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| CACMA Chairman, Pastor Gideon O. Obiwale |
By Rachael Oke
At the 2025 Christ Apostolic Church Men Association conference in Ikeji Arakeji, the chairman of CACMA, Pastor Gideon O. Obiwale, has made a profound point: leadership preparation is a function of faithfulness rather than perfection.
Pastor Obiwale made this explicit while addressing men during the conference's opening service on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
According to him, leadership preparation is a complex and critical task influenced by personal, relational, and systemic factors; hence, it is not about perfection but faithfulness.
Drawing from 2 Timothy 1:6, he commended the church authority for the divinely chosen theme for the year, noting that addressing leadership challenges with biblical wisdom will enable the church to equip leaders to steward their calling courageously and effectively.
He observed the wrong notions many people have toward leadership, saying, "Many equate leadership with power, status, or control, resisting the biblical model of servant leadership. Pride and ambition often overshadow the call to serve others."
Expressing his expectation for the conference, he stated that participants would have been able to do a cross-evaluation and examination of themselves by the end of the conference.
On this note, he highlighted challenges in leadership that should be addressed: resistance to humility and servanthood (Matthew 20:27; Philippians 2:3-4); fear of failure (Exodus 4:10-13; 3:12; 2 Timothy 1:7); and lack of mentorship and discipleship (1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Timothy 2:2), among other points.
He also outlined rooting leadership in identity in Christ (Ephesians 2:10), emphasizing spiritual formation (John 15:5), and building supportive communities (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) as key solutions to the identified problems of leadership.
Citing Luke 10:2, Pastor Obiwale posed a challenge, saying, "The challenges of this century are not insurmountable. Just as God empowered Moses, Nehemiah, and Paul to lead in chaotic times, He equips His people today. The church must rise with urgency, aligning with God's timeless methods: 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.' By returning to Scripture, prioritizing discipleship, and leaning on the Spirit, we will prepare leaders who shine like stars in the universe."
The 2025 CACMA conference is the 73rd annual conference of the Christ Apostolic Church Men Association.