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Leading Through Adversity: Lessons from the Prophets
by Deborah D. Jenkins
Jenkins has penned an instructional aid for Christian leadership. She begins with the prophet Daniel, who exhibits distinctive faith in exile. Like a modern day POW, Daniel, along with friends Hananiah, Meshael, and Azariah, is carried away to Babylon during the first wave. In this intensive book one key theme is the worship of idols. After he and his friends are educated Daniel rises to power interpreting the king's dreams. He encounters adversity when he refuses to break the Mosaic Code, which is a spiritual issue.
In the face of trouble Daniel remains faithful and God honors that. Daniel comes through for the nation of Israel on several occasions; but he always exalts God. He stands firm through all the schemes wrought against him. This apocalyptic book shows that even in a hostile environment it's possible to maintain your faith. Jenkins compares the envy and jealousy of Daniel's peers to the adversity Jesus endured because of those who envied him.
Truly Daniel has the "favor" of God. Jenkins explains that people recognize "when God's favor is with you." She further states, "when you acknowledge God's favor upon your life you open yourself up to attacks from the enemy." She offers the Greek translation of grace, charitoo (which means, to endue with Divine favor or grace), which is used in Luke I:28. Jenkins says that grace or favor is "God's divine influence upon the heart, its reflection in the life."
We are warned that friends and foes can see God's favor in our lives; and they may be disturbed by that. Some will be envious of your/our position due to their own selfishness. Jenkins says, "my immediate supervisor conspired with members of my staff to find grounds for charges against me in [my] conduct of [program] affairs, but they were unable to do so." Jenkins gives God the glory for allowing her to gain the understanding of all the business practices of the company, thus she avoided the trap which was set for her.
Jenkins also discusses the fact that sometimes we "engage in character assassination of others without giving any thought to its affect on others or ourselves." She goes on to say that in order to lead, we must be prepared for all the negativity which will befall us. Leading Through Adversity compares Daniel's situation to at-risk youth today, saying "he was at risk based upon the institutionalized slavery he and his people were under."
Leading Through Adversity visits the prophet Isaiah; King Solomon, son of King David; Joshua, leader of the Israelites during their wilderness experience; Bruce Wilkinson's book, The Prayer of Jabez; and even the events in the life of Jesus the Christ! Jenkins admonishes us to "find a mentor, a leader in the area in which you seek success," and further states that we shouldn't reveal our plans to everyone. She reminds us of what happens when Joseph reveals his dreams to his brothers. (Gen. 37:5 - 10)
Although this book contains spiritual lessons, they may also be applied to leadership in the secular world.
Highly inspirational!
DT: I absolutely loved your book on leadership! Why did you write it? Who is your target audience?
MDJ: I am so humbled to know that a seasoned author and leader loved my book. Certainly believing that God prompted me to write the book--I did it. But beyond that I have experienced some serious adversity in my life, work and ministry and felt there must be a way to lead with integrity even through the trials that life presents. The Bible offers such glowing examples. Parenthetically, I only focused on the male examples but there are some powerful sisters who had to lead through adversity and did it well! My name sake for one, Deborah, and she did it with her husband's full support--beautiful.
The target audience is Christian women as I believe we more easily allow the storms of life to make us forget who we are in Christ Jesus. However, I believe these 13 Lessons transcend religious beliefs and present practical examples of leadership. Loving too hard and being hurt will often cause us to lash out at our children and everyone else within our radius and we therefore get horrible labels attached to us when we are in leadership. We must realize that our first and most awesome leadership role starts in our home with our children. Once we take hold of this then we will move into the position of authority that God has preordained for us.
DT: How long have you been writing? What motivates you?
MDJ: This is my first professional and published work. However, I have been writing for more than 13 years. I wrote a program/business plan to start an afterschool program, Knowledge Development Center, Inc.
I am motivated by the bondage that people find themselves in. I'm not speaking of physical bondage per se but rather chains on the brain that lead minorities to believe that the struggle is over because now we own luxury cars and fancy clothes--yet we are still renters and live in projects. We believe that the American dream which really says, "Get all that you can because I'm going to get mine," is really what should be pursued rather than pulling up another as you go up. I have a need to share the bountiful blessings God has given me. This has meant that at times my family and I have had to do without but that sacrifice was well worth the joy and peace I have in my heart.
Leading Through Adversity:
by Deborah D. Jenkins |
DT: I'm sure Leading Through Adversity has proven to be a blessing to readers. Please share some of the feedback you've received thus far.
MDJ: I think the most powerful feedback so far has been in my Pastor's foreword to the book. Of course, I didn't see it until after the book was written. To know that he, my mentor in ministry, was able to glean wisdom pearls that strengthened his resolve while completing the last leg of our highly successful Charter School--this has given me an assurance that this is indeed an anointed work directed by God.
My sister, found the book especially helpful as she transitioned into a new role at work and she needed to have a new attitude to help her keep on track and she found that in Lesson 2. There have been many great testimonies but this last one is really what the book is all about. A sister in our church was having great difficulty with her supervisor and things were getting ugly, to say the least. While on a business trip she decided to read the book. Through her reading she was able to return to work in the right frame of mind--the one that says, "As I work, I will work as unto God." She read it twice and is still being blessed.
DT: What's next for Minister Deborah D. Jenkins
MDJ: Certainly I will continue to promote this book and I am working on a second book to be released early 2006. In terms of ministry, God has blessed me with a vision to plant a church in my home community, Co-Op City Bronx, NY. We have been having Bible Study at the local high school and we've been blessed. We will open with our first public worship in October 2005. This has called for quite a few changes in my life but with God I believe it's all possible. I hope to continue teaching as an Adjunct Professor at the College of New Rochelle and to be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit in my life.
DT: Any final words?
MDJ: Thank you so much for the opportunity to interview with you Ms. Thornton.
DT: The pleasure has been all mine, and we here at Blackrefer.com appreciate your willingness to share with our readers. God Bless!
Deborah D. Jenkins' website: http://www.urbanchristianenterprises.com
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