The document discusses the importance of preparation for success and growth. It states that great leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, and Jesus all prepared thoroughly for the tasks God gave them. Preparation requires both human and divine aspects, including developing skills, learning, prayer, and allowing God to test and refine a person. Adequate preparation leads to fruitful ministry, while little preparation results in problems. Continuous growth, learning, and overcoming weaknesses is necessary to fulfill one's potential and lead others effectively.

1. By Oyewole O. Sarumi

2. “ I will study and prepare myself, I know someday my chance will come”. Abraham Lincoln. Nothing worthwhile can be achieved without serious and adequate preparation. Ask yourself honestly: “Were you prepared to be a minister of the gospel?” Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

3. How great your dreams are is determined by the greatness of your preparation. The future belongs to those who prepare for it. Preparation time is never a wasted time, it is an investment in your future. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

4. Joseph and Moses were prepared men before Pharaoh. Joshua was a prepared man to lead Israel to the Promised Land. David had been prepared in the wilderness to confront his Goliath. Paul the Apostle was thoroughly prepared for the task that God had for him. Jesus prepared the disciples for three and half years for the task He had for them. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

5. The time to prepare to win your battle is before it starts. George Foreman says: “Champions are not made in the ring, they are only crowned there”. If you take a short-cut to the ring, you won’t know how to dodge dangerous jabs. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

6. Preparation period: “This is the time of studying, learning, praying, growing, developing and equipping yourself for a task or assignment ahead.” Preparation is continuous – a once and for all training is dangerous. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

7. The ability to improve everyday entails working on yourself and building up yourself to fulfill the divine assignment given to you. Note that the ‘calling of God’ is not the ‘sending of God’. There is time lag in between. You can never shine more than the light inside of you, or be small within and hope to be big outside. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

8. Adequate and thorough preparation always have two sides: The DIVINE and HUMAN Aspects. Those who think they are waiting only for God to prepare them are making a terrible mistakes. You have a part to play, and God has His own part to play. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

9. How does God prepares a man? By: Showing you the vision and assignment. Then He proceed to test, try, prune, and purge us from all the dross, stain, ungodliness and dregs that could hinder His power to flow through us. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

10. He made us pass through FIRE of: Persecution Sufferings Trials Problems Calamities Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

11. He allow all these to happen to us in order to: Break Humble Refine Remould us to conform to His image. “ If God loves you dearly, He will hurt you deeply” – Deut.8:2-3 Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

12. God uses tribulations, persecutions, misunderstandings, misrepresentations, criticism, rejection to test and prune us for greater use. Have you recognize the hand of God’s preparation in your life? You can’t be a blessing to others if you have not pass through the preparatory process of God over and over in ministry. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

13. You are expected to work on yourself. You have a part to play in your progress. The greatest battle you have to fight is against your own flaws and failures. If you fail to do this on regular basis, you won’t be able to attain the highest peak in life. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

14. Don’t down grade or deride: Schooling Learning Studying Self improvement. “ Holy Spirit can’t do everything for you, you have a serious part to play in fulfilling your potentials.” Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

15. Little, inadequate or little preparation for ministry and leadership always results in: Shallow and fickle lifestyles. Charisma without character. Inability to handle people and growth. Confusion and bewilderment in ministry. Mistakes that ruin and stagnate work. Decline and stagnation in ministry. Ignorance of what to do in difficult situations. Inability to experience God’s move. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

16. The concept of personal growth means: Self improvement Developing yourself Character building Genuine preparation Attitudinal changes Breaking bad habits Overcoming weaknesses Lifting up yourself Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

17. Effective leader of men grow personally. PG is the price of leadership. If you fail to grow personally, you will soon forfeit your leadership. You can pay the price in lump sum, it gradually and instalmentally. Your leadership stops when your personal growth stops. To grow an organization, first grow the leaders. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

18. Every one has limitations in life. It is not a crime to have limits over your life, but it is a crime not to lift off those limits. Different people has differing limits Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

19. Lack of proper education. Opposition and persecutions. Lack of adequate resources. Personal weaknesses and sinfulness. Character flaws and weaknesses. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

20. Who is a resourceful minister? He/she is: Relevant. Creative. Informative. Pro-active in handling situations/providing a way out. Being marketable Having a learning spirit. Being fresh and refreshing always. Updating of yourself. Growing and improving in the way things are done. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

21. Your church will not grow beyond the capability, ability and capacity of her leaders. There are some wrong mindsets by leaders on personal growth. 1. WEALTH: Wealth is not a good sign of growth. You can be wealthy and be miserable. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

22. SPECIAL FEELING: Feeling is not stable, you can feel good and be deceptive. Have godly disposition that will help you sift through life. POWER & AUTHORITY POSITION & TITLE CONNECTION & RELATIONSHIP ANOINTING SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT GIFTS AND TALENTS EXPERIENCE AND AGE Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

