|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Remarks
By
Senator, The Hon Z.C. Allyson Maynard Gibson,
Attorney General And Minister Of Legal Affairs
At
The 2014 Global Leadership Forum
Freeport, Grand Bahama
Wednesday, 12th November, 2014
“Leading change in a globalized world through principled innovative leadership”
SALUTATIONS:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are all bravely here today doing what Dr. Myles Munroe would have wanted us to do – carry on God’s work - building His Kingdom on earth. I’m sure that many of you like me would like to wake up and realize that it was all a bad dream. But the tragic events of this week which took the lives of Pastor, Rev. Dr. Myles Munroe and Rev. Ruth Munroe, Pastor Richard Pinder, Pastor Lavard Parks, Mrs. Radel Parks, Master Johannan Parks, Mr. Frankan Cooper, Mr. Stanley Thurston and Mr. Diego Desantiago is a reminder that in the midst of life we are in death. And the only place we can turn to for help, understanding and to carry us through this storm is God – our loving Father in Heaven.
My relationship with Myles Munroe transcends several generations. As he always said, he was my “brother from another mother”. My parents each had strong bonds with him and to me he was a brother, friend and spiritual father – one who never violated something said in confidence. My admiration for Rev. Ruth Munroe is boundless and well known. She was a beautiful lady who watched over the affairs of her household and did not eat the bread of idleness. Her children …call her blessed; her husband also, and he praised her – unceasingly”.
I offer my sincere condolence and that of my husband, Mother and entire family to the family of Pastor Myles Munroe, especially Chairo and Charissa, Mrs. Pinder and to the families of the other victims and to assure you of our prayers and support.
Dr. Munroe is one of the few people in the world who would have been able to bring together this diverse group of distinguished leaders from so many countries and different spheres of endeavor. He was an Ambassador Extraordinaire for God’s Kingdom and for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Myles Munroe’s life exemplified the theme of almost every, if not every Global Leadership Forum. He certainly led change in a globalized world. He is [not was] iconic, being one of the world’s preeminent leadership gurus or experts. And he was innovative and principled.
As usual, your leadership conference themes evoke much thought. There are at least three sub-threads running through this year’s theme – a globalized world; leading change and principled and innovative leadership.
This diverse group of leaders from all over the world reminds us of Dr. Munroe’s call to us to restore God’s Kingdom in the world. Our “Bain Town Boy” as he called himself, was as comfortable in Africa [a continent that he loved] as he was in The Bahamas. All over the world he walked with kings and never lost the common touch. He embraced technology to communicate at least once per week with each of you and millions others - from the Caribbean, the United States of America, South Africa and other countries on the continent of Africa, from Latin America and from as far away as Papua New Guinea. He led change through communication in our globalized world.
As he always said, change is certain. Change didn’t “happen” to him. He embraced change and directed it to fulfill God’s purpose in his life. He did so whether it was developing the Visionaries; starting Bahamas Faith Ministries; writing books; building the Diplomat Center; starting Myles Munroe International; starting Global Leadership Forum; conducting leadership training around the world and so much more.
Dr. Myles Munroe was innovative and highly principled. In his leadership teaching he directed people to find and live God’s purpose for and in their lives. And he took every opportunity to remind us to become realigned with God - for many reasons – not least of which was to enable God to direct, guide and use us to build His Kingdom on Earth.
This message was repeated in many ways, always fresh and innovative to meet people where they were - in preaching and teaching when Bahamas Faith Ministries was established; to music whether it was the Visionaries or the now fully developed and magnificent music ministry; to the Global Leadership Forum; to live streaming; You Tube; Facebook; and other forms of social media or Conferences like this or leadership training for governments; or Retreats at Offices of Attorney Generals [as he conducted for our Office] and so many other innovative strategies.
He applied his principled leadership teachings to Christian living. As an example, in The Bahamas the Government has announced its intention to hold a referendum to remove all forms of discrimination against women and men from our Constitution. Dr. Munroe’s efforts assisted in assuring that the wording of the Bills does not undermine values that we hold dear - such as family life. He was unequivocal in his view that change that is not based on values and tested by the God’s principles can lead to chaos and the undermining of our societies.
Leadership confers a sacred duty on us to do the right thing – no matter the cost. Yes, there must be room for dialogue and discourse but in the end we must do what is right in the sight of God. And to be a just law, man’s law must comport with God’s law. I am reminded of those words from the Gospel of Matthew: 12:20 :”A bruised reed he will not break and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory”.
Dr. Munroe frequently spoke about how graveyards are full of books. He meant people who died, their stories buried with them. Again, he taught us by example. He authored 69 published books and his books have been translated into scores of languages. I say published books because I know he was working on others.
Most recently Dr. Munroe wrote about succession – a key mark of leadership. He said a leader who plans for succession shows the world how to embrace change. In carrying on this Conference at this most challenging time the Global Leadership Forum is doing what I think Dr. Munroe would have wanted. Also, and I believe very importantly, you are exemplifying your theme – “leading change in a globalized world through principled innovative leadership”.
I hope and pray that the cloud of sorrow that has come over this Conference and that has engulfed all whom he touched will in no way diminish your deliberations. As I thank you for working with Dr. Munroe to make the Global Leadership Forum the Preeminent Leadership Forum, I pray that God will give you strength and grace to embrace the change that has been thrust upon you and give you wisdom as you deliberate. I also pray that you continue to build God’s Kingdom on earth upon the tremendous legacy and gift given to you by Dr. Myles Munroe – a Bain Town Boy who, in his relatively short life, lived fully and touched tens of millions of people. Dr. Myles Munroe fulfilled God’s purpose in his life which was, as he said, to bless people by leading them to God. The world would be a better place if each of us followed Dr. Munroe’s example – living every day trying our best to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives.
May God continue to comfort and bless each of you and your deliberations in this the 2014 Global Leadership Forum.
© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
