Full Project – THE NECESSITY OF TRAINED CHRISTIAN LEADERS IN TODAY’S CHURCH

Full Project – THE NECESSITY OF TRAINED CHRISTIAN LEADERS IN TODAY’S CHURCH

ABSTRACT

We have witnessed pastors, trained to preach the Gospel, and gifted to communicate God’s truth, but fail when it comes to guiding church members. They failed in mobilizing the people for action, holding them accountable for their behavior, motivating them to sustain a spiritual revolution and attracting the resources necessary to do the work of God. We have seen that, even in evangelism the place more emphasis on preaching, when in fact, according to Barna (1997:19) “the greatest evangelistic effect comes from relationships between believers.” Most recently, we have also witnessed the current breakaway from churches which are attributed to the flight of laity who possess leadership abilities, gifts and experience. These members, whom the church so desperately need, are leaving the church because they can no longer belong to or being part of the church today that lacks strong, visionary leadership. These are people of capacity, members who can make things happen. People of capacity, members who can make things happen. People who have tried to penetrate the culture of the church and offer the benefit of their gift but have been unable to contribute because their churches are neither led by trained leaders nor by those who understand leadership. In the light of this, this project will take care of what is leadership and its roles in the church, the training of Christian leaders and why is it necessary to trained and retrained Christian leaders for the church today.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS                                                           PAGES

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of the Study              –      –      –      –      1

1.2  Statement of the Problem     –      –      –      –      3

1.3  Purpose of the Study     –      –      –      –      –      4

1.4  Significance of the Study              –      –      –      –      4

1.5  Research Questions       –      –      –      –      –      –      5

1.6  Introduction of Methodology  –      –      –      –      5

1.7  Limitation of the Study  –      –      –      –      –      5

1.8  Definition of Terms –      –      –      –      –      –      6

CHAPTER TWO: LEADERSHIP AND ITS ROLES

    IN THE CHURCH

2.0  Introduction    –      –      –      –      –      –      –      8

2.1  Understanding Leadership      –      –      –      –      8

2.2  Misconception of Leadership  –      –      –      –      9

2.3  Christian Leadership       –      –      –      –      –      –      10

2.4  Leaders Role in the Church    –      –      –      –      11

2.5  Conclusion      –      –      –      –      –      –      –      12

CHAPTER THREE: CHRISTIAN LEADERS AND TRAINING

3.0  Introduction    –      –      –      –      –      –      –      14

3.1  Christian Leader     –      –      –      –      –      –      14

3.2  Training of Christians Leaders –      –      –      –      16

3.3  Pattern of Training  –      –      –      –      –      –      17

3.3.1 Biblical Patterns    –      –      –      –      –      –      17

3.3.2 Other Patterns      –      –      –      –      –      –      18

3.4  Conclusion      –      –      –      –      –      –      –      21

CHAPTER FOUR: THE NECESSITY OF TRAINED

     CHRISTIAN LEADERS IN THE CHURCH

4.0  Introduction    –      –      –      –      –      –      –      22

4.1  The Church today is in trouble      –      –      –      –      22

4.2  The Christian is in Trouble     –      –      –      –      25

4.3  The World is in Trouble  –      –      –      –      –      26

4.4  The Nation is in Trouble  –      –      –      –      –      27

4.5  To avoid being the wrong person to the work –    28

4.6  To Enhance Effective Leadership    –      –      –      29

4.7  Conclusion      –      –      –      –      –      –      –      30

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND

    RECOMMENDATION

5.1  Summary       –      –      –      –      –      –      –      31

5.2  Recommendations  –      –      –      –      –      –      31

5.3  Conclusion      –      –      –      –      –      –      –      32

References

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

It is clearly seen that today’s church leadership faces a lot of challenges in the sense that the global population is increasing every minute and hour of the day. The threat of terrorism hangs like thunder clouds over our planet. More so, churches today are wrestling with issues from A to Z, and in the meantime people are going into eternity every day, unprepared to meet God. The very reason that Turner (2000:39) says “The old ship of Zion of being abandoned as crew members are seeking passage on luxury cruise ships with pick and choose buffets.” Which means that the captain of ships which are leaders in the church instead of being trained and update them in the ministry are relaxing on the premise that they have arrived.

When some who preach and serve as Pastors cannot name the books of the Bible, much less spell them, we know we poise to be described by the words of Hosea: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). How can he minister effectively to the various age groups in the church if he is not trained? Because retired members don’t have the need, for example to be taught parenting skills as those in the midst of raising their families. Those born between 1940 and 1960 have different needs than those born between 1980 and 2000, etc. As previously stated about ignorant leaders, there is a major lowering of general level of intelligence within the ranks of members. Many don’t know in whom they believe, or why they believe.

So the church is where it is today because this is where leaders have brought her, the church will be where she is tomorrow and next year because of leadership. But what if Christian leaders are not trained today to meet the needs of tomorrow? Therefore, the church has the responsibility for equipping the church with competent leaders. The church today must be led by trained leaders who are committed to the mission of the Church, spiritual men who are working on essential skills needed to equip self and others. Those who know where they are going and how to take others with them, men who mentor others by showing them how to work in the kingdom as well as working side-by-side with them. So keep learning and growing. A capacity for continual, life line learning is an absolute necessity for all great leaders.

1.2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

It is obvious that today’s church leadership faces a lot of challenges in the sense that the global population is growing at alarming rate, the threat of terrorism an people giving into eternity everyday unprepared to meet God have cause churches today to wrestle with issues from A to Z. Moreover, when someone who preach and serve as pastor cannot name books of the Bible, much less spell, then, we know we know we are poise to be describe by the words of Hosea “My people are destroy for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Or how can he minister effectively to the various age groups in the church if he is not trained? So the church where she is today because if this is where leaders have brought her and will be better tomorrow because of trained leaders. These have been statements that prompt this research work.

1.3  PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The aim of this research work was to point out why it is necessary to trained leaders in the church today? More so, this study seeks to achieve its aims through the following objectives:

1. To bring to focus what leaders is and what it is not
2. Who a Christian leader is

• The reasons why Christian leaders should undergo training.

1.4  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is worth believing that findings from this research work will benefit the church, teachers, preachers, church planters even students of the Bible. The church in particular will realize the importance of training their leaders. It will also serve as a reference tool to church planters, church leaders, students of the Bible. It will also motivate others who wish to go into further research in the subject matter and those who feel it is not satisfactory. Above all, it is important because it has contributed to the pal of literatures that has been generated about training of church leaders.

1.5  RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were asked to guide this project. They are:

1. What is leadership?
2. Who is a Christian leader?
3. Why is it necessary to train a leader especially in the church today?
4. What are the patterns of training?
5. What are the benefits to the church if her leader is trained?

1.6  INTRODUCTION OF METHODOLOGY

This research adopted the library style of writing. Hence data were collected from printed and electronic media.

1.7  LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This research was limited to only the necessity of training church leaders, hence, excluding secular leaders. In analysis, however, time, money, etc also made this research work to be limited to some extent.

1.8  DEFINITION OF TERMS

In order to understand some of the basic terms used we are going to define them as they appear below:

1.8.1 Necessity

The English Dictionary Mobi-system defines the above word as that which makes an act or an event unavoidable; irresistible force; overruling power; compulsion; physical or moral; fate and fatality.

1.8.2 Trained

Merriam Webster Mobi-system Dictionary defines it as to teach (someone) the skills needed to do something (such as a job); to give instruction to (someone). To be taught the skills needed to do something (such as job) to develop an ability or skill.

1.8.3 Leader

Describing who a leader is Cloer (2010:15)  say a leader plans, decides, serves, leads, administers, organizes, delegates, motivates, prays, serves as an example, cares, sacrifices, wait patiently, forgives and practice what he preaches. In addition to this he has it that a great leader knows where he is going and why he is going and he brings others with him.

Tracy (2010:20) sees a leader as those who

• Have a clear vision of where they are going and they convey this vision to everyone around them.
• Have integrity. They deal honestly and straightforwardly with each person. They tell the truth and they always keep their words.
• Are humble. They get result by using the strengths and knowledge of those around them. They know how to listen and they know how to learn.

1.8.4 Christian Leader

Essang in his unpublished lecture manual entitled Christian leadership has it that: