ABOUT
ME
Passionate About Inspiring Others
I have had many influences in my life, even from almost chance meetings as well as from intentional relationships that involved structured, regular meetings to be inspired, challenged and encouraged to carve my path. After engaging personally with people like former US President Barrack Obama, former South African President Jacob Zuma, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Many presiding bishops like Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Bishop Michael Curry and Cardinal Wilfrid Napier OFM (retired), Civil Rights leader, the late Rev. Dr. CT Vivian, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelitini and many other leaders, I realized that I have learned a lot and should/can share that with other leaders.
At five, I was taught to aspire to be powerful when my parents took me to 3 protest events on the same day when Mrs. Winnie Mandela arrived in Durban, South Africa, my hometown bringing messages from Mr. Mandela (later to become President Nelson Mandela). I was smitten. My parents sowed the seed and let me grow as God created me to. As a Christian activist and pastor I had many great mentors to whom I have aspired, until I chose my own path to power and defined my own dreams.
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I discovered that what a leader needs, is a coach, not only mentors, because we all have unique talents and callings which, when freed to thrive and not fear failure, can change our world. I have been a coach of leaders as a community organizer with local, regional and international networks that I coached leaders to form or thrive in, not the least of which was the Gamaliel Foundation out of Chicago, IL where I served as central staff for 10 years and built a network of 135 congregations by coaching and training leaders in Africa and the USA to follow their passions individually and together.
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I bring that experience as well as 30 years of service as an ordained pastor, concurrently serving 6 years in a consultant role for mission/vision developers and their groups as they embarked on new ventures around the USA. During that time I also served as a community organizer for social change for a total of 18 years. This work involved training leaders to be change agents in building their paths to power.
Certifications
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I'm a certified life coach with the International Coaching Federation. (PCC)
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I'm a certified Grief and End of Life Coach (ICF)
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I'm a Certified Level Two Coach and Mission Development and Vitality Coach with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
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I'm a certified Chaplain through the ELCA
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I'm a rostered Pastor of the ELCA
Qualifications
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I'm a husband since 1992 and father of two since 1994.
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I'm an ordained pastor since 1992.
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I'm a former Community Organizer (1985-2008) in South Africa and the USA.
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I have an Master of Divinity Degree requirement approved by LutherSeminary and earned at University of KwaZulu-Natal (due to foreign degree needing to be certified by a US Educational Institution of Higher Learning)