Author: Thomas Thozi Gwanya

Publisher:

Published: 2020-04-29

Total Pages: 136

ISBN-13:

In this book "Born to Serve: A Call to Servant Leadership" I have noted that each one of us is born to fulfil a special and unique purpose in life. Each person must find what that God's plan about one's life is. We will live in a much better world and lead a better life when we are prepared to serve one another. We are born to be leaders in our own homes, extended families, neighbourhood, communities and nation. Servant leadership does not abuse power, does not take advantage of the higher office and thus look down upon those who are being served, those who are followers or dependants. Humility is the prescribed manner of providing a service. A servant leader must be humble and be committed to serve his/ her followers. Some followers, like Peter, will not understand, and perhaps even refuse that their feet be washed by "such big people". Instead they will insist on washing you, or doing things for you. A true servant leader will reject that and insist that "I am here to serve you and not the other way round". When Peter rejected the offer of Jesus to wash his feet, then Jesus nicely explained to him; "If I do not wash you, you will not have part with me". In other words my mandate from the Father who sent me is that I must serve you. Jesus had explained to His disciples that, the manner in which my Father sent me, so do I send you. The manner of rendering the service, the manner of spreading the gospel of Christ shall not deviate from how Jesus did it himself. The one who is a servant is not greater than the one who is being served. The learner is not greater than the teacher. The one who is a servant leader must always take to heart the interests of the one who is being served. The true qualities of a servant leader show up in the manner that the servant leader carries him/ herself; the manner he/ she provides the service, the manner he/ she interacts with the ones served, the manner he/ she follows up to ensure the effectiveness of the service. There is an urgent need for a paradigm shift that those who are providing a service change from being treated or seeing themselves as "masters who must be feared, respected and honoured". The radical change must happen on both sides, the servant's attitude and expectations must change; those who are being served must accept being served by people with authority/ power. As it were they must demand and expect servant leadership. Most public representatives, officials, religious leaders or community workers often treat the recipients of their services with a condescending attitude. It is as though those who are being served must worship those who are servants. Employers themselves must lead by example and demonstrate to their employees how to be a servant leader. It is crucial that we all know what our individual mandate is, and how we are going to fulfil it. Those who are the sent ones must live up to their calling as ambassadors, and thus efficiently and effectively represent the high authority that sent them.