Leadership principles in a cross cultural situation.

Leadership principles in a cross cultural situation.

Just got back from a very pleasant trip to Africa, I met with some great people and was encouraged by their commitment to Christ and their desire to see that everybody hears the word of God and the good news He brings.

I was asked one vital question, which I found both profound and perplexing. Much of what I teach on leadership and church growth is western or European centric. How can this apply to a poor African pastor and their congregation who sit in the shade of a tree every Sunday morning as they have no building? How are my leadership principles, that I teach, relevant to a Pastor who has no regular salary, and lives by faith in a very literal sense? Are the things that I teach able to cross the cultural divide in today's very modern and versatile society?

Let me start by saying that Africa is a place of very large contrasts. I don't think that pastors who live in the large cities have necessarily the same issues and problems as those that live in the rural and very remote areas. However there are, to my mind anyway, principles that cross all cultures and creeds and are relevant no matter where you live. A word of warning though, as always, communication is the key to all these things.

Here are 10 basic leadership principles, that I believe, will fit into any culture

1) Vision: Every leader, no matter their station in life needs to know where they are going and why the need to build their congregations.

2) Integrity: Without it how is any leader going to be trusted.

3) Respect: Unless a leader earns the respect of those they lead any success will be short lived.

4) Authenticity: A pastor needs to believe and live by God's word. It needs to be central in all that they do and say.

5) Encouragement: great leaders are constantly encouraging those around them to help spread the good news.

6) Listening: Good leaders are always good listeners, that's how they keep their fingers on the pulse of what is going.

7) Vulnerability: This lets those that leaders lead see the human side of the man that leads them.

8) Service: Servant leadership is the key to winning the lost and leading by example.

9) Courage: Without this a leader cannot hope to achieve what they wish to achieve, "only brave people and fools scale great heights" Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

10) Prayer: Great leaders are always answerable to a higher power and those who do not acknowledge that power, remain in obscurity.

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