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freedom

Follow Forward in Freedom

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Adapted from a conversation with Sammy Jabangwe-Hanton on the Follow Forward Podcast.*

Charles Kingsley wrote:

“There are two freedoms – the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought” (quoted in Frank Viola, Insurgence).

Sammy Jabangwe-Hanton learned that the freedom to do what she wanted led to pain and despair. Whereas, the freedom to do what she ought, in following Jesus, has led to joy and fulfilment.

Freedom Challenged

Sammy moved from Zimbabwe to the UK while still a young girl. She had to navigate cultures, identities, expectations, and the tension between her family’s deep faith and the world around her. Like many young people, she longed for independence. She said:

“I wanted to live in what I thought was freedom… but all the stuff I thought was freeing became a lot more restrictive than I thought.”

That honesty captures the human struggle. We chase freedom, believing it will give us life, but often it simply exposes our need for something greater. Many times, the freedom we seek becomes the prison that enslaves.

Freedom Found in Grace

When Sammy hit her breaking point at 18, she expected judgment. Instead, she found grace.

“My mum, my pastors, my youth leaders—they met me with so much grace… they held me when I needed to be held.”

Freedom arrived, and it was packaged as love—God’s love expressed through people who refused to give up on her. That’s the heart of the gospel: freedom doesn’t begin with our effort. It begins with Christ’s invitation and a decision to follow in the freedom from sin that he offers. But, as we learn from Galatians 5:1, it is a freedom we need to stand firm in.

Freedom Shaped Through Formation

As she began to walk with Jesus, Sammy discovered a different kind of freedom, the freedom that grows through community and discipline. She was blessed to have mentors who invested in her. Through their example, she discovered the grounding that spiritual practices provide in a turbulent world:

“What steadies you between the highs and lows are your rhythms… your practices.”

This is freedom not as escape, but as formation. Christian freedom doesn’t remove responsibility. Rather, having become a new creation in Jesus, we learn to live in that new identity. It is freedom built on followership.

Freedom Expressed in Obedience

Perhaps the most remarkable part of Sammy’s story is God calling her back to Zimbabwe—back to the nation of her birth and into a mission she never imagined. What began as a whisper became a clear direction as she also discovers others who are heeding the same call:

“I cannot stop meeting African people who are being stirred to go back… to rebuild and restore.”

Together with her husband, she is now preparing to follow forward in total surrender to Jesus. This is where biblical freedom ultimately leads. It is a pathway of self-surrender. This is the pathway to joy.

Walk in the Freedom You Were Made For

Sammy’s journey reminds us that freedom isn’t the removal of boundaries—it’s the presence of Jesus. It’s not a license to live however we please, but an invitation to live as we were created. It’s not running away—but following forward.

Her example causes us to reflect:

Where might I be chasing a version of freedom that isn’t leading me into life with Christ?

What step of trust or obedience is Jesus inviting me to take so that I can follow forward in freedom?

This is now Sammy’s mission:

“I want to let young people know from all walks of life that you can live a life full of meaning and purpose—and this is only found in Jesus.”

*To find out more about the Follow Forward podcast, click here.
To listen to Jabulani’s interview, choose your preferred platform: YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.

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Follow Forward in Your Context

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Adapted from a conversation with South African singer/songwriter Luxolo Kentane on the Follow Forward Podcast.*

If leadership really begins with followership, then there is an important component of leadership development that we should not neglect: God forms us first in our everyday context — long before we ever step onto a platform or into a boardroom. Luxolo Kentane is a South African creative evangelist whose story powerfully illustrates what it means to follow Jesus faithfully in the middle of real culture, real questions, and real life.

An Eastern Cape Story — and a Private Awakening

Luxolo grew up in a ministry‑immersed home, moving between evangelistic crusades across the Eastern Cape. Yet, beneath the noise of revival culture, he carried deep questions about relevance and reality.

As he put it:

“I had this on‑and‑off relationship with Christ… it always felt like there was a disconnect. I’d seen faith in my parents, but it never felt like it made any sense or relevance to me.”

Church was loud and energetic, yet far from the questions his peers were actually asking. So he developed a dual life — a church persona on Sundays, and a curious, culturally engaged teenager the rest of the week.

His turning point was not dramatic. He didn’t surrender at an altar call, but through the quiet personal engagement of a friend.

