Chaplain (Col) Ray Fairman

To read my second book

"Are You Destined To Lead" 

use the Leadership Lessons Tab to the right.

A new chapter will be added every other week until I run out of them.

To offer your own feedback or ask a question or send a prayer request or if you would like to request Chaplain Fairman speak to your group or church, or if you need him to respond in times of extreme crisis he or Chaplain Davison can be contacted through the Winterville GA Police Department or Living Word Baptist Church or you may use the "Contact" tab above.
 
Chaplain Fairman and Chaplain Davison have been involved in responding to and supporting directly the military and law enforcement officers and firefighters who were serving in such chaotic incidents as New Orleans, Gulfport and Biloxi following Hurricane Katrina and Ground Zero (9/11) NY.

Chaplain Fairman and Chaplain Davison never charge fees for their services or for responding or speaking, preferring to offer their talents as Paul did. They will only accept expense coverage if offered.

For those who feel a real calling to support the work of this law enforcement Chaplaincy ministry and its additional outreach to our armed forces, donations may be sent to:

 Amalgamation

I do not often like to use negative examples as training examples, but at times they do serve a purpose. Once when I was feeling somewhat inept and depressed, one of my subordinates told me that all was not lost, he said I "could always serve as a good, bad example." I guess never ruled that advice completely improvident. Thus I come to this important chapter with a negative example.

If we read I Kings 12:1-24 we can learn a few lessons on how not to lead from Rehoboam a good example of a somewhat egocentric leader. You see Rehoboam was a leader who had a very hard time ever getting beyond connecting with anyone but himself. He did very little to attract and endear his followers. I feel that we can learn great lessons by examining and analyzing our own failures so I guess that's why I have chosen to refer to Rehoboam's leadership contribution as the "Principle of Amalgamation." As you study the referenced scripture, you will see that Rehoboam was a leader who was much more interested in flexing his own political muscle or clout than actually developing any leader-subordinate relationship with his people. It seemed to me as I read that section of scripture that applying the unifying qualities of teamwork was unquestionably a foreign concept to Rehoboam. (We Marines have a saying that has today spread across many venues, especially the sports world. It goes, "there is no I in TEAM.")

I stand convinced, that to become a good leader, you will frequently be required to do some sacrificial things that for some strange reason seem to be very alien to a lot of so-called leaders in our society today. However, these sacrifices are absolutely necessary in order to truly connect with those you lead and those you serve. You need to remember always that those two terms (lead and serve) are not mutually exclusive; in fact they are much more closely related than most people care to realize.