in leadership. He encourages his African congregation to think about leadership in all they do. "What we believe, we become," he says. He encourages his flock to deal with the self-limiting beliefs that bind poor people, keeping them down. People in Nigeria have a mind set of poverty, he says. He emphasizes healing in their lives that comes primarily from a relationship with Jesus Christ. He sees a close relationship between what we see, hear and feel, and our ability to lead a family. He urges every family to build up the self-esteem of their children. Speaking often about redemption, he especially encourages men in his congregation to repeat over and over the personal vision they imagine for their children. (Look up his ministry and messages on the internet.)
This is key to his training system and leadership development. He believes that transformation of our lives is part and parcel of the Gospel. Risk taking and self sacrifice become part and parcel of community transformation, lifting people out of poverty, helping poor, blind, sick and those burdened by disabilities. His communication constantly goes in and out of scripture passages.
Thanks you, Sam, for being an instrument used by the Lord in Lagos, Nigeria.
Tedros' fellow Ethiopian, Abiy Ahmed Ali is Prime Minister of Ethiopia. I'm sure you've heard that he received the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for ending the 20 year war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. (Have you heard of the impact of evangelicals upon Abiy Ahmed Ali's life? Read more about him on Wikipedia.)
Another African leader, not so well-known, is Sam Adeyemi, a pastor in Nigeria who founded Daystar Christian Center in Oregun Ikeja, Lagos. Attendance at the church is more than 25,000 weekly. Sam managed to reach deeply into the psyche of Nigerians who are tired of corruption, empty promises and poverty.
Sam Adeyemi believes in honesty in leadership. He encourages his African congregation to think about leadership in all they do. "What we believe, we become," he says. He encourages his flock to deal with the self-limiting beliefs that bind poor people, keeping them down. People in Nigeria have a mind set of poverty, he says. He emphasizes healing in their lives that comes primarily from a relationship with Jesus Christ. He sees a close relationship between what we see, hear and feel, and our ability to lead a family. He urges every family to build up the self-esteem of their children. Speaking often about redemption, he especially encourages men in his congregation to repeat over and over the personal vision they imagine for their children. (Look up his ministry and messages on the internet.)
This is key to his training system and leadership development. He believes that transformation of our lives is part and parcel of the Gospel. Risk taking and self sacrifice become part and parcel of community transformation, lifting people out of poverty, helping poor, blind, sick and those burdened by disabilities. His communication constantly goes in and out of scripture passages.
Thanks you, Sam, for being an instrument used by the Lord in Lagos, Nigeria.
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