“I don’t think he preached to me… he just spent time with me. Actually, seeing Christ in him compelled me to ask the relevant questions.”

One Thursday night, alone in his room, Luxolo prayed his first sincere prayer — a quiet surrender that reshaped his story.

A Gospel That Speaks the Language of Culture

As his faith deepened, Luxolo began to wrestle with the divide between what the Church celebrated and what young people were drawn to. Hip hop wasn’t welcomed in many ‘religious’ spaces, but it was the heartbeat of the streets.

So he made a decision:

“I’m going to tell the story of Jesus in a way this culture understands — even if the church doesn’t understand it.”

When church leaders pushed back, he didn’t try to force his view. Rather, he simply moved outside the church to reach those he could relate to.

Youth groups, taxi ranks, street corners, late-night conversations — anywhere young people gathered, Luxolo carried the story of Jesus in their own language. He didn’t dilute the message; he translated it.

Choosing Unity Over Cynicism

Given his early experiences of being misunderstood, it would have been easy to grow sceptical about the Church. But instead, Luxolo took the long road toward unity.

“My posture should always be that we are there to serve the church… because once we start working together, there’s so much more we can do.”

Today, serving with Alpha Southern Africa, he is more committed than ever to strengthening the Church’s ability to engage culture with clarity and compassion.

Leadership Requires Proximity, Not Popularity

In an age shaped by digital influencers and visible platforms, Luxolo sees a deeper longing in young people:

“People follow leadership they can actually feel — leaders they can walk with.”

Luxolo’s example underlines that true influence isn’t about being widely seen; it’s about being genuinely present. True leadership isn’t built on reach but on relationship – not popularity but proximity. Authentic influence isn’t, therefore, about being widely seen. It’s about stepping into the cultural moment and embodying the presence of Christ there.

Investing in the Next Generation

Throughout our conversation, one thread kept emerging: legacy. As Luxolo put it:

“We should always be focusing on the next generation… taking ourselves out of our jobs as quickly as we can and raising up leaders.”

Our theology remains unchanging, but our methods must evolve if we hope to reach the future Church. For Luxolo, this means investing resources — time, energy, money — into those coming behind us:

Leadership is not about holding on to titles or positions. It’s about lifting others up so that they can surpass us.

Advice for Emerging Leaders

When I asked him what he’d say to young Christians stepping into their calling, Lucolo offered some straightforward wisdom:

“Put yourself around people who share the same passions and values. Ask: How can I help you? How can I serve you?”

Availability, curiosity, and teachability shape a lifetime of purpose.

In your everyday environment of work, neighbourhood, and culture, where might God be inviting you to make the gospel understandable?

Which of your current methods, assumptions, or habits need to shift to serve your context more faithfully?

As we follow Jesus in our own context, may His presence become visible through our lives, one relationship at a time.

*To find out more about the Follow Forward podcast, click here.
To listen to Jabulani’s interview, choose your preferred platform: YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.

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Follow Forward in Vulnerability

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Adapted from a conversation with South African singer/songwriter Jabulani Majola on the Follow Forward Podcast.*

Vulnerability isn’t something most of us naturally run toward. It probably would not feature in your top five characteristics of great leaders. However, in my recent conversation with South African artist and storyteller Jabulani Majola (stage name – Jabulile Majola), it became clear that vulnerability has been one of the key tools God has used to shape his life and his music.

The music industry can be a particularly difficult place to express vulnerability. However, Jabulani is determined to stay true to his conviction that he is called to express himself through music honestly and transparently.

“My vulnerability… is honesty. Honesty will always make people respond,”

A Story Formed in Beauty and Struggle

Jabulani’s upbringing included both beauty and struggle. Adopted into a large family with parents committed to serving Jesus, he nonetheless wrestled with deep questions about belonging and identity.

“You start to have questions… about where you actually come from… It was very difficult to feel loved… even though I had people in my life that were affirming me.”

These early wounds became the soil God later used to shape his compassion—expressed through storytelling and his emerging voice as an artist.

Music as a Place of Healing

For Jabulani, music wasn’t an escape from pain—it was a way to process it with God. He described it as

“a soundtrack that helps you create that song of hope.”

What began as rap and spoken word slowly transformed into the Zulu folk sound he now carries. That shift, he explained, required faith and courage:

“Everything felt out of reach… but every step was a step of faith.”

Embracing his heritage, language, and identity unlocked a depth in his music that resonates even with those who don’t understand isiZulu.

