Praying about adding a year

A prayeragraph from Zach and Christy

Greetings from Nairobi, Kenya! I have just finished a week of orientation with other "New Directors". Most of the others started their terms in the last year, as they lead the work in other countries in Africa. Due to COVID-19, there was no "new Director" orientation in my first year, so I got my orientation two years through my three year term! But how many terms will I be the director—that is the big question we want you to pray about!
When I first agreed to be director I had in mind only a commitment to the three year term and no more. My first term started in January 2021 and will therefore end in December 2023. 

However, nearly two years and a half into the role I feel I am just beginning to reach the point where I am starting to function well in this role, including knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to lead and relationships with partners that help us to succeed. At this point, I feel it will not help the organisation for me to announce I am stepping down in December 2023.

Directors are allowed to serve for as many terms as they are willing—including partial terms—so Christy and I prayed together about whether to offer to continue. This choice will be submitted to all staff to be ratified—that is for them to accept the offer through a vote.

The role has been extremely demanding.  I hoped to pace myself so that at the end of three years, I still have energy left to keep serving—whether as director or in a different role—avoiding practices that would lead to burnout.  So far in my first two years I have maintained the practice of annual leave, as well as vision days and days away from our office to get away and focus. I also have started meeting with a coach, and this has led to other ways of reducing stress and maintaining margin, as well as improved leadership skills.  Still I have not discovered a way of leading as director in a way that feels harmonious with the rest of my life, including my family life.  I still need to learn how to keep margin and reduce stress while leading well. 

I am also learning how to to be present at home with my children while keeping up with the demands of the role.  We have had some very sweet times together this past year, but there are still ways I would like to invest in and be more with my children.

I plan to continue to press into learning how to serve in a healthy way. I understand this helps not only me, but the whole group.  A few leaders I work closely with have advised me to take extra time while in the US in January to step away from work as much as possible—two weeks after Christmas break.  I hope this time will be a time of prayer and restoration as I prepare to return for another two and a half years. 

Christy and I have talked and prayed about this.  Given that Daso is expected to graduate around June 2025, it seems like a good transition time for our family.  We want to have time for a good transition to another director before we leave Nigeria for furlough, so I should probably hand over the director role some time between December 2024 and February 2024.

In my own personal prayer I have felt that God is using the challenge of the role for good in my life, and for my family.  This is not just an opportunity for us to serve, but for us to grow together in Christ.

When I was first asked if I actually wanted to do this job, I shared with them my eager anticipation in leading others together to serve in our best possible way and my hopes for engaging church leaders and seeking meaningful partnerships. I still value the opportunity to lead our group in these ways.  I do want to continue serving as director if the group feels that my service is still wanted.