Charisma of Leadership

Now secluded in my house for more than half a year (Ezekiel's 390 days bound-up are still a way to go), I looked up some old photos 3 or 4 years ago. If there is anything I am convinced of after almost 25 years in ministry is that any organization or movement needs a leader or leadership to get it going or achieves its potential and vision. Now nearing Malaysia's National Day on 16th September 2019 (31st August is Malaya's Independence Day), I saw a dimly shot photo of me leading an all night prayer's meeting. In fact it was a first time I went through praying from 9pm to 6am the next day. I was senior pastor of a Ranau church and the chairman of pastors' fellowship. We had 18 pastors in our fellowship with about 10 more churches in Ranau district without a pastor. I initiated and together with a fellow pastor went round the villages promoting the event and drop flyers in about 10 villages. The response was overwhelming as 340 people gathered that night at the SIB Pekan Ranau church and we began our National Day's prayers at 9pm, 15th Sept 2015.
It was divided into 7 main hourly slots with a few breaks in between. Biscuits and coffee were provided throughout the night and we broke for breakfast just after 6am with 250 people staying throughout the 9-hour event. We prayed for our nation at the height of the 1MDB crisis then and cried out to God for justice and change. Was it not an answer to prayers at the 2018's 14th General Election that overthrew the 60-year national coalition with the newly minted Pakatan Harapan? I feel it is time to rise up and pray once more as the new government seems to lose its way a little and there is now too much politicking and bickering even among the ruling coalition parties. But we don't trust in men or human government though as it is in God's Word we will honour those in authority and submit to the government of the day.

The second photo was taken in the College's Dining Hall which was built over 30 years ago with zinc, wooden planks and cross-wires for windows. As Acting Principal, I led regular prayer gatherings in the dining hall. Whenever the faculty went off to visit and minister to churches or college events, we would gather and pray together. For me as a Christian leader, there is no greater charisma than the charisma to gather two or three or more believers and unite in prayers unto the Lord. "Call unto me and I will answer you and tell you great and hidden things that you have not known" (Jeremiah 33:3). Why is the church not growing? Why is the church weak? Why Bible College do things that are outward and worldly? Now they play sports rather than pray. Now they wear long and fanciful robes rather than sackcloth of repentance and prayers. We need God-appointed leaders. We need leaders with charisma, filled with the Holy Spirit. We need leaders who are full of grace. Leaders who lead by example and by prayers. That is what I call, the charisma of leadership.