“Godly and competent kingdom-minded global leaders”
Associate Prospectus 2025 – 2026
The Journey’s Mission
Beginning with a cohort of university-age professionals, the African Leadership Journey is a life-on-life mentoring journey over a 10-year period focused on intentionally nurturing the competencies needed for godly, kingdom-minded global leadership.
A Vision of the Future
In 2018, Africa became the world’s most Christian continent[1]. With around 718 million Christians[2], Africa is becoming a missional powerhouse. As the African church grows in its vision for and participation in global mission, there is a increasing need for well-trained and competent leaders. From church and marketplace leaders to national and global leaders, an increased number of visionary men and women are needed who serve with humility and confidence, regardless of position; servant leaders, who faithfully model healthy mentoring relationships, especially when in senior roles of responsibility.
The African Leadership Journey (ALJ) desires to train emerging leaders in Africa to serve well at the highest levels of international organizations. Confident in their identity, and possessing a passion for developing others, these men and women will competently shepherd organizations populated with diverse cultures and nationalities. The ALJ is committed to developing godly and competent kingdom-minded global leaders.
Overview of the Ethiopian Journey
Ethiopia is the birthplace of Christianity on the continent. Of its nearly 130 million people, 65% are under the age of 25[3]. The ALJ, being launched with a small group of “Associates” in Addis Ababa, provides a life-on-life mentored process over a 10-year period. In the ALJ, God’s Kingdom values and ends are supreme. The ALJ is characterized by high intentionality, both in the leadership outcomes desired and in the developmental journey needed to obtain those. The ALJ is also contextually driven. Ethiopia has a unique cultural, historical, social, and religious context that informs what ‘healthy leadership development’ looks like for Ethiopians.
The Associates
High-potential young men and women will be selected to participate in a cohort of approximately 15 men and 15 women.
Be Mentored and Mentor
The ALJ will provide a developmental network of mentors that will facilitate mentoring relationships for each participant over throughout the journey. Each Associate will, in turn, establish their own mentor-mentee relationships.
Diverse Input
Associates will be provided, or encouraged to participate in, a diverse range of developmental experiences including nonformal (especially mentoring), informal, and formal training.
Global Leadership Competencies
Leadership formation will focus on developing the character, capacity, and skills needed to serve effectively in multi-cultural, global contexts. Emphasis will be given to processes, capacities, and practices that catalyze leadership development and act as gateways to deeper growth.
Evaluation, Feedback, and Reflection
A key element of the ALJ is providing ongoing evaluation and feedback to the participants concerning desired growth areas, and encouraging reflective practices that nurture development.
Our Beliefs
We believe in…
God’s Written Word
The Holy Scriptures as originally given by God, divinely inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy; and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (2 Tim. 3:14-17; 2 Pet. 1:20,21)
God
One God, the Creator and sustainer of all things, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Rev. 4:11; Heb. 1:3; Deut. 6:4; Dan. 4:34-35; Matt. 28:19)
Jesus Christ
Our Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, His virgin birth, His sinless human life, His divine miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, His mediatorial work, and His Personal return in power and glory. (John 1:1-3,14; Isa. 7:14; Heb. 7:25; John 10:30; Heb. 9:27,28; Phil. 2:5-11)
Salvation
The salvation of lost and sinful man through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ by faith apart from works, and through regeneration by the Holy Spirit. (Isa. 53:5,6; 1 Pet. 2:24, 3:18; Tit. 3:5)
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the believer is enabled to live a holy life, to witness, and work for the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:8; 4:31; Rom. 8:13)
The Church
The unity of all true believers in the Body of Christ, visibly manifest in the Church and made up of all people who have been regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 4:3, 4; 1 Cor. 12:13)
The Future
The resurrection of both the saved and the lost; the saved to the resurrection of life, the lost to condemnation. (1 Thess. 4:16,17; John 5:28,29; 2 Thess. 1:5-10)
Marriage
Marriage, the uniting of one biological man and one biological woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman in such a marital relationship. Any other form of sexual behavior is sinful and offensive to God. (Gen. 2:18-25; Matt. 19:4-6; 1 Cor. 7:2-5; Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Rom. 1:24-27)
The Journey’s Guiding Principles
- Biblical and missional
The timeless wisdom of God’s Word, including its images of shepherd, servant, and steward, will serve as our primary guide for developing effective leadership. This initiative will only succeed as all involved maintain an intimate relationship of prayer with the Heavenly Shepherd. This journey’s goal is to develop missional leaders who understand God’s call on their lives and want to impact the world for His kingdom purposes, especially its remaining Unreached People Groups.
