Biblical Leadership in the 21st Century for the Church of Karnataka

INTRODUCTION

Church of Karnataka (COK) begun in the 14th century. Still its growth is very low

and classified as one of the least evangelized places in the world. Bangalore, the

capital city of the State is known for the establishment of many mission organizations.

Their focus is only the urban part of Bangalore and other States. The presence of

mission is very much active in Bangalore Urban. Therefore, this paper is extremely

addressed to whole State except Bangalore Urban. In the past Church failed to bring

an impact upon the people with the gospel. The reasons could be several, but one of

them is certainly the lack of biblical modal leadership. Present condition of the church

reveals this fact. This paper addresses the crisis and the issue of leadership and the

need of biblical leadership with the context oriented qualities in the church. The need

of the hour in the COK is men and women with biblical as well as contextual qualities.

PRESENT CONDITION OF THE CHRUCH OF KARNATAKA

Present Condition of the Church Ministry: Karnataka is one of the Southern State of

India. The beginning of the Church of Karnataka goes back to 1325 when Dominican

Missionaries started the work. Only in 19th century several Protestant Missions

undertook the work in Karnataka.1 From then on church got its wings to grow slowly.

A bird's eye view of where Karnataka stands today as mission development is

concerned could be seen below. It has twenty seven districts, 175 Taluks and 32,599

Villages. With around 53 million people, Hindu population with 85.45% is majority

while Muslims with 11.64% stands second. Christians officially known to be 1.9%. 2

Out of 175 Taluks, twenty two do not have a single church. Population of these Taluks

ranges from 150,000 to 450,000. Out of 32,599 villages more than 31,000 villages do

not have a single church. Around 800 villages have more than 5000 people in each

1
Joshua Pillai, Karnartaka Mission Challenge (Chenni: Down Church and Mission Service, 2002), 18.
2
Mohan C. Lazarus, My Prayer Book (Bangalore: Jesus Redeems Publishers 2005), 7.

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while more than 15,000 villages each one consists of more than 1000 people. 3 The

evangelical churches that are existing in the state are easily countable. The majority

is, Independent Pentecostal Churches. The woeful fact is, two third of the churches

are found in Bangalore, Kolar and Dakshnkannada (Mangalore) districts and rest is

divided among the remaining 24 districts. 4

Hindu fanatical groups are creating multiple problems and obstacles to

Christian mission. On 17th July 2006 three Christian brothers were put into prison in

Shimoga district. In Chikmagalore a brother was thrown out of the family and village. A

pastor was threatened by Hindu organizations in Davangere district. Recently a

protest march was taken out against the conversion and Christianity, slogans were

raised against Christianity.5 This is the small picture of the Church of Karnataka and its

mission. Unreachedness of Karnataka is crystal clear.

Present Condition of the Church Leadership: The COK reflects its leadership activity

in its growth. Except urban Bangalore in the whole State, there is only one church

exists with more than 1000 believers. Rest of the churches have very less members.

The reason is, the crisis of effective Biblical leaders in the church. Joshua Pillai quotes

what George Barma says, “The future just does not happen, it is created by visionary

leaders.”6 The lack of visionary leaders and untrained leadership affected the church

growth. As it was mentioned the majority of the churches are Pentecostal Churches.

These church leaders are theologically not trained and some even lack the secular

education. These leaders, pastors have no vision or goals. As the result, believers

changing from one church to other, pastors trying to protect their own churches

became the common norm in the State. Pillai quotes Danie Vermenten who says,

“where there is no vision for the lost, the church members and pastors will bite at each

3
Pillai, Karnartaka Mission, 18-19.
4
Ibid, 21-22.
5
India Persecution Update, August 2006..
6
Ibid, 28.

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other.”7 This is what happening in the church leadership. Autocratic leadership is a

prevailing factor. The independent pastors are solo masters to their churches. This is

a miserable fact to church growth. Thus, one of the challenge of 21 st century in the

church in our State is the need of effective biblical leadership.

NEED OF BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH OF KARNATAKA

The Church of Karnataka need leaders and Pastors who possess both biblical

as well as contextual base qualities which are discussed further in this paper.

Biblical Leadership With Christ Like Characteristics: There is no greater name is found

than Christ Jesus and His leadership when the biblical modal leadership quality is

discussed. Christ is the perfect and supreme example that any leader can find. All the

qualities which are required to be a servant leader in the church and in mission are

found in Christ. Christ was appointed by God, received authority and power from Him

to do the ministry. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. The most peculiar quality of Christ

is, love for people. Bible says, “He had compassion on them” (Matthew 9: 36). 8 He led

a holy, righteous life and a man of prayer. Being a Master He moved as Servant. He

was friendly, willing to risk His life for people and till the end He did the will of God

(John 8: 41, 13:1-17, 15:12-15, 17: 1ff). Church need leaders who follow Christ and

possess these biblical qualities to influence people to accomplish the task. Karnataka

inexorably need men of prayer, love, commitment, sacrifice and willing to pay the

price. As Sanders writes, Leaders of the Bible were great at prayer, by the power of

prayer they could command the power of God. 9 Jowett says, following Jesus is not a

light picnic but it is a possible martyrdom.10

Biblical Leadership With Grass Root Level Experience: Mission in Karnataka demands

leaders to be trained in its context. This calls for grass root level experience.

