The importance of Character in Leadership

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COVER STORY

Henry Ayensu

Publisher, henry@adonaimag.tv, www.adonaimag.tv

The importance of Character in Leadership

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his year’s Global Leadership Summit held

by Dr. Myles Munroe in Freeport, Bahamas, was one of the most successful events held around the world that had as its theme, CHARACTER: The Moral Force of Leadership.

The event brought together people from around the globe to be trained in the most important aspect of leadership, character; which has become a determinant in leadership around the world, in both the secular and church theaters.

We realized at the event that the world is not lacking in leadership, but rather abounds in leaders

As a leader your character is private but not personal

with charisma and ideology who lack the most sustaining force in leadership, which is character. The contemporary crisis of character in leadership is alarming, insofar as leaders determine the direction, security, and prosperity of cultures, societies and nations.

A leader is a person who has a vision of the future and possesses the conviction that he can bring change to the current situation, by serving his vision and mission to achieve his purpose in life. A leader must live by a set of rules that govern their leadership and purpose for staying on course; and one of the most important and neglected strongholds of a leader is character.

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Henry Ayensu, publisher of Adonai Magazine with Dr. Myles Munroe, one of our monthly columinists, at the Global Leadership Summit in Freeport, Bahamas

What is Character?

Character is a mark, an imprint, a statue, or the outward appearance of one’s true self: the way you live, talk, and act. It was revealed that a person’s gift will take him to places, but character will keep him there. Tiger Woods was worth $900,000. Playing golf gave him only $100,000 and product endorsements gave him $800,000; but when his true character was revealed through his involvement with several women, he lost all his endorsements and had to start all over again, by building trust among his fans. The same crisis befell Lance Armstrong, world-renowned cyclist, cont. on page 22

ABOUT FRONT COVER PHOTO AND EVENT

The name Adonai is translated Lord in the Bible.

Adon means, “steward administrator, master, or Lord.” The addition of ai to adon intensifies or elevates its meaning, changing it to mean “the ultimate Lord, the Supreme Lord, or Lord of all.”

The vision of Adonai Magazine goes beyond deBible Challenge nominational,Adonai traditional, ethnic and cultural barStudy to shew thyself approved unto God... riers that are sometimes imposed and have interfered with the Lord’s vision for an international kingdom building.

COLUMNISTS

Henry Ayensu Franklin Kwaku Kyei Pas. Abraham Obadare

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Joyce Meyer

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Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

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Jimmy Evans

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Dr. William D. Watley

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Dr. Kelafo Collie M.D.

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Elsie Osae-Kwapong Cre8ive House

The place to be this December is Innerlife Chapel International 1926 Webster Ave Bronx New York to celebrate the end of year revival under the theme Crossing Over to Take Over.

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Invite friends and family.

The prophet of God will be taking us through prophetic prayers and deliverance sessions, to break yokes and remove hindrances.

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Empowering through net

EDITORIAL

Franklin Kwaku Kyei Editor of the Adonai Magazine Send your letters and suggestions to the editor at info@adonaimag.tv or call: 347 449 5892 visit www.adonaimag.tv for more articles

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The Spirit of Christmas

hristmas is a time that believers and individuals all over the world partake in the celebration of the birth of our Savior & King Jesus Christ. Christmas symbolizes newness, transformation, and hope for the future. (Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:13-14). Throughout the year we are challenged, persecuted, abandoned, isolated, ridiculed, confronted with loss & death; nevertheless we have cause to celebrate Christ this year.

In the movie “A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas”, the Holy Spirit ministers to the main character Ebenezer Scrooge in a three-fold fashion: traveling from the past, the future, and the pres-

Christmas is a time of rebirth, rededication, giving, and love. ent; in an attempt to motivate towards repentance onto transformation. The movie shows scenes from his past that occurred on or around Christmas, in order to demonstrate to him the necessity of changing his ways; as well as to show the audience how Scrooge came to be the person he was, and his particular dislike for Christmas.

