I am pleased to have Kalengule Kaoma (KK), GCI Superintendent for Africa, write the letter for this edition of Update. We have more GCI members in Africa than any other continent and the work of preparing, recognizing, and launching new leaders is important for the present work and future growth that we anticipate. KK has done intentional work alongside his four regional directors, who have also been integral in helping to establish national directors who have direct impact on our wide array of pastors. This multiplication and empowerment of leaders is the groundwork that’s needed to have the capacity to receive those whom the Lord calls. Our prayers go up for Jesus to bless this group of newly appointed leaders.
In GCI across Africa, we are faced with several opportunities to transition our leaders. These opportunities are available on congregational and regional levels. As a result, we have experienced several transitions in the last twelve months.
Dictionaries indicate that transition refers to a process of change. In this article, I limit transition to change of leaders in congregational and or regional offices.
The reason for transitioning leaders has mostly been age-related. Most of our leaders who have transitioned out of their offices are at least 70 years of age. Energy levels, mobility, health, length of service, availability, and travel demands also contributed to decisions leading to transitions.
Benefits of timely transitions
Our leaders who have served the Lord for a long time have accumulated vast experiences, knowledge, and maturity. These traits must be passed on to younger leaders. Transitions are like a relay race. The oncoming runner passes the baton to the next runner who takes off at greater speed. But the runner who brought the baton runs on for some distance. In effect, the two runners run together for a while. This effectively provides support to the runner who has picked up the baton.
In our leadership transitions, experienced leaders have the opportunity to come beside the new leaders. Experienced leaders give support, counsel, guidance, and answers to what may seem like new, perplexing, and challenging situations that arise while the new leaders are adjusting to their roles. In executing the process of transition, we have drawn from biblical narratives because we desired smooth transitions.
Elijah prayed a double portion of the Spirit over Elisha. John the Baptist, who had paved the path for Jesus, made the profound statement, “I must decrease so that he may increase.” Jesus himself shows how to prepare others for leadership. He prayed all night before selecting the 12 disciples. He invited them to come and be with him traveling across Judea, ministering to people. The disciples observed Jesus for months. They joined him in ministering to the crowds that gathered to hear Jesus. Jesus spent time quizzing their understanding about who he was and giving them deeper insight beyond the parables Jesus told to the crowds. He proclaimed that they would be fishers for people, and he prepared them for this calling. In GCI, we endeavor to do likewise.
Transitions in Africa
Gardner Kunje (left) w incoming RD Marshall Dube
Biblical examples of leadership transitions encouraged us to courageously effect transitions in Africa. Here are the highlights:
Two national directors passed the baton recently. In Nigeria, Essien George passed the baton of national director to Meshack Igbineweka. GCI Ghana welcomed Theophilus Nii Okai as the new national leader.
We have also commissioned two new regional directors. In December 2024, Central Africa Regional Director Gardner Kunje of Lilongwe, Malawi transitioned leadership to Marshall Dube of Harare, Zimbabwe. In January 2025, another encouraging transition took place in Accra, Ghana. West Africa Regional Director Theo Nii Okai received office authority from outgoing RD Emmanuel Okai. [See image at the top of story.] Together with members of the Christian Council of Ghana, national directors from GCI Nigeria and Togo attended the service with a number of members from around Ghana.
Long term. Bearing in mind that at one point of the leadership path or another, leaders will be required to step aside. For this reason, leaders need to prepare someone to step up and take the role of a current leader. As soon as a leader takes up a leadership role, one must start preparing other people as possible replacements.
Create a team of leaders. Jethro’s advice to Moses to create teams of captains of tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands coupled with Jesus’s plan of working with a team of three, twelve, 120, 500, and more form a basis upon which to emulate team leadership concepts. While a congregation may not have lots of members to draw lots of people, it is prudent to have teams of leaders who can be prepared for future leadership roles.
Proactive/intentional knowledge of leaders in the team. Creating a leadership team is one thing. Knowing the leaders on the team is another. Knowing team members calls for close relationships. Without close personal relationships, it is difficult to know members of the team. This too makes it difficult to be certain about who is suitable to be the next leaders. This does not take away the role of the Holy Spirit in directing leaders about next leaders. God works through our relationships.
Transitions are inevitable and important. The Holy Spirit works through mortal human beings with limited life spans. Naturally, human leaders’ bodies will wane in their strength and health. This requires replacement. Sometimes, other factors will call for leadership transitions. Hence, denominational, regional, congregational, and ministry leaders should always be ready to effectively transition officers at various levels of church leaders. In Africa, leadership transition is an ongoing activity.
Under the leadership of Jesus,
Kalengule Kaoma, Superintendent of Africa
Lusaka, Zambia
4 thoughts on “Lessons of Leadership”
Continued growth and new fruit testifies to the fact that GCI abides in Jesus, the True Vine.
Dear KK,
May I commend you in the way you are introducing necessary leadership transitions. The synergy and dynamic that is created by having „old“ and „new“ leaders work together united in purpose is very precious. At times, the western „youth craze“ makes us neglect the great reservoir of experience we can draw upon. You have NOT done so. BRAVO !!!
Continued growth and new fruit testifies to the fact that GCI abides in Jesus, the True Vine.
This is one of the best descriptions of Leadership
transfers that I have read. Blessings & growth
to African GCI.
Dear KK,
May I commend you in the way you are introducing necessary leadership transitions. The synergy and dynamic that is created by having „old“ and „new“ leaders work together united in purpose is very precious. At times, the western „youth craze“ makes us neglect the great reservoir of experience we can draw upon. You have NOT done so. BRAVO !!!
Transition is indeed a change that is ongoing, we appreciate the efforts Pastor KK you are doing in Africa.