7
Ibid, 26.
8
All Quotations are from Holy Bible, The New International Version (Bombay: Barat Bible League,
1978).
9
J.Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership (Secunderabad: OM Books, 2004), 92.
10
John Henry Jowett, A Daily Meditation (Bangalore: SAIACS, 2005), 187.

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Answering a crucial question, why India is not evangelized? P. G. Vargis says, people

must go through a process, first Bible College then to Village, then to Town and then

to leadership gradually.” He emphasis the need of leadership from grass-root level. 11

Biblical Leadership With Integrity: Karnataka mission reports are filled with leaders

who are using the name of ministry to gain money, property and to invest it for their

future generation. Faithfulness, trustworthiness, accountability, responsibility and

honesty are completely missing in their life. A pastor heard a Hindu fanatic man saying

about a Christian leader “I know this man, in three years, he became so rich. He

neither have any government job nor have any business, from where he got his

income.”12 This is not one case but many leaders have the similar stories. Present

mission needs leaders with integrity, probity and uprightness.

Biblical Leadership With Knowledge Of The Field: Leaders need to view the field in a

broader mind set up. There are four most important elements which are deeply rooted

in the minds of the people. First Karnataka consist of different ethnic people groups.

Some are mega people groups with a population of more than one million. 13 These

people groups are identified as castes. The term caste is derived from Portuguese

word casta, meaning race or breed. Two Sanskrit terms, varna and Jati are similar

words used to describe the communities.14 Shibu K. Mathew advocates that, caste,

tribe, and after non caste like categories can be called communities since community

or samudaya is less offensive and sounds meaningful than caste or Jati.15 In the great

commission words in Matthew 28:18,“disciples of all nations,” in the original language

“Panta ta ethne” is basically used for tribes, community and people groups. 16 Thus

leaders should have clear knowledge of these communities of Karnataka and muse

11
P. G. Vergis, “Why India Is Not Evangelized,” Light of Life.(July 2006): 22-23.
12
Pastor Somasheker, Interviewed by H. S. Parvathegowda, Chitrdurga, August 2004.
13
Pillai, Karnartaka Mission, 18-19.
14
Sheela Christhudas Evils of Caste System (New Delhi: Navdin Prakashan Kendra, 1993), 8.
15
Shibu K Mathew, “Unreached People – The Community Puzzle,” Indian Mission (September 2005):
24.
16
D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” The Expositor's Bible Commentary (Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House,
1984),596.

4
them seriously. Pillai quotes, Dr. McGavran said, “The only way we will get the job of

the great commission done is to plant a church in every community in the world.” 17

Second, people are deeply rooted in the culture. There are traditions and

customs that are fading away naturally due to education and globalization. But culture

still prevails. In Karnataka, Christianity is speculated as a foreign religion. Coming to

Christ is marked as breaking of ties with Hindu culture and community. 18 In the past

many missionaries presented the gospel in the same way. A few years back, during

the time of baptism a saved woman was forced to remove the “mangalasutra” (holy

tread). When she removed, that very night her husband hanged himself and died.

Immediately evangelists fled from that place and ministry was stopped. This incident

happen since evangelists failed to understand the culture. 19 There are many such

practices which are related to culture. Leader must know the people's sentiment about

their culture. Dr. Graham Houghten says, Change is not necessary everywhere, some

of the things need only reformation. 20 Thus, leaders need to begin exactly on Indian

lines and understand where to apply their principles in relation to culture. Third, people

are patriotic. Past, church was failed because they did not understood this feelings.

Leaders need to be patriotic. Dr. Houghton being a foreign national urged the Indian

leaders to be patriotic.21 Christian leaders need to show their passion for their state

and nation. This could be tremendous quality to win the people for Christ.

Biblical Leadership With Knowledge of Mission Strategy: The criteria of mission in

Karnataka is, the need of men and women with dynamic strategies for the task. First

leader need to have vision and also a working model of how that vision could be

turned into reality.22 Leaders should motivate people to receive visions and dreams.

