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Many Christian leaders look to the biblical character Nehemiah for inspiration. His story—rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem amidst life-threatening opposition—is well known.
With unwavering faith, he completed a seemingly impossible task because he believed deeply in the call God had placed on his life.
But beyond the big, dramatic moments of his leadership, there's a more intimate and often overlooked scene that has shaped my approach to leadership.
It's found in Nehemiah 5:17–18:
"Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people."
To my mind, this is servant leadership at its finest. Not only did Nehemiah reject the privileges normally afforded to someone in his position, but he also used his personal resources to provide for his leadership team.
Can you imagine being a fly on the wall at that daily barbecue? No wonder his team served alongside him with such loyalty and sacrifice.
Nehemiah understood that the secret of great leadership is to serve and empower others to fulfill the calling God has placed on their lives.
By setting a generous table, he wasn't just feeding people—he was multiplying his impact through the leaders around him.
That's my dream, too.
As the African Development Director for The Message Trust, I've felt called to empower and equip emerging African leaders.
In my context, that means laying a table of resources, opportunities, and support—a place where others can thrive and grow.
Recently, we took a significant step toward that vision by hosting our first Africa Leaders Summit in Cape Town, South Africa.
We gathered over 20 leaders from 11 African countries—each one passionate about reaching their communities with the hope of Jesus.
Our goals were simple but powerful:
Our desire is to reach the least, last, and lost with the Good News of Jesus—and to see them flourish in both faith and life. This summit was just the beginning.
Some of my favorite moments from the summit were during worship and prayer. We praised God in unity while expressing our diversity in language, culture, and style. It was a beautiful glimpse of the Church in all its richness.
Another highlight was simply listening—hearing how God is moving in different regions of the continent. The depth of insight and quality of conversation was truly inspiring.
Please pray for the continued development of our Africa Leaders Network.
I'll close with a powerful quote from one of our summit delegates:
"Meeting people from diverse backgrounds and different countries was truly enriching. It provided a unique opportunity to learn from one another's experiences, cultures, and perspectives. These interactions not only broadened my understanding of global issues but also fostered meaningful connections that I hope will grow into lasting partnerships."
 | Dr. Tim Tucker is the Africa Development Director on the global leadership team of The Message Trust. He has a PhD in Practical Theology from North-West University (South Africa) and has written four books, including Grab a Towel: Christ-centered Servant Leadership for the 21st Century (Message Books 2018), Grief and Grace: Facing the Future I Didn’t Choose (Message Books 2019), and The Pace Setter: Paul, Timothy and the Art of Multiplying Leaders(Message Books 2014). Learn More » |
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