CHRIST CENTERED LEASDERSHIP, PANACEA TO THE NIGERIAN CRISIS –RT REV DR LAMIDO.

                                 (BY FOLUSO TAIWO)

“When God wanted his people delivered from an oppressive pharaoh he used a leader named Moses, when he wanted to build the fallen wall of Jerusalem he used Nehemiah.

God used David for his people to enjoy a golden era, when he wanted to rebuild the temple he used Solomon, he used Isaiah as a statesman and prophet and when he needed a fearless church planter he used Paul.” 

The Rt. Rev. Dr Ali Lamido Bishop of Wusasa Diocese Anglican Communion made this observation at the consecration service of the Rt. Rev Usiwoma Aruakpor as the new Bishop of Oleh diocese at the St. Stephen’s Cathedral Church Oke- Aluko Ondo in Ondo province of church of Nigeria Anglican Communion.

He said throughout history whenever God has need of someone to initiate, organize and carry out an important project he has to call upon leaders, bishops and shepherds to turn the vision of all for a deeply functioning church.

The erudite scholar said that the new Bishop Rt. Rev Usiwoma Aruakpor was consecrated at a time when there are greater challenges in the wider world, a stage of rewriting and defining much of what the church has inherited and have held deep for a very long time.

Bishop Lamido said it is exciting and challenging to be alive and be part of a dynamic process which determines a significant contribution and God making his word to progress, his church expand, and the kingdom of God expand. He said God has provided a great opportunity to make a special contribution to this process to his church and his word. He asked him to grab this opportunity with both hands because, it is coming at crucial and critical time in the history of the church, the nation and change the world through his gospel.

The preacher who took his text from the book of 1Peter chapter 5 vs 1-4 addressed church leaders to have Christ Centered leadership and be guided by it for God to coordinate their ministries,  lift high the importance of worship and inspire the church to reach out spiritually, to be a great  church. He said Nigeria needs leaders who are deeply respected by all, leaders who are committed to making the church built on God given principles so as to move the church and the nation forward.

The Bishop of Wusasa Anglican diocese opined that a great personal character is a vital instrument a leader needs, for great programs, great preaching and services to have an impact on the people.

According to him, if the character of the leadership is not above reproach, if the integrity of leadership is in question and all the qualities of a church leader as recorded by the book of first second Timothy and Titus are absent then the church will be a failure.

The Rt. Rev Dr Lamido said for the hand of God and the blessing to be on the church in the respective diocese of the communion there must be a degree of holiness, sincerity, devoid of greed among the Bishops, Archbishops, priests, deacons, lay readers and workers, they must live like Jesus Christ.

He reminded the new bishop that purity is one fundamental character added with diligence, sincerity without pretence, or hypocrisy with humility that can make him maintain balance and authenticity spiritually.

Pride he said must be removed and condemned to move the church forward because according to him nobody is the best only Jesus Christ is the best. He encouraged him to work as a servant leader.

Bishop Lamido said above all, leaders must be gifted and shaped by personal life experiences, trained by the word of God adding that if they cannot walk on water they must learn how to swim and teach leaders who will succeed them.

Concluding; the retreatant added that at this time the Nigerian nation needs leaders who are bold, courageous, who can confront problems and not run away from crisis. He said what Christians are facing in Northern Nigeria is not a new thing at all for it has happened in church history and probably worse than what is happening now, hence he said believers in Christ and bishops must be courageous and confront the problem in love, sacrifice and submit to lead people of God from here to eternity with the holy Spirit as power and Jesus Christ as the model.                The consecration service which attracted Bishops, Archbishops, the clergy and people from all walks of life was celebrated by the primate of all Nigeria Anglican communion the Most Rev Nicholas D Okoh.