Inspire the people to have Joel committee in all the churches. 23 Arrange the meetings
17
Pillai, Karnartaka Mission, 23.
18
Name Withheld, “Men Who Changed the World,” Friends Focus Vol.1, Issue 8.(August 2006): 25.
19
Pastor Solomon, Interviewed by H. S. Parvathegowda, Chitradurga, August 2004.
20
Graham Houghton, Lecture Notes (Bangalore:SAIACS, September, 12, 2006)
21
Ibid, September,05.
22
Lyle E Schaller, The Change Agent (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1972), 93.
23
Based on Joel 2:28, Receiving the Ideas From People in the Meeting. Houghton, Lecture, Sep, 12.

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to spend time in prayer, catch the vision for what to do in the coming days and years.

Bill Hybes, calls such meetings, the vision nights and says, “it is the leader's job to

help the people to have vision for the future.”24 Once the vision is established, leader

need strategical plan. Developing and organizing the plan is the trait of a leader.

Leader should translate the vision into specific, result oriented, and attainable goals. 25

Second, the most remarkable status that a Christian leader at present need is

innovation. Dr. Houghton says, “if you always do what you have always done, you will

always get what you always had.”26 If there is no change in strategy planing COK

remains the same. Renowned Management thinker Gary Hamel wrote, “Innovation is

key to success, 90% of real value is generated by innovations in business models or

industry architecture.” He continues, “companies like Nokia and Whirlpool - - made

innovation everyone's responsibility.” 27 John Amalraj admits, the world changed, our

mode of travel, communication science, technology, factories, schools, shops, sports

are changed. We must learn to accept change rather resisting it. 28 Leaders need to

see change in mission methods, strategies to see success in the mission work.

Third, contextualization should be part of the vision, planing and innovation

inasmuch it is one of the keys to succeed in the mission in Karnataka. The message

and methods are to be meaning to the context which is one of the indigenous

characteristics of mission.29

Biblical Leadership With knowledge of Skillful Mentoring: Karnataka need leaders who

recognizes rightly the mission resources and use them effectively. Pramila Rajendran

quotes a meaningful Japanese Proverb, “If you are planning for a year plant a seed; if

you are planning for ten years plant a tree; and if you are planning for life, plant a man

24
Bill Hybels, Courageous Leadership (Secunderabad: OM Books, 2003), 187.
25
Kay Sprinkel Grace, The Board Role in Strategic Planning (Washington: NCNB Publication, 2000), 14.
26
Houghton, Lecture, September, 12.
27
Gary Hamel, “Innovation – Key to Success,” The Times of India, 15 September 2006, 18.
28
John Amalraj, “I Can't Believe that I am Graying - Managing Changes,” Indian Mission (Sep, 2006):
10.
29
Wessly Lukose, “Dr. Thomas Matthews Contribution to Mission,” Cross and Crown, Vol.36 (2006): 26.

6
(woman).”30 Indispensably, in the long term God's mission, men and women are the

primarily sources than any other instruments. Karnataka need the industrious leaders

who are willing to utilize the people in the church. P. Abraham writes, according to the

scriptures, the whole church is the ministerium, a community of believers serving God

through Christ in the Spirit, seven days a week.31 The church is composition of Jews

and Gentiles, rich and poor, educated and uneducated. Leaders are given

responsibility to equip the people for the work of the ministry, Ephesians 4: 11-12.

Leaders are told in the scriptures not to be bias to anyone but prepare everyone to

become useful instruments for God's work, James 2: 1-9.

Developing Women leadership in the church is vital. Historically women were

well respected but not given the place of leadership in Karnataka. Church leadership

should think about women optimistically. Shiela Ponraj asks, “The ratio of women to

men in God's service is very insignificant, why this disparity? She asserts, “woman in

God's original plan was to co-rule with man,” Genesis 1:28. 32 Women of present day

are branching into almost every type of service. They are smart, bold, savvy, oozing

with self-confidence, they got the incredible potentiality to work in God's service. Sybil

Meshramkar rise her voice, “Do women belong to the mission field,” then concludes,

without doubt! Women have been powerful tools in God's hands.” 33 Hepzi David

suggests, “A holy woman is an awesome weapon in God's hands. A woman can reach

other woman more effectively and successfully than anyone else.” 34 Nyambur J.

Njoroge complains with a powerful provoking thought, “Women's full participation in

God's mission in the church and society - - - hinder half of humanity's full participation

in God's mission.”35

Leadership should engage in training the native missionaries and practice

30
Pramila Rajendran, “Women in Tomorrow's Leadership,” Indian Mission (Dec, 2005): 25.
31
P. Abraham, “The People of God,” Light of Life Vol.48, (Sep, 2006): 8.
32
Shiela Ponraj, “Women in Leadership Roles Biblical Modals,” Indian Mission (Dec, 2005): 9.
33
Sybil Meshramkar, “Dreams of Modern Young Women in Mission,” Indian Mission (Dec, 2005): 14.
34
Hepzi David, “Mobilizing Women in Missions,” Indian Mission (Dec, 2005): 21.
35
Nyambura J Njoroge, “A New Way of Facilitating Leadership,” Missiology Vol.33, No 1 (Jan 2005): 34.