Leading out of Vulnerability

Repeatedly, Jabulani connects vulnerability as the means to discovering purpose.

“The closer you get to God, the more He breaks you… and everything that you do is from that humble place.”

This is why his performances often feel like ministry moments. He doesn’t force anything. He simply lays his story before the room, trusting the Holy Spirit to use honesty as an invitation. His vulnerability becomes a doorway for creating an environment where the grace of Jesus becomes tangible. And, in this way, he leads people into God’s presence.

Consistency Beyond the Stage

What struck me most was how intentionally he seeks to align his off‑stage life with his on‑stage message. His integrity, more than his talent or rising platform, is what makes his life such a compelling witness.

In this, he is seeking to follow the example of Jesus, who expressed deep vulnerability in the Garden of Gethsemane before surrendering fully to the Father: “May your will be done.” (see Matthew 26:36-50)

Vulnerability may not be the first quality we look for in great leaders, but as Jabulani is discovering, it is a critical pathway to influence. So perhaps it’s important to pause and reflect:

Where might God be inviting you to practise greater vulnerability as a means of encountering more of His grace?

How could sharing part of your story create space for someone else to encounter Jesus?

Rather than striving to project extreme self‑confidence, we may discover that God has gentler, wiser ways to mould us into Christ‑centred servant leaders.

*To find out more about the Follow Forward podcast, click here.
To listen to Jabulani’s interview, choose your preferred platform: YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.

Enjoy Jabulile Majola music on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7hGWd…
Apple Music:   / jabulile-majola  
YouTube:    / @ujabulilemajola  

adventure

Follow Forward in God’s Adventure

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Adapted from a conversation with Bec Scales, former director of Life Child, on the Follow Forward Podcast.*

I moved to South Africa in 1998, when I was 23. It was ostensibly going to be a two-year church placement before returning to the UK. Little did I know that it was a massive step in uncovering God’s African adventure for my life… one that is still being revealed almost 30 years later.

Bec Scales similarly made a move to South Africa, a step into the unknown borne out of obedience to God. There’s something remarkable about leaders who keep saying “yes” to God — not because the road is easy, but because they’ve learned to trust His voice more than their comfort.

Bec’s story is full of moments of faith, where she said yes to God despite not knowing the whole picture. Her story is an honest, faith-filled adventure. And it’s the kind of story emerging leaders need to hear right now.

A Heart Formed Early

Bec grew up in a Jesus-loving family in Australia. At just six years old, she remembers saying to her mum: “I want to know God like you do.”

That simple prayer set the trajectory of her life. But it wasn’t until she encountered God in unexpected places — like a Hong Kong church service at age 15 — that her heart for the nations was ignited.

“God opened my eyes and my heart to the world… that was a key turning point for the future in missions.”

The seeds of calling were planted long before she knew where they would lead. As a 15-year-old all she knew was that the next step of obedience was to be baptised as a public declaration that she fully trusted God.

Leadership Formed through Loss

And her faith in God was tested to the core when, as a young adult, her mum unexpectedly died.

After losing her mum, she faced the hardest theological question of all: Is God still good when He doesn’t do what we hoped?

Her youth pastor challenged her: “Surely your view of God doesn’t change based on whether He healed your mum or not?”

Bec responded with a lifelong commitment:

“I’m never going to shake my fist at God because I don’t understand.”

That conviction sustained her through years of ministry among children facing trauma, poverty, and heartbreak.

A Courageous Yes to Cape Town

Fast forward a few years. While backpacking through East Africa, Bec prayed a bold prayer:

“God, I’ll go anywhere in the world — as long as I know You’ve sent me and You’re going with me.”

That prayer led her to a providential meeting with Pastor Anthony Liebenberg, who invited her to Cape Town. She didn’t know the city, the church, or the people — but she recognised the voice of God and said “yes” to the next adventure.

And true to her word, she packed up her life in eight weeks and landed in Cape Town as Life Church’s new Youth Pastor — a job she didn’t apply for in a city she had never seen.

But obedience doesn’t bypass testing. Those early months were difficult as she adjusted to a different culture and navigated various challenges. Yet God kept whispering one phrase: “Stay at your post.”

Bec’s durability was forged in those first hard weeks.

Where Beauty and Brokenness Meet

I often say that I have a love-hate relationship. I love the beauty, diversity and uniqueness of this incredible city. And yet, I hate the contrast between rich and poor, which is sewn into the very fabric of this most unequal city.

