Christian religious leaders have been asked to be humble as they serve God and humanity.
The Presiding Bishop of the International Fellowship of Christ (IFC) Church in Kenya, the Rev. John Waka, rebuked church leaders who manipulate their faithful with a view to enriching themselves instead of heeding the call to servant and selfless leadership.
“Leadership is not about being served, but to serve God with humility and dedication,” Bishop Waka said during the consecration and enthronement of the Rev. Francis Menza Mwanguo as the bishop of the IFC church, Diocese of Mombasa.
The function that was held at the IFC St. Francis Cathedral in Jilore, Kilifi County, on Sunday was also attended by a host of church ministers from the IFC including the denomination’s General Secretary, the Rev. Charles Mwawaza and the Bishop of Taita Taveta Diocese, the Rev. Christopher Chinia.
Bishop Waka, who delivered a sermon based on the book of Joel 2:26 and Ephesians 4:11 said he was perturbed by some church leaders who think the church belongs to them instead of Christ.
“I have ministers who walk about with bodyguards and bouncers. Instead of serving the people under them, the people serve them. This is wickedness,” Bishop Waka told the hundreds of faithful who attended the ceremony.
“We are not in ministry for people to bow or kneel before us but for us to point the people to heaven,” the presiding bishop said. “Church ministry is not about elevated egos.”
He called on Bishop Mwanguo to remain faithful to the call of God and avoid loading it over the faithful, just because he is their bishop.
“Though the calling you have is high, remain the humble person you have always been. Do not allow your new status to cloud your vision of serving God and pointing people to Him,” he said.
Bishop Mwanguo, 62, was born at Milore village in Vitengeni location of the then Kilifi District to Mzee Samson Kidani and Mama Mary Sidani.
He is a holder of a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Limuru Harvest Theological School after pursuing higher education through adult literacy.
By Emmanuel Masha
