Leadership Alliance Handbook

VISION STATEMENT

            Christ created His Church with a vision of unity amongst the believers and leaders. From the beginning of the Church, He has prayed day and night for unity and love amongst His people. Therefore, it is the vision of the Leadership Alliance for Africa [LAFA] to help facilitate the bond of love amongst all believers and the coming together into spiritual unity of Christian Churches and Ministries in Nigeria.

MISSION STATEMENT

            The Lord has given leaders to His Church who are to equip and build up His body in order to reach the world with the gospel. Likewise, Jesus has commanded and prayed for the leaders to be united in spirit and in truth so that He will be gloried in all the earth. Therefore, The Leadership Alliance for Africa [LAFA] has been born in order to accomplish His desire for His Church.

The Leadership Alliance for Africa is a partnership of Christian ministers and ministries who want to network together, be accountable to one another, fellowship together, and share resources with one another in order to disciple the nations of Africa. The goal of the Alliance is to build unity, demonstrate love and provide support for the outreach of Churches and Ministries in Africa who seek to fulfill the will of Christ in Africa.

Our primary goal of LAFA is to (1) develop a loving fellowship of Christian leaders who genuinely love God and one another, (2) to enable every church leader to have the necessary tools to develop their particular calling and gifting within the Body of Christ, and (3) to facilitate their God-given vision through the unity and networking of the collective resources of LAFA. A loving fellowship of open, honest, and transparent leaders can assist all of the ministers in LAFA to fulfill their respective roles in the Body of Christ.

CORE VALUES

1.      Partnership

2.      Fellowship

3.      Community

4.      Communication

5.      Counsel

6.      Unity

7.      Prayer

8.      Training

9.      Character

10.  Accountability

STATEMENT OF FAITH

            We believe......

1.             That the 66 books of the Bible are the fully inspired Word from God, infallible and authoritative for faith and life.

2.             That there is one God, infinite, perfect and eternally existent in three persons: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, who are identical in substance and equal in power and glory with the same attributes.

3.             In the full deity and full humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ; in His virgin birth; in His sinless life; in His miracles; in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood; in His bodily resurrection; in His ascension to the right hand of the Father; in His intercessory ministry for all who trust Him; and in His personal and visible return in power and glory.

4.             All are created in the image of God and were created to rule the earth, but all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and are in need of salvation. Salvation is by grace alone and freely given to anyone who accepts it through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Justification is given to all who trust in Him and they receive the full forgiveness of their sins and are born into God's family by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.

5.             That salvation is provided for all mankind through Jesus Christ and Him alone and any who call upon the Lord shall be saved immediately. However, everyone who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, must live a life acceptable to God, holy and righteous in spirit, soul and body.

6.             The Kingdom of God is the central message of Jesus as King and the Apostles who founded the first churches. The Kingdom is present, though not fully yet manifested, and the power of the Kingdom is already active in the earth through healings, the casting out of demons and the stilling of natural events. We are to preach, live and declare His Kingdom in all that we do.

7.             In the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ; to convict the world of sin; to bring new life to the repentant; to baptize all believers into the Body of Christ; to teach and lead all believers and to bestow spiritual gifts for the advancement of Christ's kingdom. And in His present ministry through the indwelling of Christians so as to empower them to live godly and holy lives, and to enable them for ministry.

8.             That it is the will of God that every Christian be filled with the Holy Spirit, who endows every believer with power for life, character and service, and Who also bestows spiritual gifts for use in the ministry of the body of Christ.

9.             In the resurrection of all persons, living or dead, saved or unsaved: the saved to a resurrection of life and blessedness; the lost to a resurrection of judgment and eternal punishment.

10.         In the church, which is the Body of Christ or the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, divinely appointed to fulfill the Great Commission, as a spiritual organism and the spiritual unity of all faithful believers in Christ; the call for all Christians to go share the Good News of the Kingdom and to make full disciples of Christ by obeying all that He commanded.

11.         In the observance of water baptism (which identifies us with His death and the crucifixion of our old nature) and the Lord's Supper until He comes again (which is a symbol of sharing in His death and new covenant).

12.         In the Second Coming of Christ to judge the righteous and the dead, and to establish a new heavens and a new earth.

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF LAFA

            LAFA is a Christian leadership body designed to serve Christian leaders and Christian ministries throughout Nigeria, West Africa and beyond. LAFA shall have the following leadership structure and functions:

1.      There shall be one National Director who shall oversee the vision and function of LAFA in Nigeria.

2.      There shall also be a National Executive Committee consisting of seven leaders and the National Director who shall oversee the direction of LAFA in Nigeria, the appointment of State Coordinators and State Executive Committees, the establishment of LAFA chapters in each city and town with leadership teams throughout Nigeria.

3.      The Executive Committee has also develop and offer training programs by LAFA to its members, invite qualified, experienced and mature teachers/trainers, develop a yearly budget for LAFA and do everything in their power to facilitate love and unity amongst each and every member.

4.      The Executive Committee shall meet at least monthly to pray for LAFA in Nigeria and one another, set the vision and direction of LAFA nationally, resolve problems, set up training programs, discipline any LAFA member who has fallen into sin, and to do all other necessary work to facilitate the growth and development of LAFA in Nigeria.

5.      The National Director shall be responsible for maintaining the LAFA web site, quarterly newsletter, prayer needs/requests to all members of LAFA, and communication with all LAFA State Coordinators, State Executive Committees, and LAFA members generally.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF STATE COORDINATOR AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

            The State Coordinator and Executive Committee for LAFA shall be responsible for the following:

1.      The State Coordinator shall call meetings of the Executive Committee at least quarterly to review the progress of LAFA in their state and oversee the proper function of LAFA chapters throughout their state.

2.      The Executive Committee shall pray for LAFA in their state, assist any LAFA member with any type of needs, and do all they can to strengthen each member of LAFA.

3.      Ensure that each local LAFA chapter follows the vision and director of LAFA established by the National Executive Committee.

4.      Refer any disciplinary problem that they cannot resolve to the National Executive Committee.

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

            To become a member of LAFA, the following minimal required apply to all members:

1.      They must be a born-again Christian;

2.      They must be either a pastor, elder or leader of a local church, or leader of an ongoing Christian ministry;

3.      They must accept the Statement of Faith of LAFA;

4.      They must be willing to serve all LAFA members; and

5.      They must attend at least one LAFA meetings in their locality at least once a quarter.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

1.      Quarterly LAFA Newsletter is offered free.

2.      Discount of 10% on books offered through LAFA.

3.      Discount of 10% on LAFA seminars.

4.      Discount fees at seminars and training programs.

5.      Other discounts will be offered from time-to-time.