No One Becomes a Leader Alone: The Day I Visited Bethlehem's House

One of my favorite places in Ethiopia isn't a famous landmark. In fact, I’m not even sure it shows up on a GPS. It's a small rural community called Legedadi.

Last year I had the opportunity of visiting with the mission team from A Bright Future for Kids. Part of their mission is helping single moms become entrepreneurs so they can provide for their families. One of the women we met was a young mom named Bethlehem.

This week, I got to go back.

After a heavy morning rain delayed our drive, we gathered in the local church. The youth led worship. The pastor shared a message. A few members of our team offered words of encouragement to the moms who are working so hard to build a better future.

Then we walked to Bethlehem's home.

It wasn't large. The walls were made mostly of mud and straw. A tarp covered the floor, and a simple curtain divided one room structure into two rooms. As dozens of us squeezed inside, people found places to sit on crates, blankets, water containers, or simply stood. No one complained. No one felt out of place. We simply made room for one another.

It felt like……home.
And then I noticed Bethlehem.

Her huge smile was contagious. Not because life had suddenly become easy, but because she had grown.

I remembered taking a picture with her a year ago at the local church. This time however, I got to stand beside her and her son in the home she now provides. It wasn't a mansion, but it was theirs. It represented perseverance, courage, and a woman who had discovered she was capable of far more than she once believed.

As we sat in a circle, the women of the program took turns leading a devotional and sharing their progress in their business endeavors. Some proudly displayed handmade items they had created and offered for sale. What stood out wasn't just the products.

It was their confidence. These weren't simply beneficiaries of a program anymore.
They were becoming leaders.

It reminded me that leadership isn't about a title, the big office, or having people report to you.

Leadership is choosing to take responsibility for the people and opportunities God has placed in front of you.

Sometimes that looks like leading a company.
Sometimes it's raising a child.
Sometimes it's caring for a grandchild, serving a neighbor, mentoring a young employee, or simply refusing to give up when life gets difficult.

The beautiful part is that very few leaders discover their potential alone.

Behind almost every courageous leader is someone who encouraged them, challenged them, believed in them, and held them accountable when they wanted to quit.

A friend. A mentor. A coach. A community.

Watching Bethlehem's journey reminded me that leadership often begins long before someone sees themselves as a leader. Sometimes all it takes is someone willing to walk alongside them until they can see what was there all along.

Who are you encouraging as a leader today? And who is encouraging you?