‘Becoming a Standout Leader’: Lessons from Pastor Andre Olivier

Introduction

At the Doulos Conference 2025, held at ICGC Christ Temple East in Accra, Ghana, South African preacher Pastor Andre Olivier delivered a compelling evening session on “Becoming a Standout Leader.”

Drawing from the life and teachings of Jesus, Olivier challenged leaders to reject the pursuit of power and instead embrace servant leadership. 

His message was a call to lead with humility, influence, and a heart for service, offering a roadmap for leaders to stand out in a world often driven by dominance and celebrity culture.

The Model of Jesus: A Standout Leader

Pastor Olivier began by highlighting Jesus as the ultimate example of a standout leader. 

He noted, “Jesus was among men, but he stood tall among men, and I believe God’s call to us is to be leaders who stand out. Not just because of our gifts and talents, but because of a certain quality that God wants from us.” 

Pastor Andre taught that Jesus’ leadership was marked by humility, servanthood, and a focus on influence rather than power. He reminded the audience that “the world will respect, admire, and sometimes fear the man of power, but will love the man of love.”

Influence Over Power

One of the central themes of the message was the distinction between influence and power. He stated, “A standout leader desires influence, not power.” He explained that while secular leaders often seek dominance and control, Christian leaders are called to serve and influence others. 

“The Jewish roots of leadership are influence, not power,” he said, referencing Jesus’ teaching that “whoever wants to become great among you must become your servant.”

Pastor Andre warned against the dangers of seeking power, noting that “when people seek power, that’s when you see church splits. It’s always a power struggle. It’s never about service.”

Servant Leadership in Action

Pastor Andre passionately advocated for servant leadership, urging leaders to prioritize the needs of others over their own ambitions. He shared, “Always holding somebody up. I think that’s a picture of servant leadership, not trying to be on top of others holding them down, but always holding somebody up.” 

He contrasted this with the world’s model of leadership, where leaders often seek to dominate and control. Pastor Andre also critiqued the rise of “celebrity Christians” and “celebrity pastors,” stating, “We need a culture of honour, but not a celebrity culture. There’s a line there, there’s a difference.”

The Danger of Celebrity Culture

Pastor Andre expressed concern about the growing trend of celebrity culture within the church. He shared his experiences in green rooms with other pastors, saying, “Their behaviour is shocking, arrogant. They won’t greet you because your church is smaller than theirs.” 

He called for a return to humility and genuine service, urging leaders to “take an interest, serve others, don’t dominate others.” He reminded the audience that true leadership is not about building a platform or seeking fame but about serving others with humility and love.

Leading Like Jesus

In his closing remarks, Pastor Andre challenged leaders to follow Jesus’ example of servant leadership. He quoted Colonel James Irwin, an astronaut who said, “As I was returning to Earth, I realised I was a servant, not a celebrity.” 

Pastor Andre concluded with a powerful call to action: “We do not lead as other men lead, we do not lead as secular leaders lead, we do not lead as political leaders lead, we lead as Jesus led and Jesus stood out.” 

He urged leaders to reject the world’s model of leadership and instead embrace the humility and servanthood of Jesus.

Conclusion

Pastor Andre Olivier’s session was a powerful reminder that Christian leadership is not about seeking power, position, or fame but about serving others with humility and love. His message challenged leaders to reject the world’s model of dominance and instead embrace Jesus’ example of servant leadership. 

By prioritizing influence over power and focusing on serving rather than being served, leaders can truly stand out and make a lasting impact for the Kingdom of God. As Pastor Andre aptly put it, “Let’s lead like Jesus did, and let’s be standout leaders in the maze of confusion and celebrityhood.”