Similar to the movie, many individuals, especially believers, allow negative experiences to dictate one’s ability to love and manifest the hope that we have in Christ. “…God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Fear of the known and unknown has crippled us into believing that Christmas is an ordinary time; however, Christmas is a time of rebirth, rededication, giving, and love. Let us remember to give the gift that keeps on giving, which is the love of Christ; for the love of Christ grants us eternal life and blessings forevermore. The Bible 6

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says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Ebenezer Scrooge relinquished himself onto the Spirit of Christ, thus brining great transformation into his life. He no longer became a slave to the hurtful episodes of his challenging past. He, however, repented to trust God again, knowing that He is the author and finisher of his faith. During this season, as the world celebrates the Birth of Christ, give entrance onto the Holy Spirit in order for you to be perfected in love. In His perfect love there is Forgiveness, Peace & Hope.

So the question I pose to you today is this: as the season approaches, have you truly allowed the Holy Spirit to take control and stay rooted in your life; and as He has found a home in your vessel, are you an agent and product of His will? Surrender onto the Spirit of Christ, and it will be a permanent vacation from the toils and hurts of this world, and you will become an agent of His great will.

As we approach the end of the year, allow the Holy Spirit to take you captive on a pilgrimage from the ancient days of our captivity, through the “promised deliverance from bondage” of our present time; into the freedom of our future in Christ Jesus. I say “promised deliverance from bondage” of our present, because many of us have resisted total relinquishment onto the spirit of Christ, which is the spirit of love and hope, leaving us in a state of captivity, when we should be reigning with Christ. Let the Spirit of Christmas reign in you and through you.

Merry Christmas to you!

By Reverend Cookie Frempong-Boakye

Head Pastor – United Bethel Pentecostal Ministries

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KINGDOM QUOTES

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Dr. Myles Munroe For Books or Teachings by Dr. Myles Munroe on CD, audio or video tapes, call or visit us at: Bahamas Faith Ministries International.

The Diplomat Center, Carmichael Road. P. O. Box N-9583, Nassau, Bahamas Tel: (242) 341 – 6444. Fax: (242) 361 2260

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The Ideal Government

onsider the following statements in biblical record: “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Rom 8:19-21).

In these statements, written by the first century Kingdom citizen, Paul, it is revealed that govern-

The kingdom concept originated in the mind of God and was the original governing system designed for earth. ment affects not only the people of a land but also the land and physical environment itself. Governing is serious business. When man rejected heaven’s government, he became the source of his own governing program. The results ever since have proven that we need help. The Creator’s intent was to administrate earth’s government from Heaven through His image (nature) in man and thus manifest His nature and character on earth. God’s government is a unique structure that is yet misunderstood.

I would at this point describe God’s government as a corporate kingdom government. Government by corporate leadership! The theocratic order of a King over kings as partners in governing! This is what we would call the “Kingdom of 8

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Heaven.” The kingdom government concept is God’s idea.

However, when man rejected heaven’s government, he had no choice but to accept as an alternative the disappointing plethora of human attempts at government. When the children of Israel left the land of Egypt, as recorded in the Exodus story, God instructed Moses to advise them that they would be governed by the laws of heaven and led by God Himself as their heavenly King on earth. This was the first step in God’s plan to reinstate the Kingdom of Heaven on earth once again, using a small nation of slaves as His prototype.

In the biblical record of Exodus, God’s intent for the nation was to be governed by heaven from heaven and to be an expression of His Kingdom on earth. Israel rejected theocracy, the rule of a gracious and loving King who would protect and provide for them. Instead, they substituted a king for the King. Their decision led to calamitous consequences.

The kingdom concept originated in the mind of God and was the original governing system designed for earth. The ideal kingdom concept is unique, distinctive, and provides for the greatest benefits to its citizens. The ideal kingdom is such a beautiful idea that only God could have thought of it. And it is the only system of governing that can bring the peace, equality, and fulfillment that mankind longs for. I agree that some governments are better than others, but all are inferior to God’s government—the Kingdom of Heaven.

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KINGDOM TRUTH

Pastor Abraham Obadare Pastor Abraham Obadare is a minister at Christ Apostolic Church WOSEM, New York City •Our TV programs show: Queens: QPTV 34 on Wednesdays at 10:30pm & Fridays at 5:30pm, Brooklyn: BCAT 56 at 12am on Sunday Long Island: CABLEVISION 20 on Saturday 7:30am Tel: 718 658 8981

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Hunger & Thirst

he book of Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.” In today’s write-up I’d like us to examine this scripture and be blessed.

What is hunger?

Hunger means the feeling of emptiness and the need to be filled with something, i.e., having a strong desire for something. The human body gets hungry for food and so does the soul.

