Martin Wamalwa’s journey to senior vice president reflects a story of resilience, leadership, and a deep commitment to Young Life’s mission in Africa East.
Starting in 2003, Martin was introduced to Young Life and initiated the first club in Nairobi, Kenya, marking the beginning of his remarkable journey. Over the years, Martin has filled various roles within the organization, starting as an area director for Nairobi and then serving as co-country director alongside James Mungai. His leadership skills continued to grow as he became the regional director for Western Kenya and the vice president of East Geography in 2019, overseeing ministry development in 10 countries. Most recently, in 2023, he was promoted to senior vice president for Young Life, Africa East Division.
Martin attributes his success to prayer, patience, and the ability to exceed expectations at every level of responsibility. His focus on developing leaders has been the cornerstone of his journey, and he recognizes that this skill has played a pivotal role in his promotions.
In 2018, Martin faced a life-altering stroke during training in Mali, losing most functions on his left side. It has changed his day-to-day life. Refusing despair, he credited his recovery to prayers and support. Young Life leaders and teens went beyond companionship, actively engaging and pushing him during walks and Young Life activities within Nairobi. Their unwavering commitment was vital in Martin’s recovery, transforming his ordeal into a testament of resilience and faith. Martin, an advocate for Capernaum ministries, showcases the transformative power of support, faith, and community. His leadership inspires others, highlighting the profound impact of perseverance and a supportive community on the journey to recovery and purpose.
In his new role as SVP, Martin is enthusiastic about the challenge of developing a broader vision for the East Division. He envisions reaching every kind of kid in his division, from those in challenging areas, affluent areas, and in areas with a large Muslim population.
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” – Isaiah 6:8
Martin acknowledges the positive influences of his new role in the East division. He is pleased to see new positions created within the division, including those of vice president, and he expresses confidence in the leaders who have stepped into these roles. He shares, “I believe our new vice presidents will lead the new geographies into greatness, and we are eager to support them through their visions.
Looking ahead, Martin sees opportunities in the ability to own the ministry as indigenous people and to implement the wider mission goals in the African context. As an SVP, he anticipates making more independent decisions and taking ownership of ministry initiatives, positively affecting the implementation of goals in line with Young Life’s mission and core values. Martin envisions more growth and impact of the Africa East division over the next five years and aims to double the current ministry numbers yearly. Although he acknowledges challenges in developing indigenous supporters for the ministry, he strives for the division to raise 25% of its budget locally within the next five years.
East Division statistics:
Kids known by name — 603,700
Kids attending club — 80,313
Kids to camp — 22,771
Kids in Campaigners — 42,470
Number of leaders — 10,575
To ensure diversity and inclusivity across the Africa East division, Martin plans to create a system where leaders consistently look for who is missing in their service areas and intentionally fill in those gaps.
The core aspects of Young Life’s mission that resonate most with him include:
Quiet Time — spending time with God
Contