A pastor and his wife visited me in December last year. They gave a report of a number of good things going on for them; including the upgrade of their hall of meeting, a personal residence, and their daughter who just bagged her Bachelor’s degree. What they found disturbing was the rate at which people they ordained were deserting their ministry. They informed me that of a batch of 14 which they ordained, not more than four are left. My advice to them was that they should not hurriedly ordain others as replacement. Not everybody see ordination as an invitation to higher service; majority take it as status symbol. That’s the reason for many problems emanating from what ought to bring solution.

” The lesson is this: whatever is given to you as a task in God’s household, handle it by the Spirit.  A sweeper who is doing his job by the Spirit can influence a lot more for God than a preacher who is in the flesh.”

From the Old Testament record, we discover that God had always favoured participatory leadership. In order to relieve Moses of unbearable workload, God asked him to choose leaders from the people. Those chosen were to handle the day to day running of the camp so Moses could focus on the higher tasks. We see the same pattern repeated here. The apostles recommended nomination of seven brethren whose sole duty was to equitably distribute relief materials. The generality of the people found this idea acceptable. Something that we must take to heart is that even in as simple a matter as food distribution, the candidates were to be filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom. This means there is no aspect of the Church life that should be carried out without empowerment of the Spirit. If food distribution calls for in-filling of the Spirit, what do we make of singing and preaching? The lesson is this: whatever is given to you as a task in God’s household, handle it by the Spirit. A sweeper who is doing his job by the Spirit can influence a lot more for God than a preacher who is in the flesh.