ILI: History Makers Leadership Podcast

What if revival begins with one surrendered relationship? In this episode of the History Makers Leadership Podcast, Daniel and Norival explore the difference between simply adding believers and multiplying disciples who make disciples. Through honest reflection on church growth, consumer Christianity, the Great Commission, and Disciple Making Movements, they challenge leaders to move beyond progra...

What does it take to raise leaders who can transform nations? In this inspiring episode of the History Makers Leadership Podcast, Dr. Norval Hadley sits down with Dr. Florence Fuqua from Cameroon, ILI’s International Director for French speaking Africa, to explore her powerful journey of faith, calling, and leadership. Florence shares how her family encountered Christ through her father’s near dea...

What happens when trained leaders put their faith into action around the world? In this episode of the ILI History Makers Leadership Podcast, Shannon Jackson joins the conversation to unpack results from a recent survey of ILI alumni and the stories behind the numbers. Listeners will hear how leaders across languages, cultures, and communities are seeing lives changed through evangelism, disciples...

What do you do when God gives you a vision bigger than yourself? In this episode, Randy returns to share the powerful journey behind End the Wait, a movie and movement created to inspire kidney donation, mobilize faith communities, and bring hope to those facing dialysis and renal failure.  Randy opens up about overcoming fear, discerning the right partnerships, trusting God’s timing, and learning...

What if one unexpected moment of obedience could help save thousands of lives? In this powerful episode of the History Makers Leadership Podcast , Daniel sits down with Randy Simpkins, a pastor, business leader, former public servant, and living kidney donor whose life was transformed by a simple, God-ordained moment. What began as a cup of coffee during an interrupted Appalachian Trail journey be...

Leadership today feels overwhelming, but what if the real issue is deeper than busyness? In this episode, we step back and explore five critical themes shaping Christian leadership right now and what they mean for how you lead every day. You will uncover why there is a growing resilience crisis and how true leaders are not just surviving pressure but being transformed by it. The conversation dives...

In an age of unrelenting pressure and rapid technological advancement, many leaders find themselves facing an exhausting 34,000 decisions every single day. Are you feeling overworked, overburdened, and increasingly burned out? You might find yourself turning to tools like AI not just for efficiency, but as a desperate attempt to cover deep-seated emotional and spiritual exhaustion. This episode ex...

In an era where a 60-second viral clip can define a person’s entire theology, Christian leaders face a daunting challenge: how do we compete with the noise of social media while maintaining the depth of the Gospel? Many leaders feel the pressure to produce "clickbait" content just to stay visible, often wondering if they are sacrificing integrity for reach. This episode explores a vision...

The Sunday "high" is often followed by a Monday "low," leaving many church leaders feeling a specific kind of physical and spiritual exhaustion. While peak attendance days are exhilarating, the true challenge lies in the days that follow: How do we move beyond a successful event to see genuine, lasting change in the lives of those who walked through our doors?  In this episode,...

Are you leading from a place of performance or proximity? Many ministry leaders today face a crushing pressure to produce results and "grow big," while their congregations feel unknown and stuck in a cycle of consuming content. If you see the brokenness in the world but struggle to find a sustainable way to move the needle, you aren’t alone.  In this episode, we explore the "indigen...

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 o...

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...

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 servan...

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 burn...

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...

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, al...

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,...

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...

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...

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 us...

What if the pressure to move faster is actually holding your leadership back? In this episode, we explore a powerful and timely truth for Christian leaders navigating new seasons, complex decisions, and constant demands: hurry is not a sign of faithfulness, it is a liability. This conversation invites you to rethink how urgency shapes your leadership and to embrace what Scripture points us toward...

What if the most powerful ministry you lead starts at your table and not your calendar? Today, we explore the biblical heartbeat of hospitality and connect it to real stories from around the world where unhurried welcome turned strangers into family.  We get practical about leading with a sacred pace in a culture addicted to speed. You’ll hear how a humble espresso machine became a discipleship to...

In this special best-of and revisted episode of the History Makers Leadership Podcast, host Daniel Drewski returns to a powerful conversation with David Daniels to highlight two essential leadership priorities: identifying future leaders and developing them through the Five C’s of Leadership. One of the greatest challenges facing today’s Christian leaders is the ability to recognize, develop, and...

What if real transformation begins not with better plans, but with a renewed mind? In this episode, Rob from InLight Consulting invites leaders into a deeper conversation about faith, surrender, and leading through seasons of change when clarity feels just out of reach. Grounded in Romans 12:2, this discussion explores how true transformation happens when our thinking is reshaped by the Holy Spiri...

What does it look like when faith moves beyond belief and into every part of life and leadership. In this episode, Rob Streetman shares the defining moments that reshaped his understanding of discipleship and transformed how he leads in both ministry and the marketplace. Rob opens up about the power of story and testimony in spiritual formation, explaining why discipleship is meant to be lived, mo...