Christian youth leadership summit ends

The maiden edition of the annual Christian Youth Summit has ended with a caution to

the youth that in their desire to please or impress their superiors, they should not

go too far in displaying their talents or they might accomplish the opposite by

inspiring fear and insecurity.

Rather they are to always make those above them feel secured and comfortable.

The Communications Director of the Living Grace Ministries, Francis Owusu-Ansah,

gave the caution during the climax of the summit in Sunyani under the theme,

“Building Power for Success”.

“Make your bosses appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the

heights of power in 2011 and beyond”, he said. Mr Owusu-Ansah, the brain behind the

summit, counseled the youth never to put too much trust in friends, but

surprisingly, learn how to use enemies.

“Be careful about friends because they will betray you out of envy. They also become

spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a

friend, because he has more to prove”, he pointed out and added that “In fact, you

have more to fear from friends than from enemies and that if you have no enemies,

find a way to make them”.

The Communications Director, who was the lead speaker at the summit, charged the

youth to keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose

behind their actions. “If people have no idea what you are up to, they cannot

prepare a defense and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too

late”.

He also underscored the need to say less than necessary because when you are trying

to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the

less in control. “Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more

you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish”.

He further reminded the youth that so much depends on reputation and urged them to

guard it with their lives. “Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through

reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are

vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides”, he said.

Mr Owusu-Ansah noted that because everything is judged by its appearance, the youth

must tactically court attention at all cost.

Turning attention to the youth in leadership positions in schools, churches and

other institutions, Mr Owusu-Ansah asked them to pull others to do the work for

them, but always take the credit.

“I urge the youth in leadership positions to use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork

of other people to further their own cause. Not only will such assistance save you

valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed”.

Mr Owusu-Ansah advised the youth to make other people come to them using bait if

necessary. He explained that “when you force the other person to act, you are the

one in control. It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning

his own plans in the process and luring him with fabulous gains – then attack”.

Perhaps one of the highest points of the summit was when Mr Owusu-Ansah emphasised

that it is best to win through your actions and never through argument. He explained

that any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a pyrrhic

victory because the resentment you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any

momentary change of opinion.

“It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions,

without saying a word. It is equally crucial to demonstrate than to explicate”, he

added.

The communications director, asked the youth to learn to keep people dependent on

them as they strive to make a mark in the society. "To maintain your independence

you must always be needed and wanted. The more you are relied on, the more freedom

you have. Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have

nothing to fear. Never teach them enough so that they can do without you", he said.

Mr. Owusu-Ansah stressed the need for the youth who desire to influence society to

use selective honesty and generosity to disarm their victims. He pointed out that

“one sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Open-hearted

gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious

people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive

and manipulate them at will".

He also advised the youth that when asking for help, they should appeal to people’s

self-interest, adding that

"If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past

assistance and good deeds. He will find a way to ignore you. Instead, uncover

something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and

emphasize it out of all proportion. He will respond enthusiastically when he sees

something to be gained for himself".

Mr. Owusu-Ansah challenged the youth to know much about their rivals and use spies

to gather valuable information that will keep them a step ahead. Better still, they

could play the spy themselves. "In polite social encounters, you must learn to

probe, ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and

intentions. There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying. Pose

as a friend, work as a spy to succeed", he explained.

Another critical point that came up at the summit was "crushing your enemy totally"

with support from the bible. The lead speaker observed that all great leaders since

Moses, have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely.

"If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will

eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total

annihilation. The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in

body but in spirit", he said.

Mr. Owusu-Ansah asked the youth to use absence to increase respect and honor. He

noted that too much circulation makes the price go down because "the more you are

seen and heard from, the more common you appear. If you are already established in a

group, temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about, even more

admired. He therefore urged the youth to learn when to leave and create value

through scarcity.

The summit was attended by representatives of youth groups through out the country.

Interested youth groups who wish to attend the next summit may contact the

organizers on 0274222060 or through email:irresistiblefrancis@yahoo.co.uk for

further details.