•Videocast in progress as participants watch at Ndola‘s Bread of Life Church recently, during the Global Leadership Summit.

By GETHSEMANE MWIZABI –

THE question of leadership has never been more relevant than now.  Be it   in church, family, business and politics, the idea of leadership applies.
Recently in Ndola, 420 leaders from government and non-government institutions, the church and various businesses joined the 350 plus cities in 120 countries that host  the Global Leadership Summit (GLS)
The Summit, which was shown via videocast, was held at Ndola’s Bread of Life Church for two days.
The national coordinator of the GLS Lawrence Temfwe welcomed leaders from Mufulira, Ndola, Kitwe, Luanshya, Kalulushi and Ndola by saying; “The GLS is the place where leaders are vulnerable. Here you will learn from speakers who hide nothing. You will hear from leaders who are honest about sin and brokenness. They will share weaknesses, loneliness, sadness or general lack of fulfillment of leaders. Most importantly they will share how their hope in Christ helps them overcome obstacles on their leadership journey.”
His summary was not far from what was experienced. In the first session, founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois United States of America (USA) Bill Hybels shared about how all leaders have their blind spots and the need to identify and address them.
He shared from his own experience and confessed that his blind spot was revealed by someone he was least expecting.  During discussion the leaders were challenged to identify a person who could give them feedback, with respect to their blind spots.
The GLS inspired leaders with practical ways to create high-quality customer service experiences.
For example, the audience learned about the three universal things consumers want which included time keeping; a concept Zambians struggle with.  The discussion raised a cultural debate about African time.
However, it was agreed that it was about time churches show resolve and demonstrate excellence in time keeping. Senior Pastor at world renowned church in Australia, Hillsong Brian Houston’s genuine faith, even in dark times of his life, was one of the highs of the Summit.
Questions about why leaders in African churches rarely open up about their humanity were raised.
Nigeria author, motivational speaker and author Sam Adeyemi’s talk brought issues right at the leaders’s ‘door steps’ when he talked on how self-centred leadership has made many people, especially children, powerless and hopeless on the African continent.
“Rather than pray for a car, why don’t you pray for grace to provide transportation for a whole city?  Rather than pray for clothes, why don’t you pray for opportunity to clothe a nation?,” he asked.
Rather than pray for a home, why don’t you pray for opportunity to provide homes for people in a whole nation?
He called on leaders to develop visions for cities and nations by empowering followers. This was the strategy of Jesus Christ.
Ultimately the Global Leadership Summit, which would   also take place in Lusaka on November 6 and 7 2015, was a time of reflection, inspiration and mind opening.
The importance of mentors remains a key growth area for any people.
As Bread of Life Ndola pastor George Chanda; the host pastor said it best; “the GLS is a non-negotiable part of a leader desiring to be transformed or developed.”