What happens when you eat? As soon as we eat, we receive nourishment and the body can continue working.

The nature of your hunger and thirst will determine how far you will go to get what you want in Christ.

What is thirst?

It is a feeling of dryness within. This feeling is one which has to be met, otherwise there will be dehydration.

What happens when you drink?

When you drink, you get relief (Judges 15:18-19)

What is righteousness?

Conformity to the law/will of God.

What does it mean to be filled?

It means to be saturated.

Therefore, when Jesus says in Matthew 5:6 that, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled,” He means 10

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blessed are they who have strong / intense desire and deep craving to conform to the law / will of God; for they shall be filled (saturated).

Here, we have to take note of what we are admonished to be hungry and thirsty for. It must be for righteousness. Whatever you are hungry and thirsty for, that’s what you will be filled with.

One may hunger for: • Money (Ananias and Saphira) Acts 5:1-10) • Understanding of the word of God (Acts 8:26-39) • For the infilling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:12-14) etc.

• To do what is right in God’s sight for people (Neh. 2:17)

As the body naturally has appetites for food and drink in order to be sustained, so does the soul have appetite for righteousness as its food and drink. Of course, there are different types of food one could feed his body with; but we know that good food will bring nourishment and life, while junk food will bring harm to the body. In the same way we could feed the soul with all kinds of stuff, which will lead to destruction, because the food that can bless and nourish the soul is righteousness.

What does it mean to hunger and thirst after righteousness?

• To feel distanced from God’s presence and long for intimacy with Him • To engage in active war against sin • To be conscious of one’s need for God • To continuously ask oneself, “Am I pleasing God in my thoughts and deeds or am I pleasing men and society?” (Ps. 24:4)

Read full article on www.adonaimag.tv

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ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE

Joyce Meyer For more on this topic, order Joyce’s four-CD series God Is Not Mad at You. You can also contact us to receive our free magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting www.joycemeyer.org.

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Find Healing for Your Wounded Soul The most important message I can ever share with people is that God loves them and has good plans for them through life in Christ. We all need to have a revelation about God’s love for us, because until we do, we’ll struggle to have true, lasting love, joy and peace in our everyday lives. The world is full of wounded, heartbroken people, who have been mistreated or abused in some way. And they’re pretending to be okay, desperately hoping other people will think they’ve got it all together.

Jesus takes our sin and the messes in our lives and gives us His righteousness, peace and joy The truth is, none of us are perfect, and we all go through hard times and get hurt by someone or something. It’s amazing the things people can do to others, but it has helped me to understand that hurting people hurt people. And many times when people abuse others, they are acting out of their own pain, so it goes on from generation to generation.

But I have good news: If you’ve been hurt in the past, you don’t have to spend your life being miserable, angry, bitter, resentful or full of self-pity, hurting others. Through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you can receive complete healing in your soul—your mind, will and emotions. God can restore your life and make you just as if it never happened.

Going Through the Healing Process I know what it’s like to hurt so much you don’t think 14

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you can stand it anymore and you don’t have hope for a better future. For most of my childhood, my father abused me and I never knew growing up what it was like to feel safe, secure and loved. As a result, I became an angry, suspicious, critical, judgmental adult.

When I left home at 18, I thought I was leaving my problems behind me, but I came to realize there were many problems in my soul that were left over from the abuse in my childhood. I desperately needed the healing love of God to restore my life!

Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV) says Jesus came “to preach good tidings to the poor…to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn…to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness….”

Thank God for His Word and His promise to heal the brokenhearted, comfort those who mourn, and set the captives free! Now, I’m not going to tell you it’s easy to go through the healing process; it takes time, diligence in studying the Word, and lots of prayer to walk out the healing that is yours by virtue of the blood of Christ. But as believers in Jesus, we have the authority of His name to overcome sin and access the power of God in our lives so we can experience the promises in His Word.

And the promises of God belong to anyone who is born again!

Read full article on www.adonaimag.tv

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Auntie Elsie

ADONAI KIDS

Email: at elsie@adonaimag.tv Tel: 347 449 5892

visit www.adonaimag.tv for more articles

How to Pray for our Children Continued from last edition publication

9. Respect (for self, others, and authority)— "Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as Your Word commands."

(1 Pet. 2:17)

10. Biblical Self-Esteem—"Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:10)

Secure the future of your children with the power of prayer.

