February 2024

Mr. Alisad Banda is the Clinic Administrator for the Lutheran Mission Rural Health Centre, at Mwembezhi, Zambia. He has recently begun teaching Bible studies for our staff at the clinic. Below is part of a recent study on the subject of Servant Leadership.

Servant leadership is an approach to leadership where the leader puts the needs of others before their desires and acts as a servant first. Unfortunately, many overlook this idea today, where leadership equates with power and authority. However, Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of true leadership, and His life and teachings demonstrate how important it is to lead with love, compassion, and a servant’s heart. This is a lesson Jesus had to teach his own disciples. In Mark 9,35 Jesus changed the idea of leadership from one being who is served to one who serves, “ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Organizations, including churches, often miss their mission because of people trying hard to gain greatness within that organization. It is not a bad idea to attain a position of high status but, then how do we make use of that status? The world experiences difficulties such as war, low productivity, bad leadership etc… often because leaders feel they are greater than others. I do agree that high academic qualification, and positions of influence can be a good thing to attain, if it is used rightly and to the glory of God especially with the
understanding that gifts of life for an individual are but a blessing to the world and people are gifted to be a blessing to others and these gifts need to be used to serve others. Jesus Christ demonstrated that through His death on the cross. Jesus Christ encourages His disciples today to make good use of their God given talents to benefit others in the family, community, nation and the world.

Servant leadership was actively practiced by Jesus Christ, and this was witnessed by his first disciples in the example of Jesus washing their feet. God is looking for men and women who will play their godly role in building up others, to be available for the needy and help others who are found in situations that require our help. As health workers, be it at the Lutheran Mission Rural Health Center (Mwembezhi) in Zambia or elsewhere, what plans have you purposely set for this year in order to serve the people that God will bring before you? It is easy to lord it over the patient/client who comes to us seeking help. Are you going to put your status before service or are you going to reflect Jesus Christ? In most cases people who visit the clinic have a physical problem and this provides a very good opportunity to show kindness and humility and speak the word of God to such individuals. Jesus Christ warns in Matthew 20:26-28 “It shall not be so among you. But
whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Finally, as individuals God has gifted us differently for His Glory and to prepare His Kingdom using such gifts. It would be a good thing to use such a gift to spread the word of God to all parts of the world.

Thank you for your time.
Alisad Banda
Clinic Administrator- Zambia