Lessons from Lagos: How Yemi Davids Built a Network of 10,000+ Members

When I conduct interviews, I often learn the most by observing where someone’s energy and passion are strongest. That was distinctly the case in my conversation with Pastor Yemi Davids of Lagos, Nigeria, about leadership development in ministry.

We had already covered a lot of ground. He had told me the origin story of the church he planted, Global Impact Church, which grew out of a campus ministry he had started while in university. From that group he had raised and led a team of roughly 15 who committed to a year and a half of prayer and fasting as spiritual preparation for what was to come. “Your assignment is to focus on salvations,” he told one. Another agreed to pray for volunteers, another for finances, another for properties, and so on. 

Even back then, he had taught these future leaders that this foundation laying was not just for one church, but for what would become a network called Global Impact Churches. Further, he had explained that the churches would be an arm of something larger called Global Impact Ministries.

The Secret to Sustainable Growth

Now, 25 years later, that vision has become reality. Global Impact Ministries has birthed many churches, one of which Davids pastors, as well as many other entities that he oversees, such as the Global Impact Institute, dedicated to training people both within and outside the church. These include a Ministers and Leaders Forum that trains hundreds of pastors. In the meantime, Davids also authored several books, and for a year, he has served as chairman of the influential Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos state chapter. 

I was amazed at how many organizations he was personally leading and coordinating, yet he gave no indication of being overwhelmed or unfocused. 

Then I asked, “How would you answer if a pastor from North America came to Lagos and asked, ‘What is the most important thing we can learn from you?’”

He didn’t even pause to reflect; his answer came immediately and with heightened passion: “Concentrate on training leaders. Most churches aren’t growing because they lack trained leaders. The more a ministry can develop leaders, the better it can face any storm that comes its way. Also, if you can develop your people’s leadership potential, you will most likely pastor them better.”