Doug Ethiopia

I’ve always wanted to be a leader and have spent most of my life striving to be a good, Godly leader. Leadership is something that I think about often and it’s somewhat of a hobby. I listen to leadership podcasts, read leadership books, go to leadership conferences, and meet regularly with other local leaders. When Chris Davis (Founder and Executive Director of globalLead) asked me to consider going with him to Ethiopia and Kenya my first thought was “what will I be leading?” The answer to that question was “I’d really just like you to come along and help me.”

So after a lot of prayer and discussion with my family I decided to follow Chris to Africa. Unlike almost every other trip I have been on, I wasn’t in charge, I wasn’t the leader. I found myself in a new roll. I was the follower. After discussing the details of the trip and hearing about all the meetings and trainings that were planned I got really excited. In a few short weeks, thanks to many friends and family, I was able to raise the funds to go. This was really happening, I was going on a mission trip to Ethiopia and Kenya to serve with globalLead.

On this trip I had the privilege to follow Chris and do ministry. We worked with teens, taught Youth Pastor training sessions, encouraged and prayed with Pastors, shared Christ with strangers, and met all kinds of people. I was involved in board training and strategy sessions. I was humbled to ask questions and listen to denominational leaders, spend time with national youth workers and international aid coordinators.

I helped Chris take 15 people through the level 3 training, which means that these 15 youth leaders are now certified to train others. The 39 youth leaders that completed level 1 just blew me away with their desire to reach the youth in their cities. I witnessed a hunger and excitement for the gospel and a passion from these leaders to really embrace the strategy that they were being taught.

Three lessons I learned about following from my first globalLead trip to Africa:

  1. Followers need to be committed to the mission, they need to be “all in” in order to accomplish the ministry.
  2. Followers need to listen to instructions and obey the mentor/teacher.
  3. Followers need to remember that they, too, have people watching and following them. They need to be living a life worth imitating. It’s good to turn around from time to time and see who is following you.

If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandments of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. 1 Samuel 12: 14 ESV

Striving to Follow,
Doug Taylor
globalLead Board of Director Member