THE LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
Thought Leadership from Collaborate
This document was published in collaboration with CAFO Research Center
CAFO Collaborate workshops initiate conversations about effective care for orphans and vulnerable children within the local church and NGO networks around the world.
These workshops generate ideas to:
• creatively share information
• involve more churches and individuals,
• equip local churches for more effective care of vulnerable children in their communities.
In a January Virtual Collaborate DISCUSS session, global leaders brainstormed about mentoring leaders in their cultural contexts.
THE LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
In this virtual Collaborate LEARN session, Jedd Medefind, Belay Gebru, and Rephat Nyarenda shared the importance of mentoring the next generation of leaders in our ministries and organizations.
You may view the LEARN session here.
COLLABORATE OUTCOMES
Global leaders were divided by world region for the purpose of this discussion. Given the unique nature of each world region and the indigenous cultures native to each region, the feedback from regions varied. Each group was tasked with the following question:
1. To accomplish our Better Together vision, how can your network, church, or NGO encourage mentoring relationships amongst its staff, leadership, and volunteers?
2. How would your network, church, or NGO change if leaders were both being mentored and mentoring others?
REGIONAL STRATEGIES
Question 1 | To accomplish our Better Together vision, how can your network, church, or NGO encourage mentoring relationships amongst its staff, leadership, and volunteers?
Asia, Europe and North America
• Intentionally foster a culture of safety and trust. Mentoring relationships require a degree of vulnerability. Individuals will be more willing to reach out to a mentor if they feel emotionally safe. Organizations can encourage manager-to-manager mentorship.
• Leaders must first model mentorship. When executive leadership participates in mentoring relationships, those relationships trickle down.
• Encourage staff to bring others alongside them to meetings, coffee, walks, trips, etc. Proximity, consistency, and time together are key. Leadership can make space and time in the workday for relationships to develop.
Africa
• Implement a formal mentoring program.
• Provide and fund leadership development opportunities through training and workshops.
• Give the mentee leadership opportunities. There should be a culture of discipleship and delegation
• Host recreational activities outside of the office where staff can mingle or socialize so mentoring can happen more organically.
Latin America
• Pair staff and volunteers for common activities and projects where they are invited to be intentional about sharing life with each other.
• Promote mentoring relationships through modeling by leadership.
• Connect staff through one-on-one prayer or small groups intentionally so that relationships form organically out of these conversations.
• •
Middle East
• Raise awareness about the importance of mentorship through pastors using Biblical
• Host Bible studies, general meet-ups, and activities to get people in the church together, to match mentors and mentees.
• Using media and technology, use special platforms to join mentors and mentees together virtually. This allows mentoring relationships to cross great distances and even international borders.
REGIONAL STRATEGIES
Question 2
| How would your network, church, or NGO change if leaders were both being mentored and mentoring others?
Asia, Europe and North America
• It would change for the better because leaders would operate more out of a trustbased mindset. More vulnerability would lead to more support and less burnout.
• Employees would grow in their faith, thus changing the culture of the organization as a whole.
• Trust-based relationships would improve not only the work environment but the outcomes of our work as well.
Africa
• It will curb the recurrence of mistakes.
• There will be a straightforward succession of leaders because new leaders are consistently being mentored and trained. They will be ready to step into leadership roles as vacancies arise.
• There will be greater efficiency within our churches and organizations.
Latin America
• It would improve the organization by renewing the forces of leadership and lightening the load of work, as individuals would be more easily able to consult with one another.
• It would help us create relationships of trust, thus improving the organization.
• The mentoring and care model would multiply, leaving a legacy through example. This would trickle down from staff to volunteers and even those we serve.
Middle East
• Spiritual growth would occur within the organization.
• It would improve “legacy” continuation and sustainability within organizations as new leaders are being trained.
• Mentoring would encourage members of the church to explore their unique capabilities and their role in the body of Christ.
cafo.org/global
This document was published in collaboration with CAFO Research Center
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