All DAI Articles
New DAI Study Reveals Top Leadership Needs in Sub-Saharan Africa
DAI is proud to share the results of a new research project by Dr. Kelly Kumbu, DAI International Strategy Director. Dr. Kumbu's qualitative study...
Reflections on Servant Leadership
The term 'servant leadership' is very popular now in management books. However, the original concept was described by Jesus at the occasion of the...
Celebrating First Fruits
Days are lengthening; the air is warming. The first signs of life begin to appear: buds on branches, daffodils in the garden, Easter eggs at the...
Leading in Times of Crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic which began in China has since crept into every nation of the world, causing different levels of socio-economic and...
Homestay Turned Covid Community Kitchen
A regional shortage of oxygen, hundreds of thousands of deaths, funeral pyres burning in the streets and millions of day laborers left without work...
A Servant’s Prayer
Dear Lord, rise! Rise and use the suffering that comes my way as chisel and stone to engrave upon my heart your priorities, that they may become my...
Trauma Healing for Servant Leaders
DAI has begun to offer trauma healing workshops to local Christian leaders. The same leaders who have least access to leadership materials are often...
Read the Bible: An Invitation to Bible-Centered Leadership
I have been an avid reader all my life. And so, books have sown in me, producing convictions and opinions, lifestyle and character. Some have even...
Raising Up Young Leaders in Palawan
Mark James Ferrariz, DAI’s Ministry Center Director in the Philippines, has a heart for raising up Filipino youth to be leaders in their country. At...
The Launch of DAI Niger
In April, DAI launched its 40th ministry center in Niamey, Niger. This has long been a dream of DAI’s Francophone staff because leadership...
Weak Humans, Safe Leaders: Our Need for Ongoing Nurture of the Soul
Good leadership is a big ask. It entails unravelling intricate relational knots, settling ruffled emotions, overseeing controversial decisions, and...
Reading Scripture with our Hearts, Souls and Minds
At the end of this series it may be important to ask again, why does it matter how we read the Bible? It matters because orthodox Christians of all...
Playing Our Roles: Applying Scripture
I sat on one of the benches near the front of the little country church. The preacher that morning was one of my favourites; in fact, I had ridden...
Tools for Studying the Scriptures
The scriptures are an extraordinary collection of writings. Written by dozens of prophets over the course of many centuries, they have, for more...
Exegesis: The Task of Interpretation
“This is a Bible verse that has confused me and at the same time made me feel like a lesser being. And I realize, I have so far chosen to ignore...
Hearing God through His Word in Context
Behind every act of communication there is a rich tapestry of context that enables what is being communicated to actually be understood. Take, for...
Identifying and Interpreting Genre
Many years ago, I was in a pretty serious relationship with a woman when we were separated by a thousand miles for a work obligation. We talked on...
Earth Day and Creation Care
April 22nd is Earth Day, a day when people around the world celebrate our beautiful planet and take action to “Restore Our Earth.” For the secular...
Bible Stories and the Bible’s Story
The Appeal of Stories The 1987 cinematic classic, The Princess Bride, opens with the sick grandson begrudgingly relenting to let Grandpa read him a...
God’s Words Written
The mountain waited, still and silent behind a thick veil of cloud. Then lightning flashed from high above, thunder rolled, ever nearer, ever...
The Illogical Logic of the Resurrection
What is the significance of Easter? This question has many rich, diverse and beautiful answers from across the Christian tradition. Perhaps most...
The Need for the Bible and the Need to Interpret It Well
In Pursuit of Truth One of the common characteristics of people across all races, colors and continents is the drive to make sense of the world...
Choosing the Best Bible Translation
One of the most frequently asked questions I get about the Bible is, “What’s the best translation?” With dozens of English Bible translations on the...
Home Again, But Not Really
In much of Nigeria, acts of violence – whether by Boko Haram or local bandits – have forced over three million to abandon their villages and flee...
Poultry for Pastors
With the loan he received from DAI Lanka, Niroshana was able to expand his family's poultry farming business and also open a shop selling readymade...
