І still remember my roots in South Africa, where | was born and raised. For 20 years, I served as the Executive Pastor of Doxa Deo Church, witnessing its remarkable growth from a single campus to 35 campuses across six nations. Even back then, I sensed that our journey would eventually take us beyond South Africa's borders. And that's exactly what happened. In 2016, my wife, our three teenage kids, and I relocated to Florida, driven by a vision to establish the global office of Doxa Deo and the City Changers Movement (CCM). CCM was born out of the impact of Doxa Deo Church on the cities, with the aim of replicating best practices globally. Today, CCM has expanded its reach to 32 nations worldwide.

During my tenure as Executive Pastor at Doxa Deo, I pursued a doctorate in organizational design for multi-site churches at Regent University. This experience ignited a deep desire within me to invest in other Executive Pastors, sharing the valuable lessons we learned along the way. That eventually led me to start a Soul Care group for Executive Pastors in 2023, after the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a pivotal moment, as I began to sense the fulfillment of my long-held passion. Later that year, I became the leader of CCM and joined the first Convene group for non-profit leaders. The experience was transformative, and it continues to shape CCM's development as a non-profit organization.

Convene's impact was profound, and I soon saw an opportunity to pay it forward. When asked to start a Convene group specifically for Executive Pastors, I jumped at the opportunity. This new initiative allows me to facilitate peer-level conversations among Executive Pastors, tackling the unique challenges they face.

Through Convene, I'm finally able to invest in fellow Executive Pastors, just as I had always desired. As I reflect on this journey, I'm reminded of Ephesians 2:10, which says, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." I'm humbled and grateful to be walking in one of those good works God has prepared for me.

So, what is Convene? In essence, it's an authentic community of Executive Pastors who come together to learn from one another, sharing their experiences and expertise to overcome common challenges and capitalize on opportunities. Through monthly meetings and individual coaching sessions, Convene provides a safe space for Executive Pastors to grow, learn, and thrive together.