Leaders urged to serve with humility and faith

Barbadian leaders have been urged to serve with humility, sincerity, and compassion, while members of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) have been reminded to remain grounded in the spiritual principles on which the party was founded.

Delivering the sermon at the 85th BLP Annual Conference at Queen’s Park on Sunday, His Lordship Bishop Marlon Jones reminded members and delegates that leadership is a sacred calling and not a pursuit of personal gain.

The clergyman recalled the party’s origins 87 years ago and stated that its duty of care and service to the country continues to be fulfilled.

“You here have a calling; the calling is for labour to serve,” he declared, urging members to recognise that they “have a responsibility to carry on the mandate” of those who came before.

He reminded them that responsibility rests not only with leaders at the top but also with every member within the organisation.

“The mandate continues,” he said, “but there are still challenges ahead. You have become part of a movement because you saw what these people were doing, and you made a decision because you had a call, you had a pull, you had a push, and you were willing to take a risk.”

Bishop Jones warned that leadership for success comes with a price and compared public service to standing “on the battlefields of life”, where criticism and sacrifice are inevitable.

“When you decide to place yourself in the public arena, you are exposing yourself,” he said. “But you cannot turn back. Many will see your glory but not your story.”

The bishop reminded the party’s leadership that their jobs can sometimes be lonely, but faith provides strength.

“You want success; lean upon God,” he advised. “Sometimes you have to stand alone, but God will not leave you.”

He called for unity and compassion across political and social divides and urged the congregation to support those in leadership.

The bishop concluded with a call for service rooted in humility and empathy, reminding those in attendance that true greatness is found not in power but in serving others.” (LG)