Ten IAFR leaders from our varying locations are gathered in Phoenix, and we've taken one of our training sessions to brainstorm a new afterschool program with Sharon, who leads our Atlanta area outreach. As the conversation unfolds, I can see the camaraderie among our leaders in the way they lean wholeheartedly into this conversation, troubleshooting, laughing, dreaming, and encouraging in unison.

This training is our third annual gathering. The demands of leadership in refugee work are intense, and we want to recognize that in how we support our leaders as an organization. Our annual training intensive is one of those ways. The three words we've chosen to summarize our leadership training content are healthy, strategic, and effective.

The root of good leadership is...

During the week, organic conversations encourage, challenge, and give insight. Over one lunch break, Jake, Tom, and I discuss health in leadership and the developing training program.

"Character is at the root of any good leadership," Tom says.

"That's why when we talk about healthy leadership within our organization, we tell our leaders that character is more important to us than the skills they come with." Jake agrees. "So, what's the future looking like for this training, Sarah? This year, we focused on projects and programs, partnerships, and team mobilization."

I finish my bite of sandwich and reply. "Going forward, we hope to have a more established Basic Leadership 101. But we are also looking to develop current leaders and raise up leadership within the organization. We have a lot of work to do regarding developing the whole leadership program and process. We want to keep focusing on tools and processes developed within IAFR for IAFR. I’ve had feedback that people really liked the spontaneous open forum discussion we pivoted into the last day. It gave space for their questions about the organization and its internal workings and development vision that they wouldn't have a chance to ask otherwise."

We want them to know they aren't alone.

"I was surprised by some of the questions that came up in that open forum time," Tom admits. "It was valuable and gave me things to go home and think about as we continue to shape the future of IAFR."

"Ultimately, as we look to the future, we want our staff equipped for healthy leadership, setting them up for success. As far as the organization goes, for it to grow and serve a growing number of forcibly displaced people, helping them survive and recover, can only happen if we have healthy, equipped, empowered leaders. That leadership is critical to the ministry of IAFR. And we want our leaders to know they aren't alone."

A Firepit Communion and a Prayer for Leaders

"Leadership can be lonely," Jake says. "I think the sense of community this training environment provides is something I have found valuable."

We end the week with communion and worship around the firepit in a typical IAFR fashion. As I look around at the leaders in the circle, I pray that as they return to serve their teams and the displaced people along the Refugee Highway, they will know He is with them, empowering them for the work they are called to do.

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