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| CAC Music Director, Pastor Tope Dada |
By 'Gbenga Bankole
"In every stratum of life, difficult people are inevitable. Wherever you have a group of humans, don't shy away from the fact that difficult people are expected. Hypocrites, backbiters, back lickers, front diggers, and serial mockers are waiting for their times. That's why we have unsettled rifts in families and in the church. Elijah experienced it. Jesus experienced it. Paul had his own share of it," said the Music Director, Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Tope Dada.
Explaining how to cope with difficult people in choir department, Pastor Tope Dada said any leader who wants to maintain a relationship with any difficult person must understand some strategies among which is prayer of possibility, by interceding for the person and engaging in spiritual warfare.
Pastor Tope Dada who said this while ministering on the topic "Managing Difficult People by Embracing Sound Doctrine" yesterday at 2023 International Music Ministers' Conference holding at Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) said to handle difficult people, choir leaders must learn the ability to communicate well and rightly, be persuasive, be a servant, be a soldier, be assertive, appreciate criticism and project the best.
He further said choir leaders must be able to pause before reacting to difficult behaviors, downplay the situations, ready to adjust and create a bond.
Pastor Tope Dada implored Choir leaders and leaders at all levels to create enabling environments where there is trust, shared vision, communication and mutual benefits.
The Cleric told the leaders that "difficult people are people you can't stand. They don't do what you want them to do, and you don't know what to do about them. They are among your Choristers, Leaders, and Pastors. Some of your people bring out your best and others bring out your worst."
Pastor Tope Dada concluded that "as Christ Apostolic Church, we believe in the 'justification and sanctification of the believers through the finished work of Christ.' Music Ministers must be consecrated and sanctified. Working and walking in holiness and in godliness. Difficult people are strangers to holiness (2nd Kings 13:10-25), there's no limit to what God can do with, and through a holy vessel."