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By Isaiah-Phillips Akintola

The Centrality of Vision in Leadership
The concept of vision and leadership frequently arises in contemporary leadership discussions. However, it is important to recognize that vision is not merely a popular topic or a collection of good ideas. Instead, vision is a God-given “GPS,” divinely assigned to guide and direct us toward His intended purpose, especially in relation to the specific assignments He commissions us to fulfill.

To fully comprehend and achieve what God has designed for us, it is essential to possess clear spiritual understanding and insight into what is not only required but also the values and principle of establishing and fulfilling it. This depth of understanding goes far beyond having a compelling idea; it demands discernment of God’s intentions and directives for our lives and leadership roles. In other words, vision can be defined as a heavenly calling for an earthly assignment. It is a divinely inspired mandate that provides direction, clarity, and purpose, ensuring that our actions and leadership efforts align with God’s ordained intentions.

Vision stands as the cornerstone of enduring leadership. It acts as the backbone for creating leadership capacity that is resilient and effective over time. In contexts where inequality is prevalent and cultures are continually evolving, vision provides a steady, guiding force. This clarity of purpose equips leaders to address challenges head-on, ensuring that their direction is not dictated by fleeting circumstances but is anchored in a consistent and meaningful mandate.

Through the articulation and pursuit of a well-defined vision, leaders are able to rise above the limitations of the present environment. Rather than being swayed by temporary obstacles or short-term pressures, visionary leadership focuses on strategic, long-term outcomes. This approach enables leaders to drive transformation that is both lasting and impactful, positioning their organisations and communities to achieve progressive, meaningful change despite the complexities they may face.

Vision-driven leadership does not merely react to current conditions; rather, it establishes a strategic foundation that supports sustained growth and progress. By anchoring leadership in a strong visionary mandate, leaders are equipped to implement strategies that address the complexities of unequal environments and evolving cultures, ensuring that their efforts contribute to the overall advancement and betterment of society.

God’s Divine Economy
In the divine order of kingdom economy, God’s intended purpose is for His church to serve as a vital interface for nation building, reform, and transformation. The church is not meant to exist in isolation or solely for its own benefit. Instead, it is uniquely designed to be a guiding light and preserving salt to the earth. This identity calls the church to take an active, relevant role in society, going beyond the limited, myopic ideology of what many terms spirituality to address the broader needs of the world.
Our position as the church, therefore, must be one of continual engagement in the preservation, development, transformation, and advancement of society. We are called to speak into the life of the nation, influencing and shaping it according to God’s counsel. The church’s mandate includes advocating for righteousness, justice, equity, and holistic transformational development within the various sphere of society. In this way, the church fulfills its God-given role as both a moral compass and a catalyst for positive change, ensuring that its presence contributes meaningfully to the progress of society as a whole.

Foundations for Church and Nation Building
Having established this clear understanding of the essence of the Church of the Lord, it becomes apparent that the concept of church and nation building shares a critical commonality regarding foundational principles and values. Both domains require a commitment to long-term development and visionary leadership. The growth and advancement of a nation, much like the church, cannot be approached as an immediate or short-term undertaking; rather, it is a continuous process that extends far beyond the lifespan of any single leader or generation.

When we recognise that the mandates entrusted to both the church and the nation are, by their very nature, enduring, our approach to building is fundamentally transformed and deliberate in engagement. This understanding compels us to therefore, move beyond temporary, superficial fixes or the pursuit of short-term gains. Instead, it demands that we give priority to the establishment of systems structures and processes designed to last, to regulate, and to provide clarity and stability through changing times and leadership transitions.

System establishment, in this context, involves the deliberate construction of enduring frameworks that govern how leadership interacts and engages within the broader journey of development and transformation. This means that any framework or structure proposed to define the vision of the church or the nation must be assessed according to standards that transcend individual personalities or the preferences of current leaders. In other words, the guiding systems we create must be robust and principled enough to outlast specific leaders, ensuring that the original vision and values remain intact and effective for generations to come.

A critical aspect of building both the church (ecclesia) and the nation lies in how we approach the laying of foundations, the design of frameworks, and the establishment of structures. These processes must be anchored in the principle of continuity and permanence. It is not enough for frameworks to simply address the immediate circumstances or cater to the preferences of current leadership. Instead, they must be carefully constructed to endure through time, remaining effective even as seasons and leaders inevitably change.

When we fully embrace this perspective, it transforms the entire approach to development impacting everything from long-term strategic planning to the practicalities of daily operations. The systems, policies, culture, and structures we put in place for both the church and the nation should be robust and resilient, capable of withstanding shifting trending contexts, cultures, and leadership transitions. In doing so, these frameworks ensure that the original visionary mandate remains at the centre, continuing to guide and shape future generations regardless of who occupies positions of authority.

A Critical Juncture for the Church and Nation
Right now, both the church and the nation stand at a critical junction. This pivotal moment has arisen because the church has lost sight of its core visionary assignment as salt and light, having allowed itself to be largely influenced and overtaken by ideological values and cultural trends that stand in direct contradiction to the intention of heaven. As a result, the church’s focus has shifted away from its divine mandate, leading to a state of uncertainty and vulnerability.

