Exploring the role of spiritual leaders as celebrity business founders and brand endorsers

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the role of spiritual leaders as celebrity business founders and brand endorsers by investigating the mediating role of perceived value in the impact of normative community pressure and perceived brand credibility on purchase intention.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected data from two studies in India, one with urban (N = 307) and another with rural (N = 206) consumers of fast moving consumer goods brands being endorsed by popular celebrity business founders. The authors tested all our hypotheses using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach with SmartPLS software.FindingsPerceived value mediates the positive impact of normative community pressure and perceived brand credibility on purchase intention for the brands endorsed by celebrity business founders, and these mediating effects are stronger for urban (vs rural) consumers.Research limitations/implicationsThe results from Indian consumers may not be generalizable to other emerging markets with diverse cultural and socio-economic conditions.Practical implicationsThis research would help international marketers understand the unique branding and marketing strategies used by local players to learn how to successfully target both urban and rural consumers in the emerging markets.Originality/valueThis paper extends the celebrity endorsement literature by exploring the role of spiritual leaders as celebrity business founders and brand endorsers, a growing trend in the emerging markets with high cultural and religious diversity (e.g. India and Indonesia).

Implementasi Keteladanan Pemimpin Rohani Berdasarkan Filipi 2: 1-8 Bagi Gembala Gereja Pentakosta Di Papua Klasis Mimika

The main problem in this research is the example of spiritual leaders when shepherding the congregation. Some of the factors that make the pastor not an example are repentance, character, and minimal human resources. This study applies a qualitative method. The researcher uses the Bible as the main source, also uses literature from several sources of books and journals, to get a clear picture of the example of spiritual leaders based on Philippians 2:1-8, which will later be implemented in the leadership of the pastoral congregation of the Pentecostal Church in Tanah Papua (GPDP). Special Mimika Classics. The results of the study show that in Christian leadership, the pastor as the leader of the local congregation can influence the people he leads. Philippians 2:1-8 is Paul's writing that teaches about the example of Jesus Christ as a spiritual leader, which can be seen from principles, ministry, and personality.

The Influence of Spiritual Leadership on Harmonious Passion: A Case Study of the Hotel Industry in China

The hotel manager has the responsibility to stimulate the passion of the staff. The vision, hope/faith, and altruistic love advocated by spiritual leaders can meet the independent psychological needs of employees, thus enhancing their harmonious passion. This study is based on self-determination theory, intrinsic motivation theory and psychological capital theory, and explores the relationship between spiritual leadership and employees’ harmonious passion. This study uses 260 employees of star hotels in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hefei, Huangshan, and other cities in China. Results show that spiritual leadership positively impacts employees’ harmonious passion, and calling plays an mediation role between spiritual leadership and employees’ harmonious passion. The results are helpful to clarify the formation mechanism of employees’ harmonious passion from the perspective of self-determination theory, intrinsic motivation theory and psychological capital theory and show that spiritual leadership can drive employees’ harmonious passion, especially when hotel vision and employee calling are consistent. Furthermore, the altruistic love of spiritual leaders for their followers also plays a key role in employee calling and promoting harmonious passion. Therefore, this study also emphasizes the importance of calling in improving the harmonious passion of employees. The theoretical and management implications that help to enhance the harmonious passion of employees are discussed in detail.

Misuse of Religious titles by self-proclaimed spiritual leaders: Prophets, Apostles, and Popes in South Africa

In the world of religions, different religious officials are given different titles. Christianity as a religion in the world and in South Africa particularly, has been severely attacked by self proclaimed spiritual leaders who perform false miracles and abuse titles that have been respected by traditional mainstream churches for decades. These self-appointed spiritual leaders make utilization of these titles either through self-propagating or by accepting them when utilized upon them by their followers. This paper argues that self-appointed spiritual leaders' mere use of these revered religious titles cannot be justified within Christianity's framework. This paper offers a closer look at the literature regarding the use of religious titles such as Prophet, Apostle, and Pope. These religious titles remain very respectable within the Christian religion and are used to honour the role played by both biblical and contemporary Christian leaders. This paper makes three arguments; First, the age of the prophets was washed away by God's written Word in the Holy Bible, so those given this title should be pressed to prove the truthfulness of their prophecies beyond doubt. Second, apostles were those who were eye and ear witnesses to the teachings and resurrection of Jesus. Contemporary apostles must be compelled to defend their apostleship, as is the case in 2 Corinthians 11.Lastly, the title of Pope is traditionally bestowed upon the Catholic Bishop of Rome, the head bishop of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and other leaders of traditional ecclesial communities. In its entirety, this paper deals with the scientifically neglected aspect within the larger question of the regulation of religions in South Africa.

