Founder of Jesus Cares Crusader Ministries International (JCCMI), Bishop Joseph Afolabi, speaks with BOLA BADMUS on national issues and the recently held annual Christian Leadership Conference in Kaduna State in collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).
What inspired the Christian Leadership Conference in Kaduna?
This year will be the third edition of the Kaduna Leadership Conference. Last year, we were blessed to have over 650 leaders from diverse churches in attendance. We have continued to host the leadership conferences because as a ministry, we understand the importance of strong leadership in our communities.
The pressing issue facing both the church and the nation at large is the increasing void in leadership. We want to equip leaders with the skills and spiritual guidance to make a positive impact. Our goal is to raise a new generation of leaders who are committed to serving God and humanity.
Our focal points at this year’s conference were leadership principles, casting vision, building teams, the role of leaders in nation-building, the lifestyle of a leader, and teaching leaders how to give back to their communities, all with a Biblical perspective. Each day, the leaders will sit down together to discuss ways to support our leaders and enhance our nation as a whole.
The conference, which commenced from September 26 to 28 was crucial for pastors, church leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians, and anyone in a leadership position or striving to lead. With a pressing leadership gap in the church and nation, strong leadership is urgently needed. Above all, we thank God that we eventually achieved our goal and it was a success to the glory of God.
It is easy to blame the government for our country’s challenges, but we must remember that they are our results – a product of our choices made decades ago. We must confront the truth and return to it.
The conference offered a distinct chance for spiritual growth, networking, and honing skills. We were able to empower leaders to be more efficient in their roles and make a meaningful difference in their communities.
What would you say made the conference stand out?
What made the conference stand out was our mission to produce not just excellent leaders, but also transformational and functional leaders in both the church and the nation.
Our focus on spiritual growth and practical leadership skills made the conference truly unique. Participants gained a renewed sense of purpose, practical leadership skills, and a deeper connection with God. They will also have the chance to network with other leaders and form relationships that can benefit them personally and professionally.
I was the speaker at the conference. We also had the assistance of other leaders who are involved in CAN and PFN. They all shared their knowledge and experience to help participants grow in their leadership and faith. We’re excited to have them on board and they have a significant impact on the participants.
How does the conference align with the mission of JCCMI, which you are presided over by you?
Throughout my 49 years as a pastor, one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon me by God has been the ability to train leaders. With His abundant grace, I have successfully prepared numerous leaders from our church and our educational institution known as ITA (Independent Theological Academy). I am extremely grateful that many of these individuals are using their leadership abilities to make significant impacts in both ministry and business, as the success or failure of any group or organisation is greatly influenced by its leadership.
As our ultimate goal is to spread the gospel and make disciples in all nations, the conference perfectly aligns with our mission by providing leaders with the necessary skills and spiritual guidance to positively influence their communities.
How do you think the conference addressed specific challenges currently facing leaders in Nigeria and beyond?
The difficulties we are currently encountering are not unique, as these challenges exist globally. We as a society have caused these issues. Still, we can find a solution. All we need are leaders who are capable of making positive transformations. However, we cannot expect these issues to be resolved in a day. Unfortunately, Nigerians are the enemy of Nigeria.
We must address problems within organisations such as the police, road safety, customs, and immigration. While I do appreciate these organisations, it is the few bad eggs that have been able to gain entry through crafty means that are causing insecurity in the nation. In the past, we had effective highway patrols that instilled fear in drivers, but nowadays, they know that a mere one hundred Naira can resolve any issues. This concludes that Nigerians are ultimately the ones creating problems for Nigeria.
To address these challenges, we will be conducting sessions and workshops specifically designed for leaders in Nigeria and beyond. These sessions will focus on addressing issues like corruption, insecurity, and economic uncertainty. Our speakers will provide practical strategies and real-life examples to guide leaders in navigating these challenges and creating a positive impact.