Joel Kwesi Baidoo

It takes the persistent sowing of the seeds of good deeds in order to reap a bountiful harvest of a positive change. It's natural to be tempted to give up after trying for a while and seeing no fruits of your efforts. We are also tempted to throw in the towel when we are beset with seeming failure at our first few attempts. Beloved, just know that change takes time and persistence to be fashioned. You will reap the fruit of your labour IF YOU DO NOT GIVE UP! Don't stop doing what you do. Don't stop being who you are. A positive change may be emerging from your blind side. Don't stop! Press on! Press hard! "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

In our world today, it's easy for us to ignore the needs of the people around us and just focus on our own, selfish ambitions and interests. The reality however is, this selfish mindset shrinks our worth and deprives us of a fulfilling life. It's when we look beyond ourselves, get moved by the needs and welfare and potential joy of others that we find our passion for life, our true calling. Our purpose is for others, not ourselves. The reason for our existence is for the benefit of the world around us. We therefore find true meaning in waking up to this reality. Do what you can to help someone get better; provide that support that can keep somebody going; encourage the faint-hearted; help someone bounce back after failure or misery; help someone to succeed. Someone may just need you! "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the oth...

Mean it or not, your actions and inactions are affecting the next generation either positively or negatively. As the actions of our first parents, Adam and Eve, affected the entire human race, so are ours impacting the future generations. It was Martin Luther King Jr who once said that, "What affects one directly affects all indirectly". That is because our lives on this earth are interwoven, and what one generation does has a spill over effect on the next. We must take conscious steps to make a direct positive impact on our generation, and in so doing posterity will be blessed. You are already affecting generations. Make it intentional. Make it positive.

"There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe."(John 1:6-7) John knew his place and his calling. He knew he was not the light but a witness. He didn't allow anyone to talk him into pretending to be something he was not. If we will also wait upon God for a revelation of our true calling, the reason behind our commissioning into this world, there will be greater progress and less greed and competition in the body of Christ. Let's bear in mind that we will be judged individually in accordance with what God intended as to be and do rather than what others expected of us or what we were able to pretend to be. God will not take delight in we "successfully" accomplishing what He never asked us to do. Knowing your calling is crucial to pleasing the Lord. Know your place! 

GOD'S HOLY OIL IS FOR HIS SERVANTS  "I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him." (Psalm 89:20) If He found, does that mean He searched? Could it be that God is searching for people He could call His servants? If God should search today, can He refer to us as His servants? God specially anoints people He finds to be His servants. There are peculiar characteristics of God's servants. 1. Their ultimate goal is to please God. They are therefore not men-pleasers. Paul is an example. "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Gal 1:10) 2. Servants of God are more concerned about the service they ought to render than the honor they deserve to receive. Jesus offers Himself as an example. "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for m...

We always remember our leaders who made a lasting impact in our lives. Their input has contributed to who we are today, and we are forever grateful to them. Their impact in our lives is their legacy. 5 Ways to make a lasting impact as a leader: 1. Build people Jesus built the 12 disciples to be able to do what He did. It is better to have many heroes around you than to be the only hero. 2. Be an example Paul was an example to Timothy. A leader must make every effort to live above reproach, thereby being a positive example and an inspiration to his followers. 3. Have no selfish ambitions Selfish ambitions make you an opportunist and not a leader. After a while, your followers will drift away when they sense your self-centeredness. 4. Spend time with followers. Be near. You need to draw near to people to impact them. 5. Create and build structures that function with or without you. Jesus' ministry on earth lasted only three and a half years but made the great...