In these circumstances, there is an urgent and desperate need for clear prophetic insight and foresight that will guide us navigate the challenges and complexities of this moment into which we have been thrust. The times we are living in are undeniably critical; anyone, regardless of their perspective, would agree that we are facing unprecedented challenges. This reality holds true whether we choose to accept or reject it, or even whether we are fully aware of it or not.

As obvious as it is, church and the nations find themselves in a profound state of crisis. The situation can be likened to a patient in the intensive care unit (ICU), in critical condition, and in need of urgent, intensive care to revive that which is on the verge of perishing. Without deliberate and immediate intervention, the very essence and life of both the church and the nation are at risk of being lost.

Certain ideologies about leadership have been promoted as the solution for what the church and the nation need. But these very ideologies have done tremendous damage and continue to cause harm through division, segregation, and marginalization.

I want to expand on this further because this is critical to understand. God’s intention has always been to unite. Wherever we find division, wherever we find the works of separation and fragmentation, wherever we find all kinds of things that are not a reflection of divine counsel, we can know with certainty that we are not seeing the heart of God at work. The Bible tells us clearly that the enemy has come to steal, to kill, and to destroy. And one of the primary ways the enemy accomplishes this destructive work is through the spirit of divisiveness.

Division is not the nature of God. It is not the nature of the church. Neither should it be the innate nature of nation building. To truly have a development productive nation, you must find unity. You must discover and cultivate the things that unite people together. But when the rhetoric coming from leadership centres around division and segregation, when the language is constantly about separating people into opposing camps, when the focus is on what makes us different rather than what brings us together, that is a massive warning sign. Any leader who is in a position of leadership and authority but whose message and methods create division is not representing the heart and intention of heaven.

This kind of divisive leadership may gain short-term political wins. It may mobilize a base. It may create passionate followers. But it fundamentally undermines the work that God desires to accomplish in both the church and the nation. It tears at the very fabric that holds communities together. It destroys trust, confidence, and dignity. It turns neighbours into enemies. It transforms healthy disagreement into toxic hostility. Any ideological approach that seeks to divide, that capitalizes on segregation, that thrives on separating people into camps, is certainly not representing the heart and intention of heaven.

The Nature of True Leadership in Times of Crisis
We’ve reached a point of departure where we must have clear, directive understanding of where we are and where we need to go. Without this clarity, we risk becoming not only trapped by this moment but actually falling back into the very things we should have overcome. Having the prophetic sight and wisdom to see beyond the confusion and chaos of the current season is absolutely necessary. It’s what will guarantee our movement toward the next phase of kingdom emphasis, transition, and manifestation.

These critical moments we’re experiencing didn’t appear overnight. They’re often the manifestation of long-term issues, tensions, and requirements that have been building for years. What we see erupting now is frequently the impact of things that have been brewing underneath the surface, issues that required engagement and attention but were neglected.

The current season of crisis necessitates leadership of exceptional character quality and discernment. It is essential to have leaders who possess both a keen understanding of present circumstances and a comprehensive grasp of historical context, enabling them to guide individuals and communities toward the point of clarity, innovation, and development.

The significant disagreements and divisions that have emerged in recent months are indicative of longstanding issues within the frameworks of both political and religious understanding of dealing with human needs particularly amongst the youths who feels disconnected and disenfranchised from mainstream economy. Unfortunately, these challenges have not yet received adequate attention or management, resulting in a situation where they have now escalated to a critical point requiring urgent and effective resolution.

Therefore, true leadership often emerges most clearly during periods of profound crisis and uncertainty, when many are unsure of how to respond or engage with the challenges at hand. In such pivotal moments, a different calibre and orientation of leadership is required—one that is distinct in both quality and focus.

There is an urgent need for leaders who possess not only the capacity and competence but also the necessary skills to unite and transform people toward a common purpose. Such leaders are marked by an advanced understanding of the purposes of God, coupled with the practical ability to translate this understanding into effective and workable principles that can be applied within their communities. This kind of leadership is exemplified in the life and actions of David, whose ability to unify and lead was rooted in both spiritual insight and practical wisdom.

Understanding the Roots of Division in Leadership
A critical framework for understanding the sharp divisions present in contemporary leadership challenges, both locally and globally, centres on the issue of rejection. The widespread divisions witnessed in many nations today are frequently rooted in the manifestation of rejection. Rejection acts as a potent force that shapes narratives and dynamics, affecting individuals, societies, and entire nations.

When those in leadership positions are influenced by the pain of rejection, it often reveals deep-seated insecurity and dysfunctional behavioural pattern. This insecurity can, in turn, give rise to various outward behaviours that may superficially appear as competent leadership. However, closer examination often reveals that these actions are driven not by genuine leadership qualities, but by unresolved bitterness at their root.

