CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Hemphil and Coons[1] define leadership as the behaviour of an individual directing the activities of a group toward a shared goal. Leadership is exercised when a person mobilizes institutional, political, psychological and other resources so as to arouse, engage and satisfy the motives of followers (Burns)[2]. It is the process of influencing the activities of an organized group toward goal achievement (Rauch and Behling)[3] and is the ability of an individual to influence, motivate and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organization (House et al., 1999, p.184). However leadership also evolved and began to encompass the issue of relationships, followers and emotions instead of focusing on the characteristics of the leader only. Leadership is a relationship in which one person seeks to influence the thoughts, behaviours, beliefs or values of another person (Wright)[4]. Rowold[5] emphasises that only the emotional, value based aspects of leadership influence can account for the exceptional achievements of groups and organisations. Leadership, as pointed out by Blackaby and Blackaby[6], occurs when you move people from where they are to where they ought to be. The result of leadership is that people are not in the same place they were before they were led. Leadership in our modern day society is mostly characterized by titles, offices, positions and their carriages. In Africa, leadership is known by the authority exerted on the led or the followers. Majority of such leaders serve their purpose, interest, exercise - ego, crave appetite for fame rather than serve the interest of the people they lead. Leadership in the world often emphasizes class and status at the expense of relationship and service. Leadership in Nigeria especially and mostly African countries have been characterized by selfishness, greed and strong desire for more power. Kumuyi[7] notes that:
What Africa needs for its redemption is servant leadership, instead of the self- serving governance that the continent is famed for. Our leaders should add the servanthood attitude to their attributes and demonstrate that their primary motivation for seeking to lead the people is rooted in a deep desire to serve and help out. (18)
The quotation above suggests that leadership is the solution to the numerous problems in our world today. It is only when the leaders consciously accept to serve and become concerned for the followers that the nation can forge ahead. Servant leadership therefore is expected to be seen in the school, the church or other religious bodies, the communities and Africa as a whole. (Ayandokun, 2009: 8). The above scenario further suggests that the present dispensation is in dire need of servant leaders who are to occupy strategic positions in the church, corporate establishments and government parastatals. We need leaders with credibility who have modeled their lives after the teachings and principles of Christ. Africa and churches of Christ in Nigeria need such kind of God- fearing leadership to pilot effectively her affairs; leaders who are ready to emulate Christ and are committed to living up to the standards laid down by Christ. These are leaders who have identified their positions they occupy as a means of God’s call upon their lives and have been tested, trusted, approved, ordained and empowered by God to serve humanity. Adetunji (2010) quoting Ordway Tead, defines leadership as “the activity of influencing people to co-operate towards some goals, which they come to find desirable” (2). He emphasizes that the distinctive task of leadership is to guide by drawing along or going before his or her people, which is done by instruction or counsel. (2). This definition carries the traces of servanthood as it applies to this paper. Leadership therefore, for the purpose of this presentation is an act that involves the task of a leader in leading, guiding, directing and influencing those who work with him or her to achieve a common objective. He or she exercises authority within the confine of his responsibility in such a way that goals set are accomplished without jeopardizing the unity and health of the body and thereafter records outstanding progress as by-product of the leadership act. This study therefore examines the effect of servant leadership as a model for Pentecostal fellowship in Nigeria (1979 - 2019).
Means[8] identified attributes of leaders five. The first is that leaders listen and have a passionate desire to understand the needs of followers. Listening builds strength in other people. The second attribute is that leaders build a team by creating a strong sense of synergy, active participation and developing and nurturing followers. The third attribute is that a leader inspires those that follow him/her by recognizing their needs, rewarding them where necessary and building them to full potential. Finally a leader balances priorities which can be analyzed from three dimensions, personal (the individual), social (the group) and production (the job). The ability of a leader to balance these three aspects is crucial to the well-being of all players in an organization and to one’s type of leadership. Apart from the above leadership attributes, effective leaders tend to exhibit the following characteristics; energy, endurance and physical stamina where leaders work for long hours in order to drive themselves and the subordinates. However, lot of researches has been carried out on church leadership styles but very little on servant leadership. Hence the study examines the effect of servant leadership as a model for Pentecostal fellowship in Nigeria (1979 - 2019)
The major aim of the study is to examine the effect of servant leadership as a model for Pentecostal fellowship in Nigeria (1979 - 2019). Other specific objectives of the study include;
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
Hypothesis 1
H0: There are is no significant effect of servant leadership on Pentecostal fellowship in Nigeria from 1979 – 2019.
H1: There is a significant effect of servant leadership on Pentecostal fellowship in Nigeria from 1979 – 2019.
Hypothesis 2
H0: There is no significant relationship between servant leadership and Pentecostal fellowship of Nigeria from 1979 – 2019.
H1: There is a significant relationship between servant leadership and Pentecostal fellowship of Nigeria from 1979 – 2019.
