Nehemiah on Leadership: I Can't Come Down

By Shelley Fisher Ph.D

In a time when leadership seems to be in the throes of despair, Nehemiah's leadership journey is refreshing. At the onset of the book that bears his name he is serving, exemplary leaders serve. The book depicts the ethical dimensions of leadership, as Nehemiah shows compassion for the plight of his people because the walls were down, putting them in imminent danger. We learn that effective leaders do not compromise their values, and they confront improprieties both within and outside of the organization. Nehemiah displayed many attributes of an effective leader""risk-taker, for example. The law of the land forbade a person from going before the king with a sad countenance; however, Nehemiah, the risk-taker, prayed and received favor from the king despite his sad countenance. In surmounting the challenge of rebuilding the walls, he demonstrates the role of the administrator by: - Praying; - Planning; - Goal-setting and strategizing; - Using excellent communication skills; - Team building; and - Mediating conflict. Nehemiah demonstrates how to deal with conflict. Since conflict is inevitable, it is important for leaders to know how to resolve it. I Can't Come Down displays Nehemiah's focus and perseverance on the task. He shows how to structure tasks with diverse groups""mayors, priests, people of all backgrounds, including women""worked collectively to accomplish the completion of the walls in fifty-two days. The ageless principles of leadership comingle with contemporary organizational theory. Albert Bandura highlights agency, self-efficacy, collective and leadership efficacy as key factors in motivation. Organizational theorists view leaders today through the five lenses of motivation, communication, politics, structure, and design. Finally, the reader is challenged to become proactive in his own community by participation, persuasion, and prayer. The concept of positive deviance is suggested as viable for solving problems in neighborhoods. It is a misnomer to think in terms of sacred and secular, for God is Creator of everything.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644166741

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Nehemiah on Leadership

I Can't Come Down

Shelley M. Fisher, Ph.D

Copyright © 2019 by Shelley M. Fisher, Ph.D

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Dedication

I dedicate this book to those who are serious in their quest to fulfill God’s plan and purpose, to those who are authentic in their actions of serving God and others, and to those who want to help to equip others for what God has for them.

Finally, I dedicate this book to leaders who walk in dominion and authority and are in pursuit of God’s glory to make the world a better place.

Preface

When I received my call to ministry, the books of Isaiah and Nehemiah captivated me. At the time, I didn’t realize these would be the guideposts to my ministry. God needs movers and shakers to guide His work. He is in need of courageous, sensitive leaders who will change the world. Nehemiah was that person—a man of prayer, administrator, and risk-taker who changed the status quo.

Although leadership is an elusive construct, most theoreticians agree that it involves influence. Nehemiah gave up position and comfort to lead his people in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Through adversity, both internally and externally, the walls were completed in fifty-two days.

Greatness and compassion come from God. Nehemiah demonstrated qualities of leadership that made him great. Prayer, character, and motivation are determinants of the quality of leadership. It’s time to walk in our God-given authority to change the landscape of our environment.

Organizational theorists have developed concepts that are rooted in biblical principles. For example, the Bible says, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

Albert Bandura’s (2002) self-efficacy theory is based on the individual’s belief that he/she is capable of performing a particular task. Scrutiny reveals that many of the theories have a biblical base which is advantageous for success in leading organizations.

This book is replete with ageless principles of leadership demonstrated by Nehemiah, and contemporary organizational theories. Five dimensions of leadership are explored: motivation, communication, politics, structure, and design as seen in Nehemiah’s behavior and in the organizational setting.

Lastly, the reader is challenged to be a mover and shaker in his/her neighborhood by participation, persuasion, and prayer. Kingdom principles will stand the test of time because it is the ageless wisdom of God speaking today.

Acknowledgements

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ

(I Corinthians 2:11). Thank you to my parents, Wendell Brumfield, Sr., and the late Alma Jewell Brumfield for laying the foundation of Jesus Christ in my life.

To my husband, Alfred—my friend and confidant—who gives me the autonomy to be me, thank you. He’s the calm in the middle of the storm who brings alongside that which I need.

I am grateful for my mentor and teacher, Dr. Mildred C. Harris, who identified the call of God on my life. She gave me the opportunity to use my gifts and taught me that prayer is a sure foundation.

Thank you to my other apostolic prophetic mentors The Late Apostle Nina Marie Leslie who planted seeds about Huldah the prophetess; and being an intercession after the order of Melchizedek. The seeds continue to grow and produce fruit in my life. Apostle John Zartuche introduced me to prophetic presbytery and allowed me to flow in my gift, thank you. To my pastor, Timothy Brown, Ed.D., I am grateful for your encouragement.

I honor the memory of the late Dr. Joseph Robertson, Jefferson School Principal, who urged me to accept the administrative call.

Thank you to my colleagues in chaplaincy who prodded me to finish this work.

To Bruce Winston, Ph.D. (Professor of Business and Leadership; Director, Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership program Regent University School of Business & Leadership), who was at the helm of my dissertation committee, and worked with me until I had a finished product, thank you.

To all who impacted my journey, I thank you. To God be the glory!

Chapter 1

Nehemiah—Cupbearer to the King

Nehemiah, a man of humble beginnings, is described at the onset of the book that bears his name as the son of Hacaliah, and cupbearer to the king. He resided in the seat of governmental authority—the king’s palace among royalty; the higher echelon—surrounded by comfort and luxury. Yet in his role as wine taster, protector, and loyalist to the king, his heart was broken when his brother, Hannai, told him of the plight of his people and their vulnerability of being open to attack because the walls of Jerusalem were burned down.

This book of the Bible is replete with entities that align with organizational leadership and social cognitive theory. For example, Nehemiah’s actions portray middle management as a servant leader. Social cognitive theorists might say he displayed agency and was adept in leader efficacy. Nehemiah’s character and leadership skills qualify him to be a paradigm for teaching ageless principles of leadership.

He was a Jew who was displaced in Persia because of being taken into captivity as a slave. His name means Yahweh comforts. The events of this book took place about 423 BC after the Jews had returned from captivity in Babylon. Prior to this, some seventy years ago, the Jews had attempted to rebuild the wall but to no avail. Some scholars