As Cape Town became home to Bec, she experienced the same tension. Cape Town is breathtaking and heartbreaking at the same time. Serving in Sea Point exposed her to the complexities of urban youth ministry. But it was stepping into Life Child that deeply shaped her calling.

“Kids are kids no matter where they are… they still deserve love, security, protection.”

Through the work in the Cape Town townships of Samora Machel and Kosovo, she discovered both the depths of vulnerability and the incredible resilience of families living there.

“There were incredible people shining their lights… they just needed strengthening and equipping.”

Bec was becoming a Christ-centred advocate for the voiceless, a conviction that she carries deeply in her being.

A Life-Changing Yes: Becoming a Mum

One of the most beautiful parts of Bec’s story is her journey into motherhood. In 2011, God placed twin baby girls — Buhle and Okuhle — in her arms. Again, it started with a question from God: “Will you say yes?”

She said yes before she understood the cost, the complications, or the miracles that would be required.

“I’ll be their mum if You’ll be their Father. A Father protects and provides.”

And God did protect and provide, through years of paperwork, visa challenges, and faith-testing waiting. Her daughters are now 15 and thriving.

After 15 years in Cape Town, God began nudging Bec toward another unknown step: returning to Australia so her daughters could gain citizenship. It was a new season, but it required the same commitment to obedience.

“If God wants us to do this, He has to make it all happen. And He did — miracle after miracle after miracle.”

In January 2024, they moved to Brisbane to start a new chapter — still following forward.

Advice for Emerging Leaders

I asked Bec what she’d say to young leaders who sense God calling them into the unknown. She didn’t hesitate:

“Just do it. I’m not going to sugarcoat it…. First hear God. If you can say, ‘The Lord said to me,’ then you can step out in confidence.”

She went on to say,

“I’m so grateful I didn’t hold back out of fear… My life would have been so different if I hadn’t said yes to His open doors.”

Her story is a reminder that following Jesus isn’t safe — but it is beautiful. And the adventure only begins when we take the courageous step forward.

Where might God be inviting you to say a courageous “yes” — even if it leads into the unknown?

What step of obedience have you been delaying because of fear, and how might trusting God reshape your response?

So wherever God is nudging you — a city you’ve never seen, a ministry you didn’t plan, a responsibility you don’t feel ready for — may you have the courage to say “yes”. God’s adventure always begins with obedience.

To find out more about the Follow Forward podcast, click here.
To listen to Bec’s interview, choose your preferred platform: YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.

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Followership Before Leadership

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There’s no shortage of leadership content available today. Podcasts. Books. Courses. Conferences. Seminars. You can study leadership at every level, even earn a PhD in it. And yet, a nagging question remains:

If we know so much about leadership, why are there so few great leaders?

The Problem with Our Leadership Obsession

We live in a culture obsessed with leadership. We talk constantly about influence, platforms, vision, and impact. But perhaps the problem isn’t a lack of leadership knowledge. Maybe we’ve been focusing on the wrong thing.

What if the issue isn’t that we need better leaders—but that we need better followers?

That may sound counterintuitive in a world that prizes visibility and authority, but the bible consistently points us in that direction. Before anyone is worth following, they must first learn how to follow well.

Follow my Example

The apostle Paul—arguably one of the most influential leaders in Christian history—puts it like this:

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1).

Paul didn’t ask people to follow him because he was impressive, gifted, or powerful. He invited people to follow him because his life was oriented around following Jesus. Leadership, at its best, is not about self‑promotion or control. It is the overflow of a life fixed on Christ. The effectiveness of our leadership is directly proportional to how closely we follow Him.

Jesus Himself made this clear. In John 13, after washing His disciples’ feet, an act of self-sacrificial humility, He said:

“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

Jesus didn’t just teach leadership; He embodied it. He showed us how to serve, how to love, how to build relationships, how to live with integrity and compassion. To follow forward is to follow His example as we move through life and leadership.

Follow Forward

This is the name I’ve given to my recently launched podcast*. It’s highly intentional as I want to hold counter-cultural conversations about leadership.

It’s not about following trends.
It’s not about following personalities.
It’s not about building a following.

It’s about moving forward by fixing our eyes on Jesus—and bringing others with us.