When one further study carefully the root cause of those decisions and ideas that are presented as leadership initiatives, you begin to realize that indeed they are connected to the root of bitterness designed to sabotage the effort of others. This is exactly what we see in the life of someone like King Saul. The moment God rejected King Saul and accepted David as his replacement, Saul made David his enemy. From that point forward, we begin to see the manifestation of rejection and insecurity in the life of Saul, who made it his mission to create a wall between his house and the house of David.

If you ask me, this is exactly what I see today manifesting in nations as it relates to the concept of leadership. Regardless of the position of leadership a person might be given, if that person has not dealt with the spirit of rejection and insecurity, that leadership becomes a weapon to control, to manipulate, to intimidate, and to destroy what is designed to empower and unite society.

As you further study this concept of rejection in scripture, particularly in First Samuel and Second Samuel, you begin to see how the spirit of rejection moved from the life of King Saul even to his general by the name of Abner. Abner made it a point of duty to destroy everything within the house of David, even though he claimed to be an ally of David. Rejection is a very powerful spirit that can destroy anything that stands in the way of its desire and agenda.

David was able to bring together both the house of Saul and his own followers into a place of agreement, purpose, and understanding regarding the overarching visionary intention of God for the nation of Israel. The character values and maturity we see exhibited in David after he took over the kingship is something we need to carefully examine and study, particularly in this period, if we’re going to move into the next phase of advancement in God’s prophetic counsel for the nations and especially for the body of Christ.

Leadership that is immature, that seeks revenge, that looks for praise and applause, that wants to retaliate against enemies, is not the kind of leadership required to manage this moment. This time we’re living in globally requires men and women who have mature spiritual understanding of how to unite, how to build, how to empower, how to enrich others. But it also requires leaders who know how to judge that which is evil with righteousness. That is what’s needed in this season and in this spirit.

So, when we talk about managing the moment, managing the current crisis, it requires a different level of leadership ability and competence. A leader who is insecure, afraid, self-focused, and self-centered will only create more division, segregation, and marginalization within their citizens and community.

Let me be clear about what I’m emphasizing here. This is not about compromising with what is wrong. This is not about giving in to weakness or to the lies of the enemy. Rather, I’m suggesting and advocating that we need a different quality of leadership, one that does not give in to compromise or to the doctrines of the enemy but instead operates in righteousness. This kind of leadership allows what the Spirit of God wants to do within the nations to advance toward that point where God’s counsel becomes fulfilled.

To me, this is exactly what we find in leaders like David and Joseph. The leadership that heaven endorses is leadership that builds bridges, not walls between people. It’s leadership that finds common ground while still maintaining righteousness. It’s leadership that can hold together people of different backgrounds, nationalities, perspectives, and experiences under a shared vision and purpose. It’s leadership that doesn’t exploit fears and insecurities but instead calls people to their highest potential.
We must be discerning enough to recognize when leadership, regardless of how it presents itself or what spiritual language it uses, is actually working against the purposes of God by sowing seeds of division, discord, and separation. That kind of leadership, no matter how popular or successful it appears in the moment, is not from God and will not produce the fruit that endures into the next season.

Essential Qualities for Leadership in Times of Crisis:

The Deficiency of Immature Leadership
Leadership that is immature is characterised by actions driven by revenge, a desire for personal praise and applause, and a tendency to retaliate against perceived enemies. Such approaches are inadequate for addressing the pressing issues of our time and for the future ahead. In the current global climate, what is needed are leaders with mature spiritual insight, individuals who understand how to unite communities, build resilient structures, empower others, and enrich lives.

Judging Evil with Righteousness
Beyond the ability to foster unity and empowerment, true leaders must also possess the discernment and courage to judge and confront evil with righteousness. This season calls for leadership that is deeply rooted in ethical and moral clarity, guiding communities with integrity and justice.

The Impact of Leadership Competence
Effectively navigating crisis demands a higher level of leadership competence and ability. Leaders who are plagued by insecurity, fearfulness, and self-centeredness will inevitably perpetuate division, segregation, and marginalisation within their communities. Such leadership cannot bring healing or unity.

Uncompromising Righteousness
It is important to clarify that advocating for a new quality of leadership does not mean compromising with wrongdoing or yielding to weakness and deception. The call is for a leadership model that firmly rejects compromise with evil doctrines and instead operates from a foundation of righteousness. This approach allows the Spirit of God to advance His purposes within nations, moving them closer to the fulfilment of divine counsel.

Examples of Endorsed Leadership
Leaders like David and Joseph exemplify this heaven-endorsed leadership. Their legacy is one of building bridges rather than erecting walls between people. They found common ground while upholding righteousness and brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences under a shared vision and purpose. Their leadership did not exploit fear or insecurity; instead, it inspired people to reach their highest potential. It is crucial to develop discernment to recognise when leadership, regardless of its outward presentation or the spiritual language it employs, is actually undermining the purposes of God by sowing division, discord, and separation. Such leadership, even if it enjoys temporary popularity or success, is not of God and will not yield enduring fruit for the future.