Leader’s Consecration

Leader’s Consecration

Francis Nichol (1978) in The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary states that “A leader must be strong even when others weaken. He must have courage when others are discouraged, and be able to inspire others with courage.” Also, the leader “must gather warmth from the coldness of others. A leader for God must live close to the Lord, that he may be able to encourage those associated with him” (p. 2:180).

Consecration should be the process used by the leader in order to get all these characteristics above. To be a leader of God’s people is a privilege but also a big responsibility, therefore the leader should be ready for everything. And the most important recommendation for the church’s leader in this project will be relationship with Jesus. In prayer and in the knowledge of the word of God the leaders will be set as a good example to influence the others disciples. As mentioned in chapter four; “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”(Eph 6:12). Jesus Himself was tempted in everything, (Heb 2:18). According to author of the book “Biblical Foundations for Small Group Ministry” (Icenogle, 1994) “Before Jesus could begin his liberating and empowering leadership of the group of twelve he had to work through his own personal temptations to gather people and power to himself” (Mk 1:12–13; Mt 4:1–11; Lk 4:1–12). In the mount of the temptation, he consecrated himself through prayer and fasting during forty days in order to start his ministry. The leaders must follow Jesus Example about consecration, as said (Dunavant, 2006) Equipping members for ministry can only be done with much prayer and through the power of the Holy Spirit. And the biggest challenge in equipping members he declares; is related with the spirituality of the pastor, the leadership and the congregation.

Concerning the leadership’s consecration Ellen G. White (1855; 2002) declares “the presidents of conferences and the ministers should give themselves to the spiritual interests of the people and should therefore be excused from the mechanical labor attendant upon the meeting. She also defends the idea that the ministers should be ready to act as teachers and leaders (training) in the work of the camp when occasion requires. And with this spirit of consecration and training, there will be refreshment and cheerfulness frame of mind helping them to accomplish the good work of the Lord. Thus, the Spirit of the Lord will prepare honest soil of the hearts and the fruit s will be gathered. (p. 45). I used to say members attitude are a reflex of the leadership example.

In order to implement such a project of leadership and congregation’s consecration, definitely the leaders should be the start point. (Dunavant, 2006) states that the leaders cannot give what they do not have, The leaders cannot lead people to experience God more intimately if they are not intimately experiencing God themselves. (p. 12) He is completely right when he says that the spirituality of the congregation will not rise higher than their minister’s. Yet Ellen G. White (1892 April, 5 ) endorses what he says, with this statement; “Unless Jesus is formed within, the hope of glory, you will be a curse and not a blessing to the congregation, for the minister cannot bring the people to a higher standard than that which he himself reaches.”