Picture credit: Bible Society / Andrew Boyd
‘This conference comes against a backdrop when our countries are bedevilled with poverty, violence and insecurity. Times are difficult. Our future is fragile. We live with fears. But in the midst of all of this, the word of the Lord says stand up and walk. Trust the word of Christ, which says this morning, “Arise up and walk.” Just take a step and Christ will do the rest. Trust him.’ – Rev Mrs Ngnintedem of the Evangelical church of Cameroon
‘Please, leaders, don’t kill the people! Don’t destroy the people! Live for them, lift them up, protect them, guard them. We see leaders in Africa whose only determination is how to destroy the people and lord it over them. No! You are to serve!’ – Former Nigerian cabinet minister Jerry Gana
‘Many see African leaders as the big chiefs, the men with the big houses. Even some Christians look at power as an opportunity to get rich quick, rather than for service. We need to think again about the African view of leadership.’ – Justice Lady Bamugemereire
‘Our foundation should be who we want to become and the values we want to characterise us. African morality must be centred on God himself. Africa desperately needs a healthy, godly, proactive church. The church must lead in developing the moral vision for the continent.’ – Dr Delanyo Adadevoh, US-based International Leadership Foundation
‘The world needs Africa as a breadbasket. Africa does not need to import all its food. Africa can grow all its food. The world needs Africa to fuel a global economy. The world needs Africa as a source of invention and technology.’ – Lord Paul Boeteng
‘To rebuild the broken walls of Africa will take the dedication of every youth. God takes the weak things of this world to confound the strong, so the place of the youth is the place of leadership. Whatever your walk of life, as Christian youth, you are the solution to your nation’s problems.’ – Wepnyu Yembe Njamnshi
‘The Bible is about making sure each and every one of you can realise the fullness of your humanity and maximise the limit of your capacity. The challenge is for you to excel and not be afraid. Dare to have a purpose. Dare to make a difference.’ – Lord Paul Boeteng
‘Let me congratulate ABLI for this initiative. Leaders don’t just happen. They are raised. There is tremendous potential here. My hope for ABLI is that God will raise good Christian leaders for many countries: leaders with vision, capacity, wisdom and the spirit of excellence.’ - Jerry Ghana, former cabinet minister, Nigeria
‘ABLI is an incredibly inspiring gathering of leaders in Africa coming together with the desire to lead as Christians. My hope is we are seeing people learning what it really means to be the salt of the world, stopping the rot in society and drawing out the goodness, so that the flourishing God intends actually happens.’ – Professor Paul Williams, CEO Bible Society
‘We look at ABLI and wonder – where are the women? Where are the women at the top? We need to have a candid conversation about women and power.’ – Perpetua Fonki, Presbyterian Church, Cameroon
Andrew Boyd
