Some people define effective leaders as those who are honest, focused, passionate, respectful, and persuasive; others define them as confident, clear, and caring; still others define an effective leader as humble, empowering, collaborative, able to communicate, and fearless. At times, all these attributes are useful. The Apostle Paul had to deal with leadership issues in the church at Corinth. Believers there had lots of abilities, but their giftedness had led to pride. He used irony to put the finger on their pride. He wrote in CH 4, “Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed. Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.” Paul knew giftedness with pride destroys unity. He coupled authority with humility; power with compassion.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
