This article appears in the Spring 2025 issue of the FCA Donor Publication. The FCA publication is a gift from our FCA staff to all donors giving $50 or more annually. For more information about giving, visit here.
For many years, I had the privilege of serving as a missionary and leading AMG International’s ministry in Guatemala, which is dedicated to transforming lives through the love of Christ in the context of 38 Christian schools and many other projects. Those years taught me that mission leadership is less about command and control and more about connection and collaboration. Effective leadership, particularly in a place as dynamic and vibrant as Guatemala, requires building bridges and cultivating partnerships.
Crossing Cultures and Contexts
One of the most critical aspects of mission leadership is bridging gaps—between people, cultures and even organizations. In Guatemala, I quickly learned that cultural understanding was not an option but an essential skill. I needed to listen, learn and adapt to serve the people well. Leadership in this context wasn’t about imposing ideas but understanding the unique needs and strengths of those we served. Acting as facilitators rather than decision-makers required great humility, ensuring that voices were heard and respected.
Cultivating Partnerships
Partnerships were at the heart of everything we did. The scale of the challenges we faced—poverty, violence and spiritual needs—was far too great for any one organization to tackle alone. By cultivating genuine partnerships, we multiplied our efforts and achieved lasting change. It wasn’t just about funding or resources, but rather shared vision and mutual empowerment.
Inspiring Youth
One of the greatest needs we recognized was inspiring and equipping young people during their critical “coming of age” years. We were losing precious youth to gangs, street violence, early pregnancy and labor. We desperately needed to find ways to encourage and disciple them during this tricky stage, guiding them to embrace strong values and a deep faith in Christ.
That’s when God opened doors with FCA Guatemala. FCA’s vision aligned beautifully with AMG’s, so we created transformational opportunities for youth across Guatemala by combining AMG’s schools with FCA’s athletic programs. We launched sports-based discipleship initiatives, mentoring young athletes and equipping local leaders to serve as coaches, mentors and spiritual guides. These programs developed character and leadership and gave youth a positive, Christ-centered community to belong to. The impact has been profound. We saw young men and women, who might have otherwise drifted toward despair or destructive paths, find hope, purpose and a passion for serving others through sports.
Kingdom Impact: Revealing God’s Glory
Leadership that builds bridges mirrors the heart of Christ, who broke barriers to bring reconciliation and unity. My years in Guatemala were filled with complications, challenges and the joy of seeing lives transformed—mine included—through the power of Jesus. As I reflect on those years, I am deeply grateful for the many bridges built and the partnerships cultivated, each of which continues to bear fruit for the glory of God.
Through these experiences, I witnessed God’s glory revealed in profound ways. His glory is seen in the smile of a child who now has hope, the restored faith of a struggling family and the unity of believers across cultures working together for the Gospel.
The words of 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 remind us that while we plant and water, it is God who gives the growth, revealing His power and presence:
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”
God’s glory is revealed not in the efforts of one, but in the unity of many working together for His purpose. He is glorified when His people lay aside personal ambition to serve selflessly, lift one another up and point all things back to Him.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You for revealing Your glory through transformed lives, the unity of Your people and the faithfulness of those who serve in Your name. In Jesus’ name, amen.
BIO: Brian Dennett is president of AMG’s worldwide ministries, an 84-year-old “Gospel-First” organization in 42 counties. He joined AMG International in 2008 as a missionary serving as President of AMG in Guatemala. Brian studied business administration and held executive-level positions with the Spring Air Company and Sears, Roebuck and Company while serving in lay leadership at his local church. He serves on the Board of Trustees of FCA and is passionate about bringing Christian organizations and leaders together to share in building the Kingdom. Brian worked closely with FCA in Guatemala, bringing the two organizations together to serve youth in Guatemala City and now in other parts of the country. He has also served on the advisory board of FCA Latin America. Brian and his wife, Mary, have been married for 36 years and have six children (Abigail, Jordan, Aaron, Brody, Eve and Micah) and four grandchildren from his daughter Abigail and her husband Jake (Reuben, Dahlia, Elsie and Wesley).
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