Bishop Jakes: Leadership not
about affluence, but influence

Thousands of persons yesterday filled the Centre of Excellence at Macoya to catch a glimpse and listen to the sermon delivered by Bishop TD Jakes of the US, at the Born to Lead Leadership Conference and Youth Rally.

With a lusty round of applause and voices in unison calling for him, Bishop Jakes walked on stage at approximately 11.30 am.

Stating that he had never visited TT before, yet did not feel like a stranger, Jakes said he believed that something would happen this weekend that would change the lives of everyone present.

He claimed that it would be difficult to get rid of him after the “3 Days of Heaven on Earth” conference, as he has become spoilt by the warmth and hospitality of the people.

Jakes began by telling the audience that “real ministry does not begin until you’ve been pushed to the breaking point,” and stated that if persons present were content to be satisfied, average or ordinary, then they did not belong in the hall, as true leadership meant that you had to step out of the mould, and let yourself be vulnerable.

A true leader will be controversial, but clearly understands his purpose  claimed Jakes, adding that it was important not to define yourself by the views of others. He sought to dispel misconceptions that leadership was about affluence, stating that “the present generation had misdefined leadership,” and that it was really about influence.

Even as the audience rushed up to him to place money before his feet on stage, Bishop Jakes said “You can have lots of things but never be a leader, and if you are not influencing others then you are not a leader,” he said, as “a real leader can enter a room and change the atmosphere.”

He drew laughs from the capacity crowd as he said leaders were always thrust into the spotlight, and that he was tired of seeing too many leaders who could not take the heat.

 He explained that the same apparatus which creates light also generated heat, and that “leadership was sitting in the hot seat.”

He acknowledged that leaders were both born and made, and that they had to be committed and dedicated.

“God puts great leaders in trouble so that they can be trained,” Jakes stated, and urged everyone to live each day as a “significant” one as time was irreplaceable.