Leadership Development - Thoughts from Peter and Fidélité

 

      This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

Our topic for 2026 is Leadership Development. In my previous three podcasts, I shared VCP Director Claude’s thoughts about the process of leadership development.

During our recent VCP Supervisor meeting in Nairobi, I invited VCP Assistant Director Peter Baraka and his wife Fidélité Ramla, Dynamic Women Supervisor for Africa, to share their thoughts on leadership development with me as it is very important for me to understand and communicate an African perspective.

We began with some characteristics or qualifications for leadership. The first things mentioned were “are they humble? Do they lead with love? And are they honest?”

At this point, we transitioned to some conversation about the leadership development process, and Peter made two very important points. He teaches those whom he is preparing for leadership “according to the program,” and he watches them to see if they follow instructions.

Peter shared during our conversation that as a VCP Supervisor, he invests much time in the field “inspecting the work.” He likes to ask his coordinators to take him to training centers and to churches that have been planted, and he observes closely if the coordinators know the locations. If they do not, it may be an indication that his coordinators are not visiting the field frequently enough.  

Fidélité talked about the method of Model, Assist, Watch, and Leave as an important part of developing new leaders. This approach is consistent with 1 Corinthians 11:1 where Paul wrote “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” She commented that she is always preparing someone who can help when she is not around. As a mentor she involves others in training events and other activities so they can see how she does things. As a next step, she invites them to assist her as she leads.  She told me that she initially assigns them to the easier tasks so they can build competence and confidence.

The next step, Watch, is very important in the development of emerging leaders. Fidélité gives her mentees lead, or primary, responsibility for training events or other activities. But she does not watch passively; she provides coaching and feedback. She affirms what was done well and suggestions for improvement.

Lastly it is time to Leave and entrust the responsibility to the new leader, and this can be very difficult. But, it is necessary. We will explain Model, Assist, Watch, and Leave in greater detail in a future podcast.

I very much appreciate Peter’s and Fidélité’s leadership and their willingness to share these thoughts with us.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.