You know how we admire our leaders who are deep in their knowledge and convictions. Such leaders naturally have our respect and easily influence us. We highly esteem their words and actions and constantly yearn to tap into their great wealth of wisdom. They prove to us that knowledge is both attractive and impressive. These leaders exude a pervading authority characterised by an unforced aura of confidence. They practically fulfill the English saying that, "Authority flows from the man who knows." Since what they know makes them bold, we are simply drawn to the beauty of that boldness. We now love them, we admire them, we respect them, and we follow them. An extensive inquest reveals that these leaders did not arrive at this depth overnight; they paid a dear price. They convinced themselves that the reward was worth the cost. After they made the immoderate sacrifice, we now celebrate and relish their resultant depth. Part of the price they paid was many hours of habit...

Many people are not bold enough to decide to physically end their lives, but they do it in essence. The essential suicide is where you kill yourself while you still live. Sometimes, we spear our own dreams and aspirations in the heart. We subtract ourselves from everything that happens around us. We practically shut close the doors of opportunities in our lives and avoid them altogether. We thereafter only exist without living. We are seen but not felt. We are heard but not experienced. Our lives diminish into a state of no value. Neither our presence nor absence make any difference. This is what I call the essential suicide. No. Don't do it! There's a great potential in you waiting desperately to be expressed to the benefit of the world. The tools with which we commit the essential suicide are fear and low self esteem. Shed them off! Discard them and live life. Step out of the self-made shell and serve the world with your divine gift. Let everyday count. Let every mo...

We love those who believe in us! And the fact is, we work better and produce more results when we work under a leader who believes in our potential and capabilities. We obey such leaders gladly and they bring out the best in us. At the end, we both benefit: we are able to help them accomplish their mission and they help us unearth our great potential. I recently had a new boss who made a statement to me that I can hardly forget for the rest of my life. She said to me after my second meeting with her: "Joel, you are so knowledgeable. " To be frank, my head almost swell because I was hearing it from my boss. But that wasn't the main effect of her statement. The main effect of her statement was that I found myself henceforth (maybe subconsciously) making it a point to live up to her faith in me. This made me more confident with my work and I realized I was increasing in productivity. This is what confidence in your followers can do to them. Good leaders genuinely no...

The Principle of Inspection Scripture is replete with several leadership principles which when discovered and applied will lead to the success of leadership in all endeavors. Today, I like to share something little on the need to inspect the work as a leader. A good leader inspects the work. "Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them." (Exodus 39:43) 5 Reasons why you must inspect the work: 1. God inspected his own work and saw that it was good. "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day." (Gen 1:31) We must imitate God's wisdom and our leadership will be blessed. We must hold ourselves accountable first by inspecting our own work. Is your work good before your own eyes as a leader? 2. God does not leave any work uninspected. That's why every man will give an account of his life after death. "And as ...

BE STRONG AGAINST OPPOSITION Nehemiah 4 In Nehemiah 4, we see an interesting narration of how Nehemiah who had a burning and divine desire to do the work of God by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was cruelly and bitterly opposed. This is a great revelation of what happens spiritually in the lives of leaders who attempt to do anything for God. "When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews."(Neh 4:1) As leaders, we must bear in mind that whenever we attempt to do the will of God in building the church we will face great opposition which can come in several ways including unfounded criticisms and even mockery. This is why Christian leaders are always admonished to be strong. Notice how many times God told Joshua to be strong when he took over from Moses.  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with ...

“USE YOUR HEAD” AND GET AHEAD The position of the head is not merely for aesthetic reasons. Its position is a clear message: it’s on top of your body so that if you use it adequately, you should be on top of your life. 5 Ways to Use Your Head to Get Ahead: 1.      Think to Plan: Most people just proceed to embark on important endeavors without properly planning ahead first. Can you imagine a pilot jumping into his seat and just flying the plane without a prior plan of where he’s going to land and whether there’s enough fuel to travel that far? This is a good idea of how calamitous an unplanned life is. Planning must be your first step in every venture. 2.     Think to Create: We must not be content with the things that already exist around us. We must think to know what new thing needs to be introduced to a process or an undertaking in our environment. What new things have you introduced to the activities that go on around you? It’s time to...