- Holistic
We believe leadership starts with an identity grounded in Christ and character formed through an intimate relationship with Him. Integrity, authenticity, servant heartedness, and humility are the foundation of a godly leader’s life.[4] Leadership development must be holistically integrated, combining knowledge, character, competency, and discernment of calling.
- Developmental and Generative
In addition to scripture, we will use the wisdom of grounded leadership development stages and processes as our guide. Further, since good leadership reproduces itself in others, passing on one’s life and learning through mentoring, coaching, teaching, and training are central to this journey. Finally, knowing that learning happens best when approached with delight rather than duty, we are committed to fostering an environment of joy in discovery.
- Relational and Church Connected
We believe that developmental relationships along with active service in the local church and community are fundamental to good leadership development. Coaching and mentoring form the heart of this journey. Encouragement and accountability will foster a focus on “we” rather than “I.” The ALJ is designed to serve God’s community of faith, not just the developing leader.
- Globally and Contextually Relevant
The ALJ will use contextually relevant leadership paradigms, content, and proposed practices.
The Journey’s Strategy
Beginning with a 5-day launch in Debra Zeit, Associates will be nurtured in their growth as leaders through the following:
- Regular meetings with their assigned mentors
- Readings and reflective assignments
- Twice-yearly lunch-and-learns with senior leaders
- A day-long touch-point gathering in Addis Ababa at the 6-month point of the journey
- An annual multi-day offsite gathering for training and evaluation
Aug: LAUNCH
Oct: Mentor Meeting 1
Nov: Lunch & Learn 1
Dec: Mentor Meeting 2
2026
Feb: Mentor Meeting 3
Mar: 6-month Touchpoint [1 day: assessment, training]
Apr: Mentor Meeting 4
May: Lunch & Learn 2
June early: Mentor Meeting 5
July end: Mentor Meeting 6
Aug: 4-day Annual Meeting [celebration, review, assessments, training]
Essential Commitments
Recognizing the investment required to make this Journey possible, the ALJ is looking for highly motivated, humble candidates with a passion to grow who are committed to doing what’s necessary to travel this journey with their fellow-Associates. If the ALJ does not seem like a good fit for the Associate, if an Associate consistently demonstrates a lack of commitment to the Journey, or if they engage in unethical behavior, they will be asked to step out of the Journey.
Authenticity: The Journey of growing as a leader is filled with challenges and failings. We are looking for people who will be honest with themselves and with others about their challenges and weaknesses.
Confidentiality: Because of the above, we require confidentiality regarding personal details shared in the context of the ALJ cohort.
Attendance: Attendance at day-long touch point gatherings, annual multi-day gatherings, and regular meetings with your mentor and fellow-Associates are required. Attendance at the Lunch and Learns are highly encouraged.
Preparation: There is some reading associated with the Journey. We expect each Associate to have reflectively read through any readings or other preparation material by the date required.
Humble teachabilty: Humility is both the path to learning and the primary ingredient for healthy relationships in community. It is essential you come to this Journey as a fellow journey-er, willing to learn and to walk with your fellow Associates in an attitude of authentic transparency.
Actively engaged in ministry: Each Associate is expected to be actively engaged in ministry in their home church and community.
What Does It Cost to be an Associate?
Expenses for Associates will be nominal. Their primary investment will be demonstrated in their commitment to timely preparation and whole-hearted participation. They will also be responsible for their own conveyance getting to scheduled meetings. Per diem for events will not be provided.
The ALJ Leadership Team
The leadership team is comprised of volunteers who share a common vision for developing godly and competent kingdom-minded global leaders. You can learn more about each of our team here: https://africanlj.org/
[1] According to a study conducted by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity: https://www.gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2019/04/GlobalChristianityinfographic.pdfPg1_.pdf
[2]As of 2023. https://www.gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2023.pdf
[3] https://www.prepwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Ethiopia-HIVAIDS-National-Strategic-Plan-2021-25.pdf
[4] More than a thousand Christian leaders from seven continents were asked how they define Christ-centred leadership. They repeatedly highlighted four qualities: integrity, authenticity, servant heartedness, and humility. p. 87, Multiplying Leaders in Intercultural Contexts: Recognizing and Developing Grassroots Potential by Evelyn & Richard Hibbert, 2023.