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delegation. At one time mission was foreign mission, later became cross cultural

mission but now stands as local mission.36 Equipping the natives as missionaries for

local mission is more important than cross cultural missions. Native missionaries are

less expensive, more effective, fruitful and acceptable in our context. 37 Dr. Houghton

says, “one of the greatest thing a mentor or leader can do for their follower is to give

permission to succeed.”38 Christ centered leaders should train native leaders, allow

them to succeed as the work progress. Without delegating the work leader cannot

achieve much. Apostle Paul exercised the art of delegation with his followers.

leaders should find God's people as powerful resources to accomplish the task.

If the leaders can mentor the group of people, equip them in God's way, this is what

Dr. K. Rajendran confirms, “Never doubt, a group of thoughtful, committed people can

change the world. Indeed ,it is the only thing that ever had.” 39

CONCLUSION
The church of Karnataka faces greater challenge in the present situation.

However, great commission commands that Karnataka need to be evangelized.

Discipling the people is the heart beat of God, He will never give us the task which is

impossible. It is definitely possible with the men and women who are pledged to the

task for the glory of God. We have the God who moves the whole world and with Him

all things are possible. God is looking for servant leaders who would stand in the gap

before Him like John Knox who said “Give me Scotland or I die.” Like Nehemiah who

wept and mourned for his people. Like Apostle Paul who was willing to die for the sake

of his kinsmen. Karnataka needs such leaders with in Karnataka to disciple the

people. If the leaders understand the mission field, find the strategy according to the

context and use the right resources effectively, task is always possible. This work is

36
David Mays, “Six Challenges for the Church in Mission,” Evangelical mission Quarterly Vol.42, No 3
(July 2006): 308, 309
37
Lukose, Matthews Contribution, 28.
38
Houghton, Lecture, September, 04.
39
K. Rajendran, “Fire Fighters or Change Agents,” Indian Mission (Sep, 2006): 4.

8
not once but need to continue year after year through delegation. I would like to be

one among such men to see Karnataka State to be evangelized. Indeed the day will

come when the cross of Christ will surely appear on the top of Vidhana Souda.

BIBILIOGRAPHY

Books

Christhudas,.Sheela. Evils of Caste System. New Delhi: Navdin Prakashan Kendra,

1993.

Grace, Kay Sprinkel. The Board Role in Strategic Planning. Washington: NCNB
Publication, 2000.

Holy Bible, The New International Version. Bombay: Barat Bible League, 1978.

Hybels, Bill. Courageous Leadership. Secunderabad: OM Books, 2003.

Jowett, Henry. J. A Daily Meditation. Bangalore: SAIACS, 2005.

Lazarus, Mohan C. My Prayer Book. Bangalore: Jesus Redeems Publishers, 2005.

Pillai, Joshua. Karnartaka Mission Challenge. Chennai: Down Church and Mission
Service, 2002.

Commentary

Carson, D. A. “Matthew,” The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Frank K. Gaebelein.ed.,

Vol. 33. Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.

Articles

Abraham P. “The People of God,” Light of Life Vol.48, (September, 2006): 8

Amalraj, John. “I Can't Believe that I am Graying - Managing Changes,” Indian

Mission (September 2006): 10.

David, Hepzi. “Mobilizing Women in Missions,” Indian Mission (December 2005): 21.

India Persecution Update, August 2006.

Lukose, Wessly. “Dr. Thomas Matthews Contribution to Mission,” Cross and Crown,
Vol.36 (2006): 26.

Mathew, Shibu K. “Unreached People – The Community Puzzle,” Indian Mission

(September 2005): 24.

Mays, David. “Six Challenges for the Church in Mission,” Evangelical mission
Quarterly, Vol.42, No 3 (July 2006): 308, 309.

Name Withheld, “Men Who Changed the World,” Friends Focus Vol.1, Issue 8.

9
 (August 2006): 25.

Ponraj, Shiela. “Women in Leadership Roles Biblical Modals,” Indian Mission

(December 2005): 9.

Rajendran K. “Fire Fighters or Change Agents,” Indian Mission (September 2006): 4.

Rajendran, Pramila. “Women in Tomorrow's Leadership,” Indian Mission (December
2005): 25.

Newspaper and Lecture Note

Hamel, Gary. “Innovation – Key to Success,” The Times of India, 15 September 2006,
P.18.

Houghton, Graham. Lecture Notes. Bangalore:SAIACS, September, 2006.

Interviews

Solomon Pastor, Interviewed by H. S. Parvathegowda, August 2004. Chitradurga

District, Karnataka State.

Somashekar Pastor, Interviewed by H. S. Parvathegowda, August 2004. Chitradurga

District, Karnataka State.

10