This podcast will tell stories of people who were transformed by Christ and went on to become transformational leaders. Not celebrities. Not superstars. Often, ordinary people who do extraordinary things because they choose to follow faithfully. Those who have been rescued by Jesus, and are now following Him in the task of rescuing others.

Shifting the Spotlight: From Bad Leaders to Faithful Ones

Bad leadership dominates the headlines. Whether focusing on Christian or secular leaders, failures, scandals, and abuse of power get the airtime. This constant focus on failure distorts our imagination.

Across Africa, and around the world, I get to witness countless faithful leaders quietly serving, loving, building, and empowering others. These stories rarely make the news, but they deserve to be told. Follow Forward is about flipping the switch and changing the narrative.

This podcast intentionally amplifies global voices—particularly African voices—that don’t always get the platform they deserve. There is deep wisdom, resilience, and Christ-centred leadership emerging from this continent, and the world needs to listen.

Becoming Follower‑Focused

Once we are focused on becoming great followers of Christ, we can then become follower‑focused. That doesn’t mean counting how many people follow us on our social media platforms or attend our events. It means investing in those who will one day surpass us. True leadership is not threatened by the success of others. In fact, it delights in it.

One of the most powerful leadership images is that of a pace‑setter in a race. The pace‑setter isn’t there to win. They’re there to set the rhythm so others can reach their goal—sometimes even break records. That’s the kind of leadership Jesus modelled. That’s the kind of leadership we’re called to.

The Follow Forward Challenge

Through the podcast and associated media, I hope we can provoke you to think about the following:

  • Are you dedicated to following Jesus’ example? How is this shaping your life and leadership?
  • Who in your life has followed Christ in a way that shaped you?
  • And, just as importantly, who are you doing that for now?

Because when we follow forward, fix our eyes on Jesus, and live for the good of those coming after us, we don’t just become better leaders. We become people worth following.

*This article relates specifically to episode 1 of the Follow Forward podcast.

The Follow Forward Podcast is a Christian leadership interview podcast capturing wisdom, faith, and lived experience from global Christian leaders who are shaping communities, ministries, and movements across Africa and beyond.

To find out more about the Follow Forward podcast, please click here.

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Introducing the Follow Forward Podcast

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My New Journey in Christ‑Centred Leadership

In a culture where influence, platforms, and personal brand often seem to define leadership, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn back to the simplicity of Jesus’ words: “Follow me” (e.g. Mt. 4:19). Those words are shaping my understanding of leadership more than anything else. They remind me that, at its core, leadership in God’s kingdom has never been about prominence or visibility—it has always begun by following the example of Christ.

That conviction is what led me to start the Follow Forward Podcast, launching in January 2026. As a leadership development initiative of The Message Trust, I aim to create a space where we can explore Christ-centred leadership through honest and thoughtful conversations with men and women serving faithfully across Africa and beyond.

Why I Called It “Follow Forward”

The simple idea is this: great leadership grows out of great followership. Before we try to lead anyone else, we’re called first to follow Jesus. Before we think about influence, we think about obedience. Before we attempt to shape the world, we allow Him to shape us. Additionally, we should strive to follow the example of other leaders who emulate Christ, as Paul succinctly stated, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).

“Follow Forward” expresses that journey of moving step by step with Christ, trusting Him to guide us into whatever lies ahead. My desire is not to elevate personalities but to uncover the deeper stories of God’s work in the lives of ordinary leaders learning to follow Him faithfully.

What the Podcast Will Be Like

Each episode invites listeners into an unhurried conversation. These are not polished success stories or leadership formulas. They’re stories of real people navigating calling, challenge, perseverance, and transformation. I want listeners to hear the wisdom that comes from lived experience—the kind that emerges through wrestling, listening, and trusting God in the hidden places.

The leaders who join me come from a wide range of contexts: local churches, community initiatives, non-profits, grassroots movements, and global networks. Many serve across Africa or within the African diaspora, each carrying a unique perspective shaped by culture, context, and faith.

Together, we explore what it means to follow Jesus as leaders today. We talk about how to steward influence without losing our soul, what we can learn from different cultural expressions of faith, and how God might be shaping leaders across Africa and around the globe for this particular moment in history.

Who This Podcast Is For

I hope that this becomes a companion for anyone who wants to grow in Christ‑centred leadership—whether you’re a young leader still finding your voice or someone who has been serving for decades but desires fresh encouragement and perspective. Even if you’re simply curious about what God is doing across the continent, I believe these stories will be life-giving.

