What happens when a young leader is called to guide others in a season of deep change? In this episode of the ILI History Makers Leadership Podcast, Norey Valthiran Daji sits down with Ludwig Schkempher, president and CEO of Multi Ministries in South Africa, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, calling, and the future of the church in Africa. 

Ludwig shares his journey from growing up on a farm in Zimbabwe to stepping into ministry leadership at a young age. Together, they explore the real challenges facing emerging leaders, including questions of credibility, generational transition, mentorship, and the need for strong Christ centered values. They also discuss why identity in Christ may be the missing foundation for many leaders today, especially in cultures where external success, resources, and recognition can easily distract from the deeper call of God. 

This episode offers wisdom for pastors, ministry leaders, and anyone passionate about developing the next generation with humility, courage, and spiritual clarity. Tune in to gain insights on leading with conviction, building across generations, and staying rooted in what matters most.

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Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. When you take part in ILI training, you will discover how ILI's Eight Core Values will help you transform your leadership. Discover more at ILITeam.org/discover.

What if the most important part of leadership is not strategy, but closeness with God? In this heartfelt conversation, Norival Trindade and Shannon Jackson explore why intimacy with God is not just meaningful, but essential for every believer and every leader. Drawing from their personal faith journeys, they share powerful stories of transformation, healing, calling, and the daily pursuit of God’s presence. 

Together, they unpack how intimacy with God grounds us in life’s biggest decisions, strengthens us in moments of struggle, and gives us the joy, clarity, and power to keep moving forward. You will hear practical reflections on prayer, Scripture, silence, solitude, fasting, and serving others, along with honest insights about overcoming sin, showing up consistently, and learning to lean in rather than pull away when life feels messy. 

This episode offers both deep spiritual encouragement and practical wisdom for anyone longing to know God more personally and lead from a place of deeper surrender. Tune in to gain insights on building a life rooted in God’s presence and discovering how intimacy with Him can transform the way you live and lead.

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Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. When you take part in ILI training, you will discover how ILI's Eight Core Values will help you transform your leadership. Discover more at ILITeam.org/discover.

What if the most powerful leadership lesson is not taught from a stage, but shown in the way we serve people? In this encouraging episode of the History Makers Leadership Podcast, Shannon Jackson shares what she experienced during a recent leadership training journey in Abuja, Nigeria. Through stories of humility, cultural sensitivity, and deep care for others, this conversation reveals how servant leadership creates trust, opens hearts, and leaves a lasting impact. 

You will hear how a team of leaders chose relationship over status, sat with participants instead of separating themselves, and adjusted their approach to truly serve the women they came to equip. The episode also explores why servant leadership is rooted in character, why it must stay centered on God’s purpose, and how strong leaders can remain both humble and decisive. Shannon and the host reflect on the leadership triangle of spiritual, transformational, and servant leadership, showing how these values shape leaders who put people first while staying committed to mission. 

This episode is a meaningful reminder that people notice the difference when leaders genuinely care. Tune in to gain insights on leading with humility, conviction, and lasting impact.

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Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. When you take part in ILI training, you will discover how ILI's Eight Core Values will help you transform your leadership. Discover more at ILITeam.org/discover.

What if the secret to sustainable leadership is not working harder, but leading from deeper faith?

In this episode, Daniel and Norival explore compelling insights from Barna research on faith driven CEOs and what sets them apart in today’s demanding leadership environment. The conversation uncovers why leaders who prioritize faith, excellence, growth, and healthy culture often experience less burnout and greater long term impact.

You will discover the core values that consistently show up in thriving organizations, how humility and faith tend to deepen as leaders mature, and why mentoring across generations strengthens both people and mission. They also discuss what CEOs feel most responsible for, including protecting culture, casting clear vision, and aligning teams around purpose rather than profit alone.

If you are a business owner, executive, ministry leader, or emerging influencer, this episode will challenge you to examine the foundation of your leadership and the legacy you are building.

Tune in to gain insights on leading with character, sustaining your calling, and building a culture that lasts.

Resources Mentioned
Barna research on faith driven CEOs; https://barna.gloo.us/reports/faith-forward-ceo 
International Leadership Institute Eight Core Values; https://iliteam.org/corevalues

Support the show

Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. When you take part in ILI training, you will discover how ILI's Eight Core Values will help you transform your leadership. Discover more at ILITeam.org/discover.

What happens when faith becomes the driving force behind your leadership? In this episode, Daniel and Norival explore powerful insights from a Barna study on faith-forward CEOs and what truly distinguishes them in today’s marketplace.

This conversation dives into how purpose reshapes business strategy, company culture, and personal fulfillment. You will hear why many Christian executives see their organizations as platforms for influence and blessing, not just revenue generation. The episode also explores the connection between spiritual disciplines and leadership health, including how practices like prayer, reflection, and intentional soul care contribute to greater satisfaction and clarity in decision-making.

Barnabas and Norval address the gap between identifying as a Christian and actively integrating faith into everyday leadership. They discuss the importance of mentorship and discipleship in the workplace, and how pastors and ministry leaders can better support marketplace leaders who desire to live undivided lives.

If you are a business owner, executive, pastor, or emerging leader who wants to align faith and influence, this episode will challenge and encourage you. Tune in to gain practical insight on leading with conviction, courage, and Kingdom impact.

Resources; 
Barna Research - https://barna.gloo.us/reports/faith-forward-ceo

Support the show

Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. When you take part in ILI training, you will discover how ILI's Eight Core Values will help you transform your leadership. Discover more at ILITeam.org/discover.

What happens when the next wave of church leadership arrives faster than the handoff? In this episode, Daniel and Norival wrap up their conversation on Carey Nieuwhof's church leadership trends for 2026 by diving into two urgent realities: aging senior pastors and the accelerating AI revolution. 

