What Pastor Adeboye Told Rev. Sam Adeyemi: A Profound Lesson on Leadership and Transformation
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On a seemingly ordinary flight, Rev. Sam Adeyemi found himself seated next to Pastor E.A. Adeboye, a revered leader among the Christians. For Rev. Adeyemi, this was an opportunity to glean wisdom from one of the most respected voices in the faith. But the conversation that unfolded was anything but ordinary—it was a masterclass in leadership, transformation, and the spiritual underpinnings of societal change.
The Question
Rev. Adeyemi began the conversation humbly, asking if he could pose a question. After some initial lighthearted remarks, Pastor Adeboye acquiesced. The question was direct and weighty:
“What is the role of the church in the transformation of Nigeria? What is the role of Christians in this process?”
Pastor Adeboye’s response was deceptively simple yet deeply profound:
“Let us just pray that God will give us more righteous people.”
At first glance, the answer seemed vague, even overly spiritual. But as Pastor Adeboye explained, the true depth of his response became clear.
A Question of Leadership
Pastor Adeboye posed a thought-provoking counterquestion:
“If you had a group of armed robbers and they had the opportunity to elect their leader, would they elect a policeman?”
The implications were immediate and profound. Groups instinctively choose leaders who reflect their values and ideals. This concept, Pastor Adeboye explained, operates on a subconscious level, a principle later confirmed to Rev. Adeyemi during his doctoral studies in strategic leadership. Known as prototypicality, it describes how a group will naturally select a leader who embodies the characteristics they most value.
The Challenge of Transformation
Pastor Adeboye’s insights didn’t stop there. He elaborated on the inherent difficulty of transformative leadership. If a policeman were to become the leader of a group of robbers, one of two things would happen:
- The policeman would conform to the group, becoming like the robbers to maintain his position.
- The robbers would be transformed, adopting the values of the policeman.
Transformation, Pastor Adeboye emphasized, is the essence of leadership. Yet, it is a daunting process, fraught with resistance. Many leaders shy away from this challenge, often excusing themselves by pointing out that they did not create the problem. However, genuine leadership demands a willingness to confront and change entrenched mindsets.
A Governor’s Lament
Rev. Adeyemi recalled a conversation with a former Nigerian governor who echoed Pastor Adeboye’s sentiments. The governor admitted:
“My biggest problem is not with projects or contractors—they deliver. My problem is with people’s mindsets.”
Even members of his cabinet, the state’s executive council, were resistant to visionary leadership, reducing his efforts to mere rhetoric. Their focus was on personal gain, not the transformative vision he sought to implement.
Leadership and Righteousness
Pastor Adeboye’s call for more righteous people resonates deeply in this context. Righteousness, in this sense, transcends moral uprightness—it reflects the courage to lead transformational change, aligning societal values with God’s principles. Without such leaders, societal structures remain mired in corruption and self-interest.
A Call to Action
The conversation between Pastor Adeboye and Rev. Adeyemi offers timeless lessons:
- Leadership begins with embodying the values one seeks to instill in others.
- Transformation is challenging but essential for societal progress.
- The church must cultivate righteous individuals capable of leading with integrity and vision.
In the words of Pastor Adeboye, the ultimate prayer for Nigeria—and indeed any society—is for God to raise up leaders whose lives are rooted in righteousness. For it is through such leaders that true transformation becomes possible.
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