Leaders model faith by meeting needs of the poor

Boda boda operators from Nyeri give food donations to a family with children who have physical disabilities in Gathima Village. True religion seeks to minister to rather than take advantage of the most vulnerable in society. PHOTO | FILE 

By PETER MUTUA

Posted  Monday, December 22  2014 at  17:53

Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this; to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27 NET

Early in November a local television channel aired an expose about a televangelist who, according to church adherents and associates, connived to exploit his followers by promising miracles in exchange for them sending Sh310 to his church.

Complete with simulated miracles during prayer services, this scheme aimed at the desperate poor was a sure money maker for this enterprising individual who continues to harvest from this gullible crowd.

While criticism of this pastor has flowed in fast and furious, little has been said about the steady slide by a number of religious organisations into pure commercialism under the guise of property/business development while paying little attention to the marginalised in society who are unable to take care of basic needs.

Late in November and again in December, two separate massacres in Mandera County brought to light the dangers of faith gone wrong.

In both incidences, individuals were ambushed by fighters from a fringe religious group, separated according to their beliefs and mercilessly butchered in an attempt to cause fear and despondency.

Again criticism and condemnation rang loud and clear, with little said about the hatred based on religion, ethnicity and gender that spices many conversations within religious leadership circles at the county and national levels.

Even more recently last week the world witnessed a spectacle in Kenya’s National Assembly as MPs fought quite literally tooth and nail to either propose or oppose the passing of a contentious law. At the end of the day the “honourable” members were left with torn clothes, bruises and tattered reputations.

Criticism and condemnation came from far and wide, again with little sad about the steady slide towards the use of violence as the first, and at times the only, recourse in solving differences at the family, community, political party and institutional level.

During this festive season, every Leader of Family Business needs to be at the forefront in modeling excellent faith-based leadership through meeting the needs of the vulnerable in society.

Each leader ought to conduct themselves in such a manner that they restore the general population’s hope in religion, in leadership and in the existence of compassion.

In this day when religion is blamed for every manner of exploitation, citizen apathy and acts of violence it is necessary for Leaders of Family Business to model a pure undefiled religion.

True religion seeks to minister to rather than take advantage of the most vulnerable in society. True religion seeks to restore hope in society by creating paths from poverty to self-sufficiency. Most important, true religion seeks to challenge individuals to service to humanity rather than destruction of life.

Because the vulnerable in society are the most likely to be overlooked in systems that are geared towards capitalistic gains, it takes more than corporate social responsibility programmes to minister to society’s outcasts; it takes leaders who are truly driven by compassion.

Every known religion worth following stands for the preservation rather than destruction of life.