Pastors trained in leadership to enhance harmony in church

More than 100 church leaders in Ghana have been trained in church leadership to enhance the relationship between church leaders and their respective congregations.

The five-day workshop also built the capacities of church leaders in the effective discharge of their roles without abusing their calling and also manipulating their congregations.

It was organised by RiversEdge International Fellowship, an international Christian movement based in the United States of America (USA).

The conference was on the theme: “Seeking God’s best.”

Significance

In his closing remarks at the conference in Accra last Monday, the Country Director of the fellowship, Revered Benjamin Adjei Laryea, explained that although church leadership was a divine calling, capacity building was very crucial to enhancing their leadership roles in strengthening the church.

He said if the leaders were well resourced and equipped with the needed Godly leadership skills, they would be dedicated to affirming and validating their supernatural gifts and callings given to them by God.

“We believe that this conference will offer a strong fellowship for all those who are called to and serve in the capacity of one of the five-fold ministries, as outlined in Ephesians 4:11,” he said.

Ephesians 4:11 says ‘And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.’

 “Capacity building for pastors and church leaders will help to boost pastor-congregation relationship and enhance church administration,” he added.

Spiritual warfare

The Executive Director of RiversEdge International, Reverend Allen H. Bickle, said the life of a Christian was a constant spiritual warfare.

“As pastors and ministers, we have to do all in our capacity through the grace given to us to guide and support our congregation to win their spiritual warfare,” he said.

The director admonished the pastors to use their calling to exalt the church rather than exploiting church members.

Rev. Bickle explained that people were employed or hired to do something in exchange for wages or money but church leaders had been deployed by God to lead the church into God’s glory.

“This calling is a privilege that is not given to all, therefore, those who are blessed with it must not use it to exploit people but must use it to help in the building of the Kingdom of God,” he said.

Another resource person, Rev. Randy Zeman, underscored the need for Christian leaders to study deeper, the word of God and fortify themselves more in prayer to enable them to strengthen and guide the congregation effectively.

Culture

For his part, the President of RiversEdge, Dr Eddie Ray Mitchell, identified culture as one of the things that divided Christians.

He said although there was beauty in cultural diversity, he advised Christians to be mindful of the fact that once they became born again, the culture of the Kingdom of God superseded their respective cultures and, therefore, Christians had to adopt the culture of the Kingdom of God to enhance unity in the church.

Writer’s email doreen.andoh@graphic.com.gh