1.6 SERVANT – LEADERSHIP AS A MODEL IN PENTECOSTAL FELLOWSHIP IN NIGERIA (1979 - 2019)
Servant leadership as a timeless concept and as leadership style was a practice first initiated and propounded by Robert K. Greenleaf who lived between 1904- 1990. It was first recorded in his essay titled, “The Servant as a Leader” in 1970 (1998: 28). This concept has spread and has been practiced by many organizations including churches who appreciate the values attached to this style of leadership. The great leader is first experienced as a servant to others, and that this simple fact is central to the leader’s greatness. True leadership emerges from those whose primary motivation is a deep desire to help and service others. (Spear)[9]. A servant – leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. The servant leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. The concept of servant – leader denotes that the leader is one “who enters into a relationship with another person to influence their behavior, values and attitudes” (Wright)[10]. Wright claims that servant- leader’s identity is that of one who is loved by God and is willing to show that same degree of love to others. He pictures love among other things as being key to leadership especially for Christian leaders. He emphasized that Christian leadership must be rooted on relationship with God (6-7). Servant – leaders must always be characterized with love, mercy and compassion to the people being led. Servant – leaders are called and must recognize that they are accountable to God and the people. They must be conscious of their responsibility to lead the people towards God and influence them to make a difference in the world full of darkness with their leadership act and position. In addition, Wright[11] gave some principles to strengthen the idea of concept of servant leadership. These serve as pillars and bedrock upon which leadership are built. They can be summarized, below as follows: Leadership is about influence and service; Leadership is about vision and hope; Leadership is about character and trust; Leadership is about relationship and giving away power; Leadership is about dependency and accountability (7-8). The implication of the above principles of leadership is that those who want to serve as laid down by the scriptures and modeled by Jesus Christ with other disciples must aspire to make a difference in the lives of those they lead as leaders. This calls for using one’s education, resources, spiritual gifts, and training to nurture those they lead by caring for them, encouraging and motivating them and not to enslave the people. Servant-leaders are expected to be shepherds. They are servants assigned to care for the sheep. Servant leaders must treat people with dignity, offer hope and model exemplary Christian life and virtue. (Ayandokun)[12]. Furthermore, servant – leadership concepts and principles should not only be taught and discussed but absorbed for use among all leaders in the religious circle as well as in secular organizations. No person who is self – serving, proud, lazy, power crazy, hypocritical can appropriately fit into this style of leadership concept. Adetunji[13] affirms that no leader is great except he is first a servant of all (3). The greatest leader of men, our Lord Jesus Christ expressed the idea of servant leadership this way: “and whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant”. Servant leaders lead, but with a style not reflective of the popular culture. Jesus instructed his followers to avoid prevailing Gentile and Jewish models of prideful leadership, where dominance (lording it over), coercion, titles and public recognition were the goals, “not so with you: Jesus exclaimed in Matthew 20:26. Jesus instead spoke of leaders who serve. Servant leaders still do the things leaders do, such as to direct, organize, envision, which are the characteristics that can be found when a servant – leader is in place in the church or any secular organization (Berkley)[14]. Servant leaders are secure, knowing God values every man (John 13:24). Servant leaders also find joy in encouraging and supporting staff and team members. They don’t need credit for their ideas and vision and they are high on relationships and low in control and coercion. Servant leaders shut the trappings of authority and status and base their authority on character, not the position they occupy (Adetunji)[15]. The true leader sees through the eyes of his followers. He assumes that his followers are working with him and not for him. The servant – leader always considers his followers as partners in progress and makes frantic efforts to reproduce himself in them. He does not hold people down but lifts them up. (Berkley)[16]. Those with servant heart in the leadership positions must learn to have a sensitive spirit like Jesus who identifies human needs with the intention to serve them. Servant-leaders therefore must be alert and sensitive to respond to the needs and challenges of those they lead. Greenleaf recognized that organization as well as individuals could be servant – leaders. Indeed, he had great faith that servant – leader organizations could change the world (Greenleaf)[17].
1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study will be of profound benefits to enlighten the church on the effect of servant leadership as a model for Pentecostal fellowship in Nigeria (1979 - 2019). This study would also be of immense benefit to students and scholars who are interested in developing further studies on the subject matter.
1.8 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The study is restricted to the effect of servant leadership as a model for Pentecostal fellowship in Nigeria (1979 - 2019).
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview)
Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
Servant: servant is a person who works for another person or in an organization. It has an idea of service rendered for a person with or without pay.
Leadership: This is the state or position of being a leader. Wright defines leadership as a “relationship in which one person seeks to influence the thoughts, behaviours, beliefs and values of another person.” (2000).
Servant Leadership: This is a biblical concept and style of leadership wherein a leader accepts to serve and empower others even when occupying exalted position of authority. Greenleaf described servant – leadership as a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world. (1998: 18)
Model: Model in this work is described to mean an example and a pattern to copy or emulate by other people because it is considered to be an excellent one.
Biblical Model: This means following after the pattern of the Bible in the leadership pattern that is adopted by the leaders.
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