Leadership is highly cardinal in every aspect of our lives and this does not leave out the business arena, the church, politics and every circle of human endeavour. What are the major marks of Leadership and how could leadership play the influential role which it’s meant for? Here is a chat between Ayo Afuye, Editor, Vessels of Virtues Christian Media, and Steve Karma, Lead Pastor, Hope Church Lancaster on a new series titled : Marks of a Spiritual Leadership.
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Vessels of Virtues: Who is Steve Karma?
Steve, Abigail and Timothy
Answer: My name is Steve Karma, I am the Pastor, Lancaster Free Methodist Church. It used to be called Lancaster Free Methodist Church, but now Hope Church, Lancaster. I have been pastoring the church for three years. I pastored in Birmingham for six years. I am married to Abigail and I have a boy who is two and half years old, called Timothy, and we have got another baby on the way, who would be with us in four weeks’ time.
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Vessels of Virtues: While growing up, did it cross your mind that you were going to be preaching the gospel?
Answer: It’s strange…I attended a Roman Catholic School because I was expelled from the protestant school. And I have always had an interest in spirituality or God. I remember listening to Martin Luther King Jnr’s sermon, “I have a dream”. And it was like the hair at the back of my neck stood up. I was always fascinated with spiritual things but also the power to communicate; I did have an incline that I might go into politics, but the idea of being a preacher did not really cross my mind. But looking back now, I do see that God had His hand on me, even before I became a Christian really.
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Vessels of Virtues: How would you describe what spiritual leadership entail?
Answer: I will go back to the last question and put it together. I am a great believer in the sovereignty of God, and also a believer that God has chosen times and places we should live. I also believe in the truth in Ephesians chapter 4, which states that it is God, who sends ministry gifts to the church. So my DNA, my cultural background, the experiences I have had in life, although, I am completely responsible, so I can’t blame God for my sin, as I am completely responsible, but God has had His hand in making and shaping me to be the kind of person He has called me to be. Leadership looks like different things in different places, but there are some core things that tie leadership together. Whether you are leading in the church, business, family or politics or wherever, I think the most important thing is who you are. So your personality is as important as what you do, or what you teach. “The word became flesh and He dwell amongst us, and we beheld His glory”. It is important to practise what we preach. And our main focus should be on who we are. The second thing is that we should focus on other people, putting them above ourselves, recognising they have been created in the image and the likeness of God. It is also crucial to note that Jesus is the model for leadership. It is about service, but what concerns me about leadership is, whether it’s 
within the church, politics or business, it is the type of leadership which is mirrored upon the world and it’s self-seeking, and very self-promoting, not about service and about helping people. And looking at leadership from the church perspective (Spiritual Leadership), God has called people predominantly as shepherds. Which means, even if you are an evangelist, there is a pastor/teacher element in your calling. Even if you are a youth leader, you have a pastor/teacher role in what God has called you to. All Elders are pastor/teachers first. All ministry gifts, like Paul and Peter were Apostles, but they were pastors and teachers too.
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Vessels of Virtues: In your experience as a pastor and spiritual leader, would you say “A Leader’s Identity” could affect the followers? Can you explain and give a typical example?
Answer: My Pastor has two boys and two girls. His youngest daughter was chewing her nails, and it really annoyed him. He then told the girl to stop chewing her nail and his wife said to him “you know where she gets that from” But he answered “no I don’t”. She then responded, “but you chew your nails”. So it shows that who we are and what we do are more important that what we teach. So our identity is very important as leaders, which means we need to begin to understand that our whole life is about discipleship. Spirituality is more that knowing your bible and praying, but to begin to see ourselves as called to lead others with what we do and how we live. We cannot separate the spiritual from the secular. That is not a biblical understanding of leadership, and it is not the biblical worldview.