What I long to offer through Follow Forward is a blend of practical wisdom, spiritual depth, cross-cultural insight, and a renewed sense of hope. I want leaders to walk away reminded that God is at work—often quietly, often unexpectedly—and that faithful obedience matters more than anything we might build or achieve.

Launching January 2026

New episodes will be released weekly, providing a steady rhythm of encouragement and reflection. If you’re longing for leadership conversations that go deeper—rooted in Scripture, shaped by real life, and connected to what God is doing globally—I would love for you to join me on this journey.

Real voices. Global stories. Christ‑centred leadership.

🎙️ Subscribe here: https://linktr.ee/followforwardpodcast

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Leading with Eternity in Mind

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In his classic book, Mere Christianity, CS Lewis wrote:

If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.

This statement dispels the myth that we can be ‘too heavenly minded to be any earthly good’. In fact, those most heavenly minded often have the greatest impact on earth. Yet Christian leaders face two equal and opposite dangers in this regard.

The first danger is being overly absorbed in this world. As we pursue leadership goals, we can fall into the trap of placing too much importance on the here and now. John offers a corrective: ‘Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them’ (1 Jn. 2:15).

But does that mean we should only focus on the next life? The second danger is over-absorption with the next life, which can lead to disengagement from the present. Afterall, Jesus prayed, ‘your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ (Mt. 6:10).

Navigating the Tension

Clearly, there is a tension between these two positions. This is the premise of my new eBook, Leading with Eternity in Mind. In it, I aim to present a perspective that enables Christian leaders to navigate the tension between the now and the next. Rather than viewing this as a troublesome predicament, I believe that embracing this tension gives us a healthy perspective for life and leadership.

A heavenly perspective should never make us of no earthly use. Instead, it should be the bedrock that empowers us to bring the influence of heaven to our daily lives. As I wrote in my book Finding Life After Death:

I believe that a biblical view of heaven will enable us to become infinitely more useful on earth. Jesus, at the onset of his public ministry, proclaimed, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near’ (Mt. 4:17) and much of his teaching focused on what it means for his followers to be citizens of the kingdom of heaven while still living on earth… Clearly, Jesus wasn’t talking about heaven as a separate reality, merely relevant for when we die. Rather, the kingdom of heaven is a realm that impacts the daily lives of God’s followers who live under his Lordship as the sovereign king of heaven and earth.

Bringing Heaven’s Influence to Earth

We are familiar with the phrase start with the end in mind. As Christians, we believe that the ultimate end is to spend eternity worshipping Jesus. However, we don’t have to wait for the afterlife to experience His presence. We enjoy Him here and now, which is why Paul admonishes us: ‘And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him’ (Col. 3:17).

Whatever your sphere of leadership, leading with eternity in mind will remind you that your primary task is to bring the influence of the kingdom of heaven into the pulpit, office, boardroom, or university campus. Communion with our heavenly God begins right here on earth. As we experience His presence in all we do, we discover the power of the next life — right as we lead in the here and now.

Free eBook available now

Leading with Eternity in Mind has been published by www.biblicalleadership.com and is available free of charge by clicking here.

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Grab a Towel French Edition Launched in Togo

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In July 2025, over 200 leaders gathered in Lomé, Togo for a two-day Servant Leadership Conference. Hosted by Developing Africa Together and The Message Trust, this event marked a major milestone, as it featured the official launch of the French edition of Grab a Towel, titled Saisir une Serviette.

Given my passion for equipping African leaders, this is a significant step forward. Across Africa, 21 countries list French as a primary or secondary language, with an estimated 167 million French-speaking people. This represents a huge opportunity, especially as there is a clear shortage of Christian leadership resources available in French.

Why Togo?

This is one of those incredible stories that only God could orchestrate.

A few years ago, I received a Facebook message from Steve Williams, an American pastor from Ohio, who had read Grab a Towel and wanted to buy copies for all his friends in Christian leadership. One of those friends was Emmanuel Agbovi, a Togolese expat living in Cleveland, Ohio. He is also an elder at Christ Community Chapel, a church attended by some mutual close friends of mine, whom I was scheduled to visit in 2023.

This led to a divine connection. I was able to meet both Steve and Emmanuel in person. Emmanuel had read the book and shared it with English-speaking pastors in Togo, who all felt strongly that it needed to be available in French. Emmanuel’s charity, Developing Africa Together, agreed to sponsor the translation and commissioned Pastor Raphael Guegue, a Togolese leader, to translate the book.

