IMPACT OVER THE DECADESThe history of African Leadership
Nearly 30 years ago, an American pastor began helping church leaders in Kenya find Bibles and training materials for their ministry. He soon found the need extended beyond Kenya. There were church leaders across Africa without Bibles, pastoral materials, or education. In fact, an estimated 95% of pastors worldwide lead churches without proper training.
In Africa, the church is often the center of the community.
Its influence and responsibilities extend far beyond the routine Sunday morning activities. Often, local church leaders are shouldering the emotional wellbeing of the community. They are looked to for answers regarding economic and health concerns in their congregation and community. The role of these leaders in Africa carries almost crushing responsibilities for those who take up this work.
It is from this place that African Leadership was born.
Our mission is to ensure these leaders are equipped for this work with both education and connection. We offer a seminary-style theological education, complemented by courses in community development and trauma healing as a foundation for understanding who they are and how they are created to live. Then, we work to build them into a network of likeminded Africans and Americans who can support and encourage them for the range of complex issues they’ll face as the African church body.
Now in 11 countries and over 89,000 leaders, we are a collection of local African organizations, backed by local boards of directors, locally-devised strategic plans, and local staff to implement African solutions to African problems. Our leaders establish churches, start schools, begin small loan groups, run “healing clubs” for traumatized children, organize cooperatives for women, and much more.
