As Christian Leadership Skills (CLS) in collaboration with McPherson University commences June 2, 2025 registration of fresh candidates for its Executive Diploma In Church Management (EDICM), programme, Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of the foremost Christian leadership development institute, Rev. Albert Aina (FCIPM, HRPL), in the below interview with Christian Benefits magazine, shares with church leaders some useful and important tips on how to raise effective leadership skills for church management for the 21st century Church.

Rev. Albert Aina, FCIPM, HRPL, Chief Executive Officer, Christian Leadership Skills Inc, Senior Pastor/District Overseer, Saabo Foursquare Gospel Church, Member, Board of Trustees, Life Theological Seminary, Ikorodu, Promoter, Executive Diploma In Church Management in collaboration with McPherson University, Chairman, Alaryn Grace International Schools and Author of 81 books unfolds to Christian Benefits magazine the complete package of Christian Leadership Skills (CLS); a leadership development institute with a divine mandate to empower the churches of Jesus Christ with effective management and leadership skills. Excerpts below.

How will you like to introduce Christian Leadership Skills (CLS) to us?

Christian Leadership Skills (CLS) is a registered leadership body incorporated by guarantee. GLS is a special mandate since 1994, to take the same strength and passion with which we had been a blessing to the corporate world and channel the same to the kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. We have God’s special mandate to channel our grace, intellects, facilities and package the same things that we are giving to the business world and give it to His Church; beginning from the Bible. We are commissioned to empower the business people, raise quality leaders for churches and give the youths a sense of purpose and achievement

Can we have a look at your profile in the corporate business world leading to the incorporation of the Christian Leadership Skills (CLS) since 1994?

To start with, my coming to Christ changed my family’s orientation from an idol worshiping background. This has been the pivotal point both in my life and career. I had a divine direction and guidance to come to Lagos. I was in Ilorin when I got a job that brought me to Lagos. Prior then, I had never been to Lagos. I went to a particular company and sought for job 16 times, and I was refused those 16 times. On the 17th time I went to express my gratitude to the company for how well they treated me despite turning down my job proposals. The company was surprised at my action and inquired about my personal details. They discovered I’m a Christian, and then referred me to someone who was in need of a trustworthy person. I was taken to the person with everything prepared. They were convinced and invited me over to Lagos. Being a stranger in Lagos, I traced the person’s place until I finally found him. The person accommodated me just for three days. Many things happened that transformed me. I represented the company at different levels as young as I was then, and was eventually made the administrative officer. I received so much favour because of the gifts God endowed me. At age 27, I became the group personnel manager but the Lord instructed me to resign the job in a year’s time. I was promoted in December and received salary increment the next month January and another the following February but had to exit the company in April as God instructed me. It was difficult for the company to accept my resignation but they had to allow me go. At age 29, I became the managing director of my own business; Alaryn, a consulting firm. Initially, when I resigned, I didn’t know what to do. I only followed God’s instruction and waited for him for direction. The Lord asked me what I wanted specifically. And I told him I needed five million naira to start something small. He instructed me to go to my archive. I had written a book on the steps to starting a business without capital. That helped me in setting the ball rolling. I started the business with less than a thousand naira in 1991. After two years, we had gained so much ground. In 1994, I received a call to ministry. By then, I had been in business for three years. While I was going out one day, I heard the voice of God clearly said to me “I have called you and anointed you.” Being just a Sunday school teacher, I was wondering what I was to do. The Lord further instructed me to apply the same principles I had applied to business to His work, which was training. He instructed me to package it and give it to the Church. The principles were from the scripture. The mandate is to empower business people, raise quality leaders and give youths a sense of purpose and achievement. So, I had to attend a Bible school, Life Theological Seminary, Ikorodu, Lagos, to fully understand the assignment. When I told my wife, she was so excited and also took interest. So, she joined the mandate.

Specifically, who are the targets of the Christian leadership skills mandate?

When I received the call, I was already busy as a training consultant for corporate organizations with many big companies as my clients. God said I should start with Christian Leadership skills to raise men and women of values for the Church. We trained and offered certificates to people in businesses and organizations but now the focus is church consultancy, business, coaching and empowerment. We organized both online and onsite conferences until October 10, 2001. I attended several church seminars. It was in one of those seminars that God instructed me to go seek more knowledge. That was the reason I attended Life Theological Seminary. God instructed me to do everything that has to do with the gospel, and be on his payroll. I sensed that he wanted me to go into full-time ministry. So, I closed down all other things; shut the outfit and all its five centres.

How did you feel shutting down the thriving consulting outfit to start an enitirely something new?

It is the voice of the Lord that I followed. I was being paid per hour as a training consultant. I’ve learned that God’s direction is the most certain. I also have the gift of a wife whose heart is after the Lord. She said she believes whatever God instructs me to do. When God asked me to step up, I was going to church without salary. My wife was a teacher who earned N8,500. When I asked her how we were going to cope, she said I should just obey God. I also asked God how I was going to survive. Business calls and proposals were still coming in but I had to refuse them. My faith was tested but I was strengthened by God to refuse. He instructed me to make sure I give my best to the ministry. He instructed me to make the trainings into books and outlets. I have written 81 books; both hard and soft copies by God’s grace. God also gave me the grace to organize conferences around my calling. It has been easy for me to stick with God. My wife worked in schools until she retired as a principal.

As a leadership coach, how can the conflicts between church leading by the Holy Spirit and church leading by acquired knowledge be resolved?

The leading by the Holy Spirit and the leading by acquired knowledge can work together. In the Book of Jeremiah, the scriptures spoke about how God giving the people the pastors after His own heart to lead them. He also spoke about this in the Book of Ephesians how he gave diverse gifts to different people for the work of the ministry and for the perfecting of the saints. Acquired skills or knowledge brings more successes and greater results. God ordained skills and knowledge to be imparted. The Holy Spirit is a master teacher that imparts the vessels. I learned most of the topics both from the Holy Spirit and the experiences I’ve gathered in the corporate world. At CLS we review major and common leadership issues. We address skill gaps in ministry offices. Different strengths are peculiar to people as leaders. I also found out that the faithful are not always effective. They can be holy but ignorant on how to do the work. Availability doesn’t equal effectiveness. So, they need to be taught necessary skills. We ensure that there is a paradigm shift. After school, the church is the second place to learn adaptation. The word of God is unchangeable but it can manifest in different forms. The people that embrace change are often seen as rebels. CLS programmes are aimed at educating pastors on necessary skills. Some pastors think that planning is the work of the Holy Spirit. On the contrary it is a necessity that they must give themselves to. Church planning should precede church planting. Sustainability can’t be overemphasized.