And so, oulà, the journey began. The final result is a beautifully translated edition, complete with the interaction guide.

Launching in Lomé

In July 2025, I travelled to Togo for the official launch. Togo is a beautiful country located between Benin and Ghana. I was joined by two South African pastors and warmly hosted by Emmanuel and Raphael.

It was an incredible experience. We have now begun praying and planning for the opening of a Message hub in Togo. As you’ll see from the feedback below, the response to the conference was overwhelmingly positive.

We now hope to serve other French-speaking nations with servant leadership resources and training. If you would like more information, please feel free to get in touch.

The French edition is also available on Kindle. You can find it here:
👉 https://amzn.eu/d/46OXqYU
Please share the link with anyone who might benefit.

Conference Reflections from Delegates

Pasteur Didier Kougblenou

“I give glory to God for the success of this conference held in Lomé on 10–11 July 2025, under the theme Christ-Centred Servant Leadership.

The sessions reminded me once again that, to be a servant leader according to God’s heart, we must love, humble ourselves, and serve, while keeping Jesus Christ at the centre of our leadership.

I was enriched, encouraged, and strengthened. It is a personal challenge I now carry into the next phase of my ministry.

I commend the speakers for the quality and depth of their teaching, and express deep gratitude to Developing Africa Together for making this impactful event a reality, for the glory of God.”

Virginie Kpamnona

“This Christ-Centred Servant Leadership conference truly challenged me. Through gospel-based teaching, I rediscovered a leadership model rooted in humility, service, and sacrificial love.

The facilitators powerfully highlighted how Jesus, by washing His disciples’ feet and giving His life, embodies perfect leadership. It made me reflect deeply on how I lead, not by trying to impress or dominate, but by serving those around me.

What touched me most was the reminder that true leadership begins with a heart transformed and fully obedient to God.

This conference strengthened my commitment to live out Christian virtues more intentionally, both personally and professionally.”

Pasteur Ferdinand Kpakou

“I give thanks to God for this powerful conference held on 10–11 July 2025, under the theme Christ-Centred Leadership.

I left encouraged, strengthened, and deeply challenged. This event has had a profound impact on me and has brought real transformation in my life. By God’s grace, it will also bring lasting change in my ministry.

The speakers were experienced and shared not just theory, but truths they live out. I have studied servant leadership before, but this conference provided practical tools and fresh insights.

One phrase still echoes in my heart, ‘In unity and mutual submission, it’s amazing what can be accomplished when no one seeks the credit.’

May God continue to bless the organisers and speakers in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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Waiting vs. Working

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Living in the tension that transforms leadership

There are many mind-blowing verses in the Bible, but this promise from Jesus grabs me by the throat every time I read it:

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12)

Wait—did Jesus really mean what He said? That we would do greater things than Him?

Since 2013, I’ve had the privilege of being part of The Message Trust. Our founder and now global leader, Andy Hawthorne, consistently reminds us that we are ordinary people in the hands of an extraordinary God. And when we recognise that and depend on Him, remarkable things can happen. Since joining The Message, I’ve witnessed God move incredibly, transforming lives in urban centres worldwide and restoring dignity to the poor and brokenhearted. Andy often points us to Ephesians 3:20, where we’re reminded that God can do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”

And yet, we still long for more. We long to see God’s name and renown honoured across the world, especially in marginalised, impoverished, and systemically broken urban communities.

This raises a profound question: How is this possible? Can we expect to do greater things than the Lord Jesus Christ?

Many leaders operate under the paradigm that success is proportional to effort. We naturally assume that productivity directly correlates with reward. This seems to be a fundamental law of leadership. But what if biblical leadership operates from a completely different paradigm?

It’s time to rethink our success-driven worldview, especially in approaching leadership as Christians. Scripture teaches that we are called to lead with exponential impact that is disproportionate to our efforts. Scripture doesn’t speak in terms of success, but in terms of fruitfulness. The source of fruitfulness isn’t our effort, but our reliance on the Holy Spirit. In this paradigm, the goal isn’t popularity or praise, but Spirit-inspired, God-exalting worship.