23. Lack of definite vision. Self contentment Resistance to change Lack of courage and determination. Moving with wrong people Playing today to pay tomorrow. “ The only person who can stop your growth is you”. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

24. The process of daily growth must come from the individual. You must keep at it until God can really flow unhindered, unrestricted and uncontaminated through us and in us. In the effort to be a clean and clear channel of God’s blessing to others, we must focus on these five areas continuously: Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

25. SPIRITUAL MATURITY – IIPet.3:18 EMOTIONAL MATURITY –ICor.9:27 MENTAL MATURITY – Lk.2:40,52. SOCIAL MATURITY COMMUNICATION MATURITY Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

26. The truth about these trees are: They grow all season of life Grow extremely old They keep growing until they die in good old age. This is the kind of growth God expected from you. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

27. When Adam was growing, he had a deep communion with God, and enjoyed overwhelming presence. When Adam stops growing, he listened to the wrong counsel of his wife and went into sin, thereby selling his descendants into slavery of sin. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

28. When Noah was growing, he walked with the Lord and was saved from the flood. When Noah stopped growing, he went back and became a drunkard and died regretfully. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

29. When Abraham was growing, he believed God and went out in faith. When Abraham stopped growing, he doubted, rationalize God and went back into Egypt. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

30. When Moses was growing, he talked with God face to face and was the meekest person on earth. When Moses stopped growing, he got angry and smote the rock twice and could not get to the Promised land. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

31. You cannot rise higher than your life will allow. Your output in life is determine by the input of your life – Dr. Akin-John. Let’s look at what your life should be: Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

32. This encapsulates your inner self, and who you really are. Equip your inner self with the Word of God daily and good Christian books. Have a positive outlook to life and learn to encourage yourself. You cannot live wrong and expect to lead right. Your life is your ministry. Pro.4:23. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

33. This is what you do with yourself when nobody is watching you. Self discipline is the law of life, while self indulgence is the law of death. Don’t abuse your body for sinful purpose. Stop over-sleeping & over-reacting. Discipline yourself to pray and study Stop procrastination – the theft of life. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

34. You cannot rise higher than your prayer life. You only go forward on your knees as a Christian. Fight for your prayer life by praying for devil will oppose and discourage you. Tiredness, over-working, TV, films, eating, weariness, activities, meetings will conspire to kill your prayer life. You cannot stumble on your knees, for as you kneel before God, you can stand before men. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

35. This entails your relationship with God. The best way to show that you love God is to serve and obey Him always. John 14:23. Align your life with the Word of God, never displease Him, hate what He hates etc. Cultivate the fruit of the Spirit – Gal.5:22-23. You can become a life giving leader when you continually receive fresh inflow of life in the Spirit. John 6:63. Your ministry can’t go up if you’re down in carnality. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

36. This is perception that people have about you and the image you’re projecting. You image determines the acceptance or otherwise of your person and message. Reputation is what people know you for, but character is who you really are. Don’t be extravagant, avoid show-off, be simple and straight forward. Phil.4:5. Dress well, not being fashion conscious, but good looking. Be law abiding and be a good citizen. Maintain integrity and stand by your word always. Be broad minded and network with people. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

37. This is how you’re equipping yourself for life and living. To lead, you must learn, to stop learning is to start leaning. Your marketability is dependent on your self – equipment. Uninformed and stale leader shall be rejected. Study and re-study over and over, do topical and exegesis and word by word study of the Word. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

38. A little learning intoxicates the brain. The more you know, the more you will know that you don’t know as you should know. Attend quality seminars and conferences not to speak but to listen and learn new things. Take time to get tapes, CD and listen to them. Reading makes a full man, but writing makes a complete man. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

39. This has to do with your health for your health is your life. If you use your health searching for wealth, you will use the wealth to search for health. Be health conscious, eat balanced diet, do regular exercise. Stop over working your body, it is possible to die prematurely. When your health is gone, your life and ministry is gone. Some focus on their secular work and get tired, and neglect their ministry work. This is evil. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

40. A young Scottish preacher named, Robert Murray Mchene, who entered ministry at 25 before he died at 29 lamented: “ God gave me a horse and a message, now I have killed the horse and I could not deliver the message”. Let’s stop killing our horses (your body). Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

41. This is what you engaged in for livelihood. Let your business be your ministry where God can seen by people you interact with. Basic aim of your business is not to make gain, profit or money, but to meet a need and add value to others. Honesty and transparency must be your virtues. Don’t steal time, treasures and benefits of others if you work for them. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

