The Message Trust Archives -

July 23 2025

Grab a Towel French Edition Launched in Togo

Tim Tucker Servant Leadership Africa, Grab a Towel, Leadership development, Saisir une Serviette, Servant Leadership, The Message Trust 0

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.”

November 14 2018

Raising Urban Heroes: Identify, Platform, Mission

Tim Tucker Faith and Life gangs, Grab a Towel, hero, servant leader, The Message Trust 0

Below is an extract of a speech that I gave at The Message Trust’s Urban Hero Awards (click here for more info on the event). The Awards celebrated stories of transformation and told the stories of men and women who, against all odds, are now exerting a positive influence in society. Having turned their backs on gangsterism and crime, these incredible young people are now positive role models. This speaks to the heart of what Grab a Towel is all about… providing an environment for emerging leaders to flourish in faith and life, which is an ultimate act of service.

What you have seen tonight are stories that don’t make the headlines. These Urban Heroes are not the normal narrative we hear about South Africa. What you are seeing here is a reversal of the negative impact of gang activity that affects all of us who live in Cape Town… but particularly those who live in our vulnerable communities.

You see, the gangs have a strategy…

They identify youth at risk… they prey upon school children – even in our playgrounds. Young people who are vulnerable, without positive role models, and seeking identity. Gangs provide pseudo security in a dangerous world.

Then the gangs provide a platform… the gangs give young people a place to belong – where they feel accepted – even a family. But it is a family with a sting in the tale as they are told – there is one way in, and no way out.

Ultimately, gangs want to get young people on mission… to fight their turf wars, deal their drugs and commit their crimes. These missions provide them with rank and status that entangle young people more deeply into the gang culture – trapped, addicted, lost.

As I said, what you’ve seen tonight is a reversal of the strategy of the gangs… at The Message, we also have a strategy:

We identify potential in young people. We will go to vulnerable communities, prisons, gang-infested areas, and call that potential to life through the Gospel. We believe every young person has the potential to turn their life around like Mt, Melissa, Xola and the others have done.

We provide a platform for these young people to flourish in faith and life. Through our creative mission, community transformation and Christ-centred enterprise programmes, we provide an environment that reverses the negative impact of the gangs through ongoing discipleship.

Finally, we get young people on a mission. This is the true measure of our success… when those we’ve impacted become transformational leaders and role models– starting a ripple effect of transformation across this city.

And this is our dream. To scale the impact of what you’ve seen this evening as we continue to empower young people who were once the problem, but now have discovered the answer – and his name is Jesus Christ.

Xola won the overall Urban Hero award. He is a young man who epitomises what it means to be a transformational leader. Click here to check out a short video of his story here.

The challenge for all of us is to Grab a Towel and serve the next generation of leaders through identifying, providing a platform, and mobilising them for mission.