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06.04.2010

Great Leaders are Grateful and Encouraging

My time in Nigeria is now a memory, but it’s impact, on me personally and the thousands of leaders we had the privilege of teaching and challenging, continues.

One of the memories I will long cherish is the opportunity I had to spend with Pastor William Okoye.

He is the pastor of a very large, impacting, and influential church in Abujah, Nigeria. For nine years, he was the Chaplain to the President of Nigeria. Because of his commitment to unwavering integrity in a political environment more known for compromise, he won the admiration and respect of pastors and spiritual leaders from every spiritual background and denominational heritage. Now, he is seeking to use that influence to bring new life to the churches of Nigeria and ultimately profound change to the people, culture, and condition of his nation.

It was because of his leadership vision and influence that I had the privilege of sharing God’s truth and my passion for the church with so many leaders. It was both a pleasure and privilege to spend so much time with him over the past couple of weeks and even more to now count him as a friend.

Upon returning home, I received this letter from him.

Dear Brad,

So very appreciative of your unquantifiable sacrifice in coming to Nigeria to train Christian leaders in four major cities; Lagos,Port Harcourt,Owerri and Abuja. You were selfless and almost preached yourself to exhaustion.

Your revolutionary teachings on change made indeliable impact on all of us, including mainline denominations. (There are good reports in this respect).

Thank you also for giving us the right to reprint your book, without demanding any royalty on it. Thank you for your partnership, as we look forward to a changed Nigeria as a result.

Blessing.

William Okoye

Though I am the one who owes him gratitude and should be reaching out to encourage him in his courageous leadership, he wrote as an expression of gratitude and encouragement to me. As in all of his leadership, again here he reveals the character of a great leader. Great leaders are always grateful and encouraging. He truly is a great leader.

I pray my leadership will reflect the same kind of consistent and uncompromising character that he embodies and that I will impact other leaders as he has me and thousands of others in Nigeria.

 
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14 Comments

 
 

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Adam Mashni and Brad Powell, Josh Collesano. Josh Collesano said: RT @bradpowell New post. Great leaders are always grateful and encouraging. http://bit.ly/9TzbCx [...]

 
 

Praising God for you and your positive influence in this world to guide us in UNDERSTANDING pure TRUTH, sprinkled with compassion. True LOVE.

 
 

Lynn Kelley Soss

June 4, 2010 4:44 pm

 
 

God bless both of you! You are both great leaders and examples of what it is to follow Christ. So glad you shared more of what your mission in NIgeria was like and what wonderful impact you had on the people there. I’ve always known how special it is to have you as our pastor and this is only more proof that God’s mighty hand is on you as you fulfill His purpose for you while on this earth. Praying for the continued committment of our church to reach out and share with others His Truth through you and each of us who are inspired by your example.

 
 

cherilans

June 4, 2010 8:31 pm

 
 

Brad, thank you for sharing your experiences in Nigeria and your teachings on leadership. Mostly I want to thank you for leading by example.

 
 

Dave

June 5, 2010 1:25 am

 
 

Brad, So glad to hear of the impact you have left through this experience. The cool part is watching the vine grow from it..eh?
You and yours are always in our prayers.

 
 

Tricia Huffman

June 5, 2010 10:03 am

 
 

Love your shirt…stay relevant. don’t become a product of your environment.

 
 

bob burnside

June 5, 2010 9:29 pm

 
 

Brad, attended your meeting in Abuja, your commitment to God’s work has giving me courage. I will continue to write to appreciate you even for iam gave what getting from your book which gave us almost free of Charge if not for little which we contributed for the reprint. Thanks very much, i love you Brad.

 
 

Rev Jonathan Okoroafor

June 7, 2010 10:35 am

 
 

I read in a book of Rick Warren, but i saw his picture in your life when you came to Abuja. The Methodist work iam pastoring will speak of what i have gotten from you for the tomorrow leaders, thanks so much

 
 

Rev Jonathan Okoroafor

June 7, 2010 10:41 am

 
 

Though I am the one who owes him gratitude and should be reaching out to encourage him in his courageous leadership, he wrote as an expression of gratitude and encouragement to me. As in all of his leadership, again here he reveals the character of a great leader. Great leaders are always grateful and encouraging. He truly is a great leader.
+1

 
 

Barrie

June 8, 2010 12:29 pm

 
 

PASTOR WILLIAMS OKOYE IS NOT JUST A PASTOR THAT I LOVE HEARING BUT I ALSO LIKE SITTING UNDER HIS TEACHING. I EVEN USE HIS MATERIALS FOR MYSELF.
COMING TO THE CONFERENCE WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE I WILL NEVER FORGET.
I ENJOYED IT AND I PRAY THAT GOD WILL BLESS AND INCREASE HIS GRACE AND POWER ON YOU IN JESUS NAME,AMEN.

 
 

PASTOR VICTOR ORJI

June 9, 2010 9:54 pm

 
 

Brad,
Thank you so much for all you do. I must tell you that my next door neighbor is from Nigeria. I consider it a blessing to have someone living next door to me who has many cultural differences. I only wish that it was easier for me to understand his “accent.” Please pray for me that my husband and II can be good influences for our neighbor. He is a “single father” and has a teenage daughter. There’s a very complicated story having to do w ith their “family .” Just, please pray that we can truly be “good neighbors.”

God bless you in all that you do!!!::-)
Pam

 
 

Pam Haase

June 13, 2010 6:01 am

 
 

It does my heart good to know that so many great things are happening for the Lord in Nigeria. How blessed you must feel to be called upon to glorify the LORD in such a big and humbling way. May God bless you and continue to use you in powerful ways for HIS success and purposes. The HOLY SPIRIT uses you in such real, beautiful and powerful ways. I truly feel blessed to be able to attend Northridge Church and be truly touched by the HOLY SPIRIT through your words and the music of the praise team. How wonderful it will be if people in Nigeria can have that same experience. Praise GOD!!

 
 

Mary Weber

June 16, 2010 2:16 pm

 
 

I am in total awe of this great missionary journey you took. Truly it was an inspiration from our God much like Paul. I am so grateful to be a part of this church. I pray that God will use me according His purpose and plan to inspire others. We thank you for your dedication and service to make an eternal difference.

 
 

Terry Swierb

June 23, 2010 12:37 pm

 
 

Terry ,you said it all,well put !

 
 

bob burnside

June 23, 2010 9:59 pm