Ravi Zacharias and Servant Leadership
Why is the message of Jesus-style Servant Leadership still relevant today? The recent revelations from RZIM (Ravi Zacharias International...
Suffering from the View of the Cross
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who...
The Cross and the Christian
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who...
Reflections on a year of unexpected abundance along the Ucayali
RiverWind, a group of people laboring to bring the Kingdom of God to communities deep in the Peruvian Amazon. Whence the name? The Ucayali River,...
Missional Leadership
We are living in a time in which authority structures are not just being challenged, they are being passed by as non-essential. A different...
It Doesn’t have to be this Way: Sex Scandals and What our Leaders Need
“I need this.” Reading the recent investigation on claims of Ravi Zacharias’s sexual misconduct, I was caught by the statement multiple women...
The Way-Finder
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18-19) The...
The Antidote Against Fear
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” (I John 4:18) In 1878, the German realist painter August Friedrich Schenck painted...
Immanuel – The Presence of God in Crisis Leadership
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23 ESV) The year...
Our Only Great Hope
A Meditation on Advent from Isaiah 7 Introduction Advent is a Latin word meaning “arrival” or “coming.” Since around 431 AD the church has been...
A Christmas Meditation
Christmas – Good News for Those Who Struggle Let me share with you an unexpected way to have a joyful Christmas. Granted, Christmas may be a time of...
Better Leaders = Better Ministry
The Difficult Boss Catherine is an area program manager in Uganda for a large NGO. In her position, she had struggled to delegate to those who work...
Just a Typical Bible Study
In Myanmar, Yawng Ku (far right) leads a group of young, Christian business leaders as they gather for a weekly Bible study at DAI's offices. The...
Death: The Last Enemy
1 Corinthians 15:25-26 "For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death." We do not...
School of Promise
One Leader Changed Means Many Lives Changed By Jacob & Marcie, DAI Educational ConsultantsWe’ve all been there as leaders: feelings of...
First Devotional Plan on the Bible App
DAI Devotional Available in English and Spanish on the Bible App DAI is now offering our first ever devotional reading plan on the YouVersion...
Reflection on Advent and Power
Power. What does power have to do with Advent? I submit that Advent (including the circumstances which surround the Nativity story in the Holy...
Challenging, Humbling, Exhilarating
Facilitating MAOL course modules with DAI “Challenging… humbling… exhilarating… and occasionally frustrating”, the words of Nigel Warren, one of...
Transforming Leaders
DAI is a ministry that is passionate about growing effective servant leaders across the world. Its focus is on developing a leader’s spiritual...
A Lesson in Every Experience – MAOL Testimony
A Lesson in Every Experience Michael Gowon, an MAOL (Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership) student, shares how DAI’s courses have taught him...
Courses Inspire MAOL Student to Take a New Approach to Leadership at Myanmar School
Sandar is the Centre Manager at Myanmar Vision Education Centre, where she fulfills her passion to mentor young teachers and provide a good...
Christian Leaders Have an Unprecedented Opportunity to Impact Myanmar
DAI Ministry Center Director, Go Chin Zam, explains why Myanmar leaders need your support Myanmar held elections in 2015 and emerged from 50+...
MAOL Graduate Bridges Cultural Divides to Impact Future Generations
DAI's Culture, Ethnicity & Diversity course helps to build understanding and cooperation across cultural boundaries. Michael, a 2017 DAI...
A Voice for the Voiceless – Christian Leader in Kenya
Daniel – a Young Leader with Big Dreams for Kenya! Daniel Wambete dreams of “adding his voice for the voiceless in the ears of those who make...
DAI Spiritual Formation Course Impacts Christian Life
Aruna’s Reflections on the DAI Spiritual Formation Course Aruna, an MAOL student in South India, has really captured DAI’s vision for spiritual...
Servant Leadership Course Leads to Change and Impacts Togo School
Servant Leadership Course Brings Change that Results in Togo School A Leader’s Self-Awareness Brings Change that Impacts 320 Students “Our...
Servant Leadership Impact Study Testimonial
Servant Leadership Course Helps Teacher Discover Student's Potential Agnes, from Uganda, shared this story with researchers during the 2017 Impact...