11. Faithfulness—"Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts." (Prov. 3:3)

12. Courage—"May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions." (Deut. 31:6)

13. Purity—"Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions." (Ps. 51:10)

14. Kindness—"Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." (1 Thes. 5:15) 15. Generosity—"Grant that my children may 16

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be generous and willing to share, and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age." (1 Tim. 6:18-19)

16. Peace-Loving—"Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace."

(Rom. 14:19) 17. Joy—"May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit." (1 Thes. 1:6)

18. Perseverance—"Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them." (Heb. 12:1)

19. Humility—"God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all." (Titus 3:2)

20. Compassion—"Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion."

(Col. 3:12)

21. Responsibility—"Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load." (Gal. 6:5)

22. Contentment—"Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength."

(Phil. 4:12-13)

to be contined in the next edition

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BIBLE GAMES

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Jimmy Evans

MARRIAGE BUILDER

© 2010 MarriageToday. All rights reserved for more information visit www.marriagetoday.com visit www.adonaimag.tv for more articles

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Come Out of Hiding

arly in our marriage—when Karen and I were struggling and on the brink of divorce—we were mentored by, Kerm and Lou Ethel Albertson, an older couple at our church. They had the kind of marriage we both longed to have. I was jealous of their relationship and wanted to know their secret. We went to dinner with them one night when it was clear Karen and I had been fighting.

Kerm talked to us about the many fights he and Lou Ethel had gotten into over the years, down to the intimate details of their arguments. He admitted his own stubbornness, disillusionment, times of pride and arrogance and sin. I was stunned. How could he talk so openly about his struggles? He was un-

Brokenness alone isn’t enough to heal our hurts.

God needs more from us than brokenness: He needs us to come out of hiding. guarded and transparent, with nothing to hide. I could never imagine being that vulnerable, letting others see my flaws and insecurities. (At the time, I had plenty.)

Though God had been working in my life to teach me the importance of opening up to others, I struggled even to be vulnerable with Karen. But through Kerm and Lou Ethel that night, God showed me that their vulnerability with each other was what had kept them together so many years.

That’s what made their relationship so strong and vibrant. It’s also what gave them such a deep and meaningful relationship with God as individuals. Many of us have experienced conviction and brokenness about our sins and failures. But brokenness alone isn’t enough to heal our hurts. God 20

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needs more from us than brokenness: He needs us to come out of hiding. God wants us to remove the masks we wear in order to hide our flaws from others. He wants us to share our struggles with others, even though that’s such a hard thing to do. Accountability is a critical step in the healing process, and vulnerability is an important step toward accountability.

Karen and I enjoy a much healthier marriage today.

It’s because God called us out of hiding, and we obeyed.

It’s impossible to build a relationship with someone when your world is defined by fear, or when you don’t think you can trust them with your pain. It’s impossible to feel close to someone when you spend most of your life pushing them away. A healthy marriage requires honesty and openness.

Once Karen and I learned to open up to each other emotionally, we saw an immediate change in our relationship. Brick by brick, God dismantled the walls we’d built between us. We began seeing things in each other that we hadn’t seen in years.

I realized I could trust Karen with my most painful thoughts and emotions. The deeper I let her in, the closer we became. Eventually we learned to share our struggles with other couples, too. We found freedom and healing…and as we shared our own story, it began to help others find healing, too.

If you’ve never allowed yourself to experience the freedom of letting your spouse see the real you, do so today. Give your spouse access to most wounded, painful parts of yourself. You’ll find healing, and your marriage will thank you

(From Jimmy’s newest book, When Life Hurts)

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The importance of Character in Leadership

Continued from page 4

Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, and recently, Toronto’s crack-smoking Mayor, Rob Ford, who is refusing to resign in spite of his irresponsible behavior as a public figure.

As a leader your Character is private, but not personal. A leader must abide by a set of morals and ethical values with strong convictions such that no matter what comes your way, you don’t have to sacrifice your convictions on the altar of convenience or compromise.

Character is the most powerful force a leader can possess. It protects his life, his leadership, and 22

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his legacy; and manifests who he is, and who he will become.

You can transform your world today by leading with true character.

I will recommend for the reader Dr Myles Munroe new book, “The POWER OF CHARACTER IN LEADERSHIP”; it will be a great source of inspiration to your life.

Stay blessed.

Henry Ayensu

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