Article: Leadership – What It Takes – Part 2

Growing up through school at all levels, I always shied away from accepting leadership roles like class head, school prefect, library or club leader. Because I was shy, I disliked public speaking.

I once requested for a permission from the principal of our high school, a fatherly figure and disciplinarian. Instead of acceding my request for permission to leave the boarding school, he completely changed the subject of our discussion by confronting me with the following paraphrased words: “Gilbert, you are very gifted and intelligent, but you are hiding from responsibilities.”

I had avoided becoming the assistant school head to focus on preparing for my Advanced Level Certificate exams.

Those words came haunting me when I became a disciple and realised there was no more hiding. I had to overcome my rather quiet temperament to take up leadership roles.

I also recall one of the Pep Talks I received before leaving for Douala, Cameroon to go lead the church. My mentor invited me for a special meal in an excellent Restaurant and said these words: “Gilbert, in Douala you will become a teacher and God will also give you a flint forehead like Ezekiel,  to enable you to lead the people”. Those words were prophetic and time clearly confirmed them. I needed some toughening up and life brought along the challenges to achieve that.

A leader refuses to be stopped by circumstances, rising above all excuses to achieve God’s will.

Where are you in your journey towards leading? Are you hiding? Maybe it’s time to pull out all the stops.

*Jeremiah 1:4-10; Ezekiel 3:8-9; Exodus 4: 10-17; 2 Tim 1:6-8*

Gilbert Kimeng