DAI Non-Formal Impact Study
DAI Non-Formal Impact Study Third-Party Study Shows That Workshops Work What impact does the Servant Leadership course have on the...
Nepal Student is Prepared to Shine in Nation’s Darkest Hour
PREPARED TO SHINE IN THE NATION’S DARKEST HOUR Jay, Orphanage Director, Nepal “I believe the courses that DAI offers in the MAOL really...
MAOL Teachings Completely Change Family Life
MY FAMILY LIFE TOTALLY CHANGED Tajammul, Engineer, Pakistan In a recent reflection, Tajammul, shared how God used the MAOL to shake up and...
We Have Electricity!
Noel participating in his DAI MAOL class WE HAVE ELECTRICITY! Noel, Pastor, India After finishing the Development and Social Change course, Pastor...
Awaiting the Unshakable Kingdom
used with permission. (c) ShanonRoberts.com AWAITING THE UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM by Rebecca Hauser, Development Officer The DAI Colorado Springs office...
The Multiplying Effect of One MAOL Graduate in Nepal
The Multiplying Effect of One MAOL Graduate in Nepal Romi Tandukar, MAOL Graduate, Hopes Others See Jesus in Her Narayan Khadka, DAI Nepal National...
How to Live as a Global Citizen Without Leaving the Country
As followers of Jesus Christ, we know that we’re supposed to be interested in the world beyond ourselves. But the world is vast (well over 7 billion...
DAI Reaching the Jungle Tribes of Peru
Servant Leadership Training in Remote Villages of the Amazon Jungle To get to the village of Samaria, one must travel an hour by air from...
Are You A Flavor-Enhancing Christian?
When Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13), what does this analogy mean? Some see salt as a preservative; therefore, God’s...
Engaging the Global Village of Faiths
Having just returned from DAI course facilitation in Kathmandu, Nepal, I’m thinking a lot about the need for Christians to know how to engage in...
Understanding Our Place in the World (Humility)
A Sense of Place We all wonder where we belong. We spend years of our lives in search of ourselves and our place in the world. ...
International Staff Meeting and 20 Year Celebration
International Staff Meeting Starting Tuesday May 31st, the DAI bi-ennial International Staff Gathering began in the Middle East, with...
Evangelistic Suffering by Paul Borthwick
Have you ever seen a book on evangelistic suffering? I know plenty of “why” books on suffering and some theological treatises on “how God could let...
Why Leaders Need Teaching Skills
We believe that one of the key principles of leadership is empowering others; that we develop those that we lead. And this is why DAI teaches leaders around the world to in turn be great teachers.
Leading From Below
Servanthood is a motivation that drives behavior. A servant is not concerned about role, status or power. They are concerned about serving. They are concerned about laying down their lives for those they serve (John 10:10). Are you and I servants? Are we leading from below?
Abiding in Christ
God desires fruitfulness and has made provision for it. John 15:1-8 The father’s desire is that we should bear first fruits that...
MAOL 10 Year Impact Study: What We Found
The results of the MAOL 10 Year Impact Study are in. The study allowed DAI the wonderful opportunity to talk at length with alumni, current students, partner university staff and DAI staff across Africa and Asia. They discussed all aspects of the program including faculty, residencies, curricular content and program structure. The responses were overwhelmingly positive in every respect.
Influence and Power
Influence is the application of power. There are many ways to influence. Some are godly – some are not. Think about your leadership. How do you apply power? How do you try to influence others? Does your use of influence and power reflect Jesus and Kingdom values?
Danger Power At Work
Power is as dangerous as unstable dynamite – not only to those it is used on, but also to those who exercise it. Lord Acton, the British statesman is remembered for saying “All power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” History – including Christian history – is littered with the evidence that proves the accuracy of this statement.
Integrity – The Missing Ingredient of Leadership
For the past five years I have been greatly privileged to serve God through DAI in Asia. As I have worked alongside Christian leaders in this...
Coming Up for Air
For a variety of reasons, Christie and I have never completed our diver certification and become bona fide divers – with tanks, weight belts,...