The Next Generation Leadership Programme (NGLP) recently convened for its 2025 Recollection Day in Nairobi, an essential annual activity designed for spiritual revival and renewal. This event brought together the new cohort of scholars to connect with the team and anchor their studies in profound spiritual principles. The reflections shared by the participants highlight a clear and powerful mission for the NGLP scholars: to be leaders who are guided by service, transformation, and hope.

A central theme of the day was the call to transformative leadership. Participants stressed that this style of leadership requires setting a compelling example, mirroring the selfless leadership of Christ. A transformative leader must lead by example, embodying humility, attentiveness, and listening to the people, and must focus on addressing both the spiritual and social aspects of the community. As one participant noted, consecrated people and NGLP scholars are called to be global leaders whose actions have a lasting, positive impact on the world, ensuring that they are bringing forth true societal transformation.

The NGLP curriculum places heavy emphasis on servant leadership, teaching that the three guiding principles for upcoming church leaders in Africa are service, transformation, and inspiration. The most vital takeaway is a simple yet revolutionary truth: “as leaders we came to serve others and not to be served.” This principle dictates that the priorities of the people must always come first, with the leader intentionally placing themselves last. This self-effacing approach ensures that leadership is not about personal power, but about genuine empowerment and upliftment of the community.

To successfully embrace this demanding model of leadership, the scholars recognized the need for a strong spiritual foundation. True transformation must be anchored in prayer, specifically by spending quality time with God to internalize the values of Jesus. Furthermore, a leader must see themselves as a pillar of hope in their community and the wider society. This means acting as an instrument that gives other people hope through their actions and words, and serving as a sign, a pillar, and a mentor to guide the church. They must be a light to those who have lost hope, listening to their suffering, and helping them regain faith, reminding them that “hope does not disappoint.” The ultimate goal is to produce leaders who empower others to also become beacons of hope, ensuring everyone can “arise and shine.”

Finally, the NGLP extends its sincere gratitude to the Bikas family for sponsoring this invaluable opportunity, which brings together diverse leaders from various regions to transform their societies. We also thank the NGLP board for their ongoing guidance and our executive secretary for her excellent coordination. We invite you to watch the video to hear the full, inspiring reflections from the NGLP 2025 Recollection and witness the commitment of these next-generation leaders.