42. Work to earn your pay, and pay others if you an employer. Make money, save money, give money to God’s work and others. Pay your tithes and offerings to God. Pay your debt, tax and bills regularly. Stop eating with your ten fingers, learn to invest, but cut your coat according to your cloth. You won’t get money if you don’t work even if you pray till tomorrow. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

43. This concerns the quality of your home. Your impact as leaders would be determined by the state and quality of your home. Your home is next after God, not ministry, don’t neglect your spouse and kids. Create time to play, pray and plan with your family. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

44. Find time to contribute to your home growth, be responsible. Keep the fire of your home burning, it will help fan your ministry. If you have no home, you don’t have a ministry. Those who neglect their home, neglect their peace and progress in life and ministry. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

45. “ Growth is the opportunity to be the person God wants you to be”. Akin-Jimoh. The following factors will help your growth in no small measure if you would take to them. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

46. Goals gives you something concrete to work and focus on. It helps focus attention on our purpose. “ The world stand aside to let him pass, who knows where he is going” – Ralph W. Emerson You can set goals unless you have a vision and purpose from the Lord. Write your goals, daily pursue them, and your growth will be visible for all to see. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

47. All leaders must have a learning spirit, for this will enhance their growth. You need a LS to learn from old or young. Go after good materials and resources to gain more insight in life. You can go deeper and taller in life/ministry with this spirit. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

48. Facing challenges is an opportunity to move up and do the impossible. Challenges helps to conquer fears and bring the best out in you. Challenges comes in various forms: families, business, temptation, finance, difficult people or situations. Don’t run away from them, face them and you will grow. Unless you do something beyond what you’ve already mastered, you’ll never grow. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

49. There are 3 kinds of ministers namely: a. Those that can speak but can’t write. b. Those that can write but can’t speak well. c. Those that can both speak and write well. The 1 st two have something missing in their personal life, and require great and serious effort and work to attain the level of (c). Learn to write, for it pickle your brain and helps to organize ones thought. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

50. Reading makes a full man, but writing makes a complete man. Learn to write and well too, kick and prod yourself to write, get a teacher to assist you. Writing helps you to be logical, organized, and systematic. It helps you think through your teachings and to become refined and well polished. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

51. Life is a process of solving problems, & true leadership is the capacity to confront and solve problems. Every problem you solve endear men to you and to trust you. Problems comes in various ways and shows up un-invitedly. You can’t grow without solving problems, for it how you handle problems that determine your continuous growth or not. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

52. Prayer gives you inner strength, energy and power to grow up and grow more. You must be bigger within than without and only prayer can help you. The more a leader prays, the better he becomes. Let your heart first go to God before you take action or speak on any issue. Pray regularly – morning, afternoon, night. Genuine maturity and growth comes from sincere and persistent prayer life. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

53. “ You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed. He that has prayed well has lived well” – John Wesley. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

54. Training is a very strong factor in your personal development. You need to be trained and continuous training to remain standing in leadership position. Pursue theological, theoretical and structural training. Don’t neglect practical, relevant, formal, informal and non-formal training. Refuse to be an educated illiterates in your church. Training and horning your skills helps your growth, confidence and effectiveness. Pro.9:9,14. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

55. This is one of the best ways to learn those things that are purposeful in life. It exposes you to different people, culture, views, perceptions and new ways of doing things. Helps to mellow you down and bring tolerance in to your life. You can learn new language, and be committed to God and helping others. Traveling grows you, balance you and refines you. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

56. Reading is important if you want to grow, develop and improve yourself. Your reading must be deep and wide, not occasional or ceremonial. Read books, journals, magazines and other daily publications to help your growth. Insights and information are distilled from focus readings. Use most idle time to read and learn new things. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

57. Self discipline is what will help you to do all that we have discussed so far. When stretching stops, your growth stops. You must discipline yourself to seek improvement in the areas you’re weak. He that will not voluntarily discipline himself will have to submit to the discipline of the enemy. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

58. “ Your potential is what God gave to you, what you do with it is what you give back to God”. John Maxwell. Growth is a change, if you don’t change, you don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we are not really living. Growth is also a choice. Don’t think of changing the world/church, think of changing yourself, and your world/church will change. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

59. Choose a life of Growth. Start Growing today. Be teachable. Focus on self-development, not self fulfillment Don’t be satisfied with your current accomplishment. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

60. Concentrate on few areas of specialization. Develop a plan of Growth. Learn something new everyday. Pay the price. Find a way to apply what you have learn Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

61. “ If you must start, don’t stop, if you must stop, don’t start” Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

62. “ No rule will work, if you don’t and nobody can improve your lot, if you yourself do not care” Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

63. “ When I am green, I am growing, and when I am ripe, I am rotten”. Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l

64. Psa. 92:12-14 12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, (NKJV). Friday, February 4, 2011 Primacy Consulting Int'l