Leaders should always seek God�s direction-Rev Dr Quarshie

Reverend Doctor Benhardt Yemo Quarshie, Rector, Akrofi Christaller Memorial Institute, at the weekend urged people in leadership to allow the fear of God and the common good to guide their actions. He noted that some leaders personalise the use of power thereby misapplying it to the detriment of society. Rev Quarshie was preaching the sermon at the 2012 Bible Week Celebration in Accra, on the theme: �The Bible: God�s Standard for Leadership�, organised by the Bible Society of Ghana(BSG). Rev Quarshie said some people compete for power not with the motive of delivering, but to serve their selfish desires and are prepared to undermine others to have such powers. He said in the Book of Mark (10:35-45), Christ defined true leadership when he said a person who wants to be �great� in the kingdom of God must learn to be the �least� here on earth, thus serving all others and putting all ahead of one�s own needs and desires. He noted that a good leader must be able to serve his subjects with humility and that the desire for leadership should always relate to God�s directions and principles. Rev Quarshie said leadership is a process by which one person influences the thoughts, attitudes, and behaviours of others and that leaders set a direction for the rest to follow; help them see what lies ahead, visualize for the future, encourage and inspired them. He noted that without effective leadership, organizations degenerate into argument and conflict which affects development, because issues are seen in different ways and lean toward different solutions. Rev. Quarshie stressed that not all leaders are called by God although God permits some people to enter into leadership positions. According to him, those who are not called often resort to manipulation and rigging of electoral procedures and processes to their advantage or their favourites. Reverend Erasmus Odonkor, General Secretary, BSG, said the Society is a non-denominational Christian organisation registered under the Trustees Act, 1962, to make God�s word available and affordable and to encourage its use. He said the Society is affiliated to the United Bible Societies, operating in 200 countries, to achieve the widest possible, effective and meaningful distribution of the Holy Scriptures in languages and media. Rev Odonkor said the Society develops effective and meaningful programmes using all forms of media to attain set objectives and facilitate Bible usage in Churches and among individuals. He said to actualize its mission, the Society performs four main activities which are translation, distribution, Advocacy and evangelisation and fund-raising. The Clergy led the congregation in prayers for good leadership and a peaceful election 2012.