You will hear why many leaders feel a growing tension around succession, trust, and readiness, along with a candid look at why some older leaders struggle to release responsibility and why younger leaders often need real opportunities to grow. The conversation explores mentoring as a missing link, the need for safe spaces to learn through experience, and how the church can honor what previous generations built while still adapting to rapid cultural change.

They also tackle the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence, asking how Christian leaders can approach new technology with wisdom, courage, and integrity while keeping the gospel deeply relational. Tune in to gain insights on developing leaders who can navigate both generational transition and the AI moment with faithfulness and clarity.

Resources:
- 7 Disruptive Church Trends That Will Rule 2026 - https://careynieuwhof.com/church-trends-2026

Support the show

Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. When you take part in ILI training, you will discover how ILI's Eight Core Values will help you transform your leadership. Discover more at ILITeam.org/discover.

What if the biggest threat to discipleship is quietly living in your pocket? In this episode, Daniel sits down with Norival to continue their conversation around Carey Nieuwhof's seven church trends for 2026, focusing on three pressure points every Christian leader is feeling right now: evangelism, discipleship, and preaching. 

You’ll hear why evangelism is becoming bolder and more personal, and why inviting someone to church is good but not the same as sharing the gospel. They unpack how algorithms are shaping what people believe, and why pastors cannot compete on content alone when the world’s best communicators are always one tap away. The answer is not more output, but deeper relationship.

Norival and Daniel also explore the shift in preaching from presentation to encounter, the growing hunger for authenticity, and the call to return to practices that cultivate intimacy with God. If you’re leading in a church, business, campus, or community, this conversation will help you respond with courage, clarity, and the next faithful step. Tune in to gain insights on leading people into real transformation in a noisy world.

Resources:
7 Disruptive Church Trends That Will Rule 2026 - https://careynieuwhof.com/church-trends-2026

Support the show

Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. When you take part in ILI training, you will discover how ILI's Eight Core Values will help you transform your leadership. Discover more at ILITeam.org/discover.

Something unexpected is happening in the church, and thoughtful leaders are paying attention. After years of decline, Gen Z is beginning to re-engage with faith, while long-standing models of church and discipleship are being quietly reshaped.

In this episode of the History Makers Leadership Podcast, Daniel is joined by Norival Trindaji, ILI Vice President of Training, to explore key church trends shaping 2026 and beyond. Drawing from current research and lived leadership experience, they unpack why authenticity, spiritual family, and relational discipleship are resonating deeply in a digital world marked by noise, misinformation, and isolation.

The conversation also addresses a surprising demographic shift within the church, with more men remaining engaged while fewer women are staying connected, and what this means for leaders who want to respond with wisdom, compassion, and intentionality. Throughout the episode, Daniel and Norival return to a simple but powerful truth: lasting transformation happens through relationships, not programs.

This episode will encourage pastors, Christian leaders, and emerging influencers to rethink how they invest in people, form disciples, and lead faithfully in a rapidly changing culture. Tune in to gain insights on how to lead with clarity, courage, and hope in this moment.  

Resources:
7 Disruptive Church Trends That Will Rule 2026 - https://careynieuwhof.com/church-trends-2026

Support the show

Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. When you take part in ILI training, you will discover how ILI's Eight Core Values will help you transform your leadership. Discover more at ILITeam.org/discover.

Most leadership failures do not begin in public moments. They start in the quiet places of the heart.

In this episode, we explore why lasting, Christ honoring leadership must be rooted in a healthy inner life. You will be invited to reflect on the alignment between your spiritual walk and the way you lead others. The conversation challenges leaders to consider a powerful question: when you enter a room, do people experience peace or pressure?

This teaching unpacks the hidden struggles that quietly undermine leadership effectiveness, including unprocessed fatigue, unresolved resentment, insecurity, and ego driven motivation. You will learn why skills and strategies alone are never enough when the heart is misaligned, and how inner brokenness eventually impacts trust, culture, and relationships.

The episode also offers three practical spiritual practices leaders can begin immediately: naming what is true daily through God’s Word, bringing heavy burdens honestly before the Lord in prayer, and sharing appropriately within trusted Christian relationships. Together, these rhythms help leaders cultivate humility, integrity, and confidence rooted in Christ rather than performance.

If you desire leadership that flows from intimacy with God and produces long term fruit, this episode will encourage and challenge you. Tune in to gain insights on leading with peace, trust, and Christ centered character.

Support the show

Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. When you take part in ILI training, you will discover how ILI's Eight Core Values will help you transform your leadership. Discover more at ILITeam.org/discover.

What happens when the Bible reaches one billion devices and why does it matter for your leadership today? In this episode of the History Makers podcast, host Shannon sits down with Daniel Drewski, president of ILI, to share powerful takeaways from the YouVersion one billion celebration and what it reveals about a growing hunger for truth. Daniel unpacks surprising insights about who is actually using the Bible app, why trust in institutions is fading, and how relationships are becoming the frontline for sharing truth with love.

You will hear why reports of skyrocketing Bible sales are fueling fresh urgency, and how leaders can respond with practical discipleship instead of passive consumption. Daniel also explains a simple framework for multiplying disciples, why you do not need to feel “qualified” to begin, and how finding a mentor can help you take your next faithful step.

Tune in to gain insights on leading with hope, building trust, and stepping into discipleship in this critical moment.

More information about YouVersion and the Bible App at https://www.bible.co

Support the show

Join a community of leaders who are ready to change history and make an impact in this world. When you take part in ILI training, you will discover how ILI's Eight Core Values will help you transform your leadership. Discover more at ILITeam.org/discover.