Church Members Reflection on the Involvement of Lay or Ordained Leaders in Active Politics: A study of MCK Kaaga Circuit

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore the reflection of church members on the involvement of lay or ordained leaders in active politics specifically in MCK Kaaga Circuit Methodology: This study employed descriptive research design. The target population was 11 Kaaga circuit local churches. The study used simple random sampling method to obtain 30% of the 11 local churches to obtain 3 local Methodist churches in Kaaga circuit. The study used purposive sampling method to get a sample of 12 respondents who included 6 church leaders and 6 members. These 12 respondents were purposely selected based on their past experience as political aspirants in various political position in the just concluded 2013 national elections. The study used unstructured interview guides to collect the data. Results: The study results have proved that it is not wrong for spiritual leaders to join politics since they cultivate and incorporate the virtue of honesty, Holy spirit led administration of resources, democracy and bring Godly light in their political platforms. However, one cannot serve two masters (politics and church leadership) since one may bring division in church. In addition, politics is seen a breeding ground for engagement in corruption, unfulfilled promises hence making politicians liars, deviation from God’s purpose of spreading the gospel and accumulation of huge masses of wealth so as to terminate opponents. Nevertheless, politics are not all that bad when their contribution to the community is considered. Politics have been seen to expand of leadership skills of the politicians, growth in developmental agendas and social interactions skills. This reasons therefore makes the church to greatly support the few leaders who have shown interest in politics since they would represent the church members in politics more than what was being done outside the church. In addition, the church also prays for them before venturing into political journey and the church members are requested to vote for them. Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: The study recommends that church members get empowered with information on the relevance of politics and how they interrelate with religion. The spiritual leaders should be trained on good governance skills before they engage into politics so that they can practice them effectively when they get positioned. The church management should work hand in hand with the government on delivering various projects of the society. This would make it easy and realistic to church members to believe that a spiritual leader has societal interests when they contest any political positions. The church should engage external institutions such as universities that offer leadership and theological courses to its members on how to translate church language to a language the community can understand for effectiveness.

ABDULKADIR DAGESTANI – A PROMINENT SPIRITUAL FIGURE OF IRAN OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

The article provides a biographical sketch of Sheikh Abdulkadyr Dagestani (1900–1962), who, by the will of fate, ended up in Iran in the 1930s. The name of the scientist and educator Abdulkadyr Dagestani remained unopened until today. The research was carried out with the use of biographical information given in the book of the Iranian writer Khadi Khormali «Dagestani muhajirs», written on the basis of real facts from the life of Abdulkadyr and his brothers from the village Nizhnee Mulebki of the Republic of Dagestan in Iran, as well as Iranian documentary materials from Internet resources. Abdulkadyr Dagestani made a great contribution to the culture of Iran with his spiritual and educational activities. The Iranians attribute the Dagestani muhajir Abdulkadyr Dagestani to the outstanding spiritual leaders of Iran.

An attack on the Cross: Spiritual leaders’ accounts of fear and resilience during COVID-19 pandemic

This paper provides accounts on the impact that COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown(s) had on the Church and its leaders in the South African context. The study explores challenges that the leaders faced and how they dealt with them to remain standing despite their fears. The context is COVID-19 pandemic, which brought mass deaths, fear, confusion and frustration to congregations globally. Church leaders faced a challenge to show resilience amid fear because they too were directly affected. Governments introduced regulations that imposed lockdowns to control the spread of the virus. Limiting contact by restricting distance amongst citizens. The church was one sector that could not operate. Although some sectors were never declared essential services like churches, this left vulnerable communities without support in the face of fear. Spiritual leaders had to demonstrate resilience to support the congregants. The key question the researchers seek to understand is to what extent did the church remain resilient during COVID-19 pandemic? And how did the church leaders deal with fear despite anointing and expectations from the congregants and communities? A qualitative approach was used in this study. COVID-19 has shown that Church leaders are humans and they are also fearful, however their faith in God has assisted them to show resilience even at this difficult time. The study also asserts that governments should consult different groupings of faith-based organisations, not only those that are under organised bodies before embarking on restrictions for pandemic control. Communities encompass many churches and leaders require support to assist them from church members.

Friendship and Trust between Medieval Princes: Affective Strategies for Navigating Intercultural Difference across the Mediterranean

This essay analyses the rhetoric of friendship in John of Sulṭāniyya’s translation of a Persian letter from the Mongol-Turkic leader Temür (Tamerlaine) to the French king Charles VI in 1402/3. It examines how the discourse of political friendship was an effective strategy for navigating intercultural difference between princely rulers across the Mediterranean in the later Middle Ages. Friendship language and practices functioned as a diplomatic paradigm for cultivating an affective attitude of trust between secular and spiritual leaders. Central to eliciting trust were performances of goodwill and the demonstrable commitment of individual parties to engage in a reciprocal exchange of benefits and obligations. Negotiating intercultural friendships enabled European elites to effect political change while adopting models of masculine authority independent of the hegemonic warrior tradition of medieval leadership.