This approach to life and leadership is woven throughout the entire Bible. It starts in Genesis, with God’s command to Adam and Eve to be fruitful and increase in number (Gen. 1:28), and continues with His promise to Abraham that his descendants would be countless and a blessing to the world (Gen. 12:2–3). In Genesis 26:12, we see a physical example of this principle when the Lord blesses Isaac with a hundredfold harvest—an abundant result that went far beyond his effort.

This account of Isaac’s extraordinary harvest provides context for Jesus’ promise that those who receive the good seed of the gospel will produce “a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown” (Mark 4:20). Jesus wasn’t talking about personal prosperity, but about kingdom fruitfulness. The fruit is disproportionate to the effort because it comes from receiving and believing the Word!

“Every good seed that falls on good soil has great potential for multiplication.”
— Bekele Shanko

However, the path to this kind of impact can feel counterintuitive. Don’t get me wrong—the Bible clearly endorses hard work (e.g., Col. 3:23). But it also consistently calls us to depend on God. Throughout Scripture, we’re encouraged to wait on the Lord.

It’s in that sacred tension between working hard and waiting on God that true fruitfulness can happen.

That tension has challenged and shaped me as a leader. It’s why I’ve written Waiting vs. Working: A Christian Leader’s Tension, which explores what I’ve learned about leading from a posture of dependence rather than drive alone. This shift, done for His glory, can unlock fruit far beyond any human effort. I know, because I’ve seen it.

Maybe that’s what Jesus meant when He said we’d do even greater things.

Please click here to download your free copy of Waiting vs. Working, published by biblicalleadership.com. This is the first in a series of short leadership eBooks I’ll be releasing in the coming months.

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Grab a Towel: Luganda version launched in Uganda

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We are excited to announce the launch of the Luganda version of Grab a Towel, which took place in May 2025. The launch was held during a special training event for Anglican priests and lay readers, organised by The Message Uganda. In Luganda, Grab a Towel is translated as Weesibe Ekimyu, and we are grateful that the book is now accessible to a new audience in Uganda. The Luganda version will soon be available on this website.. Contact us for more information.

Godfrey E.N. Nsubuga was the chief translator for this project, and he submitted this review of Grab a Towel

I’m grateful to God for the opportunity to serve as the lead translator of Grab a Towel, a book by Tim Tucker, from English into Luganda. This translation journey allowed me to deeply engage with the content of the book. As a result, my longstanding knowledge and experience, as a Bible school teacher and church leader in various capacities for over 35 years, were profoundly challenged, paragraph by paragraph.

Right from the start, I was struck by the words of Pastor Anthony Liebenberg, who, in his endorsement at the beginning of the book, offered this caution to readers: “Get ready for adjustment after adjustment, because that’s what this book is all about. Grab a towel and enjoy the journey.”

The author presents Christian leadership through what can only be described as an “upside-down” approach—radically different from traditional concepts and practices. First and foremost, he emphasises that you are not truly a leader unless you are first a servant. Moreover, this leader must not only be rooted in Christ, but must also fully embody Christlikeness—inside and out.

A Christ-centred servant leader, according to the book, should consistently work with a heart focused on raising others up, ultimately phasing themselves out to make room for new, Christlike leaders they have mentored. The essence of this model is a leader who is always willing to “give away power” to those they have groomed, mentored, and discipled—to see them not only reach their level of leadership, but surpass it.

This message deeply challenged me. I found myself sitting down with my fellow ministry associates to reflect on our own efforts. We had to confront the reality: if, after several years, we have not yet raised up capable servant leaders to take over from us, we are doing too little. We have since adjusted our discipleship process in our church to ensure that our followers are empowered to reach their God-given potential as servant leaders as quickly and effectively as possible.

At the heart of Grab a Towel is the powerful idea that all the activities, programs, and projects of a ministry or church must revolve around a passion for people, not the other way around. Too often, ministries can become so focused on programs and activities that they lose sight of the people they are meant to serve. This leads to a “people for programs” model, instead of “programs for people.” In other words, everything we do should prioritise people, not treat them as appendages to our church or ministry calendar.

I’m deeply thankful to the author, Tim Tucker, for writing Grab a Towel. I truly believe this book will create ripple effects wherever it is read and used for training.

Godfrey E.N.Nsubuga is a trained journalist, theologian and teacher. For the last 30 years, he has written course books for the ministries of Education for Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda and Kenya. He has taught in several Bible Colleges in Uganda and currently he is managing Nissi Publishers (U) Ltd.

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