- Contributed
MUNROE: He is a musician who plays the guitar and the piano and he also loves to write music.MULTI-GIFTED INTERNATIONAL motivational speaker, best selling author and business consultant Dr. Myles Munroe, was in the island from October 12-13. He was one of the main speakers at the National Pastors and Church Leaders Conference 2005 hosted by pastors in Action at the National Indoor Sports Centre (National Arena).
Here is Outlook's interview with the motivational giant:
Outlook: What would you say to those who have rejected Christianity as a tool of cultural oppression?
Dr. Myles Munroe: I believe that religion can be, and in many ways, is a source of oppression because in many cases religion is built on traditions and belief systems that do not allow the adherent to that religion to think for himself or to question those standards or traditions. In many ways religion is also used to minimise thinking. From the Leninist perspective religion seems to have a paralytic effect on people in that it doesn't allow them to be progressive in their thinking or expansive in their views or to be developmental in their perspective of life.
I can see why. This has led me in my own journey to conclude that there is a distinct difference between religion and the Kingdom of God. Jesus' message and His work was a practical, need-meeting, life transforming philosophy. We, therefore, need to revisit and rediscover the Jesus of the four Gospels and the message He taught, and compare that to the religion we have developed called Christianity.
Outlook : Summarise for us your message to Christian leaders in Jamaica
Dr. Munroe: My message to Christian leaders in Jamaica is that they should, in this time of social crisis, economic stress, political uncertainty and domestic unravelling of homes, become proactive. It is no longer acceptable for them to sit back and prepare people to leave earth. We need leaders who will prepare people to live on earth a faith that integrates itself with society and confronts and engages the society. We need leaders today who are not afraid to confront the issues and the people who are damaging the society, whether they are political leaders, gang leaders or even fellow ministers who are not living up to the standards that they should.
We need leaders today in Jamaica who are willing to pay the price to be different.
Outlook: Who were your primary influences in life and how did they affect the course of your life path?
Dr. Munroe: The first are my parents. My mother and father were very strong believers and their impact on their children (there were 11 of us) was very positive. They taught us to dream big, to believe and to have faith in ourselves. They always made us believe that it was possible to achieve our dreams. The other person who impacted my life was Oral Roberts. I began to read his material at a very young age. He was born with tuberculosis and almost died but by a miracle he lived to establish a worldwide work through his ministry. Among the other persons who impacted my life was Dr. Turnel Nelson from Trinidad and Tobago; Dr. Fuchsia Pickett (deceased founder of the Fountain Gates Ministries, Texas); and Andre Crouch, contemporary gospel musician, has influenced me musically. These are just a few of the many people who have influenced my life.
Outlook: What are the basics that one needs for success? Is education included, or is good common sense enough?
Dr. Munroe: Every human being was born with a natural gift. I also believe that every human being was born with a purpose - to fulfil something specific on earth.
Education is important but you don't need education as a primary prerequisite to success as many of the people who are successful in the world are not necessarily well educated. If you want to be successful in life, you should never seek success. Instead of seeking success, seek to become a person of value. Successful people are those who have made themselves so valuable that people are willing to pay them to be who they are.
Outlook: How can the black man transform himself into a leader in a society like Jamaica where many cannot even find jobs?
Dr. Munroe: In order for the black man to transform himself into a leader, he must first change the way he thinks. For example, the "black man" tends to look for a job rather than look opportunities for business. What we need to do is to stop looking for people to engage our gifts or to employ us but rather to become creative and let our own gifts create opportunities for us. I want to challenge every Jamaican to start thinking about creative opportunities rather than employment. I am convinced that everyone was born with a seed of greatness and that they have the potential to turn that seed into a fruitful tree and to let that gift bring them success. So, I challenge our people of colour to begin thinking of themselves as producers rather than consumers, to become productive rather than dependent and to become deployed rather than employed.
Outlook: Introduce us to your family. What's the name of your wife, what does she do, who are your children (age, occupation)?
Dr. Munroe:My number one love and preoccupation is my family (my wife and two children). My wife and I have been married for 26 years and we have enjoyed our life together. We have had a wonderful marriage and we expect to live and die together. We are a great example to our kids as it relates to loving your spouse. I love my wife with all my heart. We are best friends and she makes me happy. My son, Myles Junior, is 21 years old and my daughter, Charisa, is 22 years old. They are currently pursuing their master's degrees and they both have a clear vision for their lives, and they have the full support of my wife and I.
My wife is my partner in my work. She is also a public speaker and also undertakes teaching and training in our conferences. We do everything together. Ruth Ann and I got married when we were 25 years old. What attracted me to her was that she was so busy fulfilling her purpose that she didn't need me. I think if a woman needs a good husband she should not look for him but she should instead be preoccupied pursuing her dreams and vision.
Outlook: What are your extra-curricular interests?
Dr. Munroe: I am one of those persons who are multi-gifted. I am a musician. I play the guitar and the piano and I also love to write music. I love to write. I author books that are read worldwide and I am always busy writing. Another of my hobbies is my love for painting. I am an artist. One of my degrees is in art. I do acrylic work, watercolour and oil painting. I also love to read.
Outlook: What are your three main objectives for the next five years? What do you think will be the greatest challenge in achieving these and how do you plan to circumvent them?
Dr. Munroe: My next goal is to become a New York Times best-selling author. My second goal is to establish the facilities for a leadership institute to train leaders around the world. My third goal is to see that my children are married to good people who can be an asset to them in the world. My son and daughter are a major part of my goals because if you don't leave a successor in the world then you are a failure. Whenever challenges come I meet them with a determination that I will overcome. You never succeed in life without tests and trials. Failure to me is always temporary.
