What I Learned from Zimbabwe & South Africa

Recently Janine and I got to lead a team to Zimbabwe and South Africa. We called it an Adventure Missions Retreat - kind of a combination of executive retreat meets mission trip meets Africa adventure. Here's a quick report of what we did, what resulted and what we learned.

What did we do?

Together with a team of business leaders from Orlando (FL), Austin (TX), Dallas (TX), New Hope (PA) and Atlanta (GA) we arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe to serve Pastor Tom Deuschle of Celebration Ministries Internationa at their annual synod. This looked like teaching and training approximately 600 bi-vocational pastors and city leaders (from Zimbabwe and surrounding nations) on partnering with God at work. 

We then took the team with Tommy Deuschle and two local leaders to Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe where we enjoyed fishing, game drives, individual strategic prayer sessions and general relaxation in the beautiful national park.

Following the lake excursion we flew to Cape Town, South Africa where we served with Brendon Knott and Colin Walker doing a Heaven in Business workshop for about 70 local business, non-profit and workplace leaders.

What were the results?

Our strategic objectives were as follows

1. Strengthen and Serve local leaders in their assignment

2. Activate the team and serve them in clarity for what's next

3. Connect train and activate participants of the events

Feedback from the local leaders (Tommy, Brendon, Colin) confirmed we achieved objective #1 with excellence. The team were activated and all gained clarity for next steps in their life and workplace calling. And the feedback from event participants was outstanding - 10/10. In both locations, the common critical feedback was that participants wanted another day of training! Words like 'life changing' and 'pivotal' were common.

Best yet was feedback from the teams of people we served with who were blown away by the authenticity, genuine care and leadership wisdom. One of our drivers gave feedback that this was one of two top kingdom business training had ever received (he has a significant import business in Zimbabwe) and more than that, he was impacted by our personal interest in him, his family and his business.

What did we learn?

1. Our strategy is working

It is easy to take a team to do an event and get caught up in the temporary buzz and vanity metrics that immediately circulate. Our strategy is to focus first on the leaders who host - they are the key to this as an ongoing fruitful endeavor. Secondly it is the activation of the team we have brought with us. Third is the participants themselves, with whom we have the least amount of personal interaction. 

Our strategy of focusing on the leaders and team first was confirmed as fruitful, productive and ongoing. Discipleship is an ancient practice that works! 

2. Not all Collaboration is equal

As multiple organizations seek to work together in the cause of 'collaboration' it has become clear that not all collaboration is equal - some of this is a distraction or even deterrent to you doing what you are called to do. It is better to celebrate and refer people to an organization that can help people better than you, rather than merging together and being no things to all people. In order to do this you must first know clearly WHO ARE YOU CALLED TO SERVE ie. who is your customer? How do you help them? How do you sustain what you are doing (how are you financially sustainable?). Once you can clearly answer these questions then consider collaboration aligned with the following:

• How well are you aligned on vision and values? (Are you going the same direction with the same or similar core values?)
• How well are you aligned on capacity? (is your target customer the same/different/diverse)
• How well are you aligned relationally? (Do you enjoy being with them? Is there a mutual flow of life?)
• Ultimately, what did God say? If He says collaborate then the above questions are irrelevant other than to better understand how you can best serve.

3. Low hope is a silent killer - see next blog/podcast (too much for this post)

4. Sin is Evil and Beauty exists next door

We got to experience the beauty of two nations - kind and noble people, majestic panoramas and creation at it's best at sunrise and sunset, wild and whacky animals in abundance...

And we got to see the devastation of evil. Sin is anything that corrupts our proper connection with one another, with creation, with God and with self. Sin in a nation shows up as poverty, injustice, orphan/victim thinking, oppressive and corrupt government and dishonor that abounds. 

Seeing the beauty and evil so close to one another - almost embedded,  is shocking.

It's also grievous and eye-opening and a wake-up call that my home nation is no different - it's just covered slightly more by affluence and indifference.

It's easy to run to a distant nation and see the need and jump into the opportunities. The greater need is in my own back yard - staying tender towards God and one another. Staying focussed on my calling. Staying fierce in my honor toward all people. And staying in overflowing gratitude toward a God who raises the dead and calls things that don't exist as though they did. Without Him I can do nothing. With Him there is nothing I cannot do.

So, let's go!

NEXT STEP: If you want to multiply the message and work of Heaven in Business into people and places that are limited economically, join us in donating to our registered non-profit: The Hope Directive. Alternatively reach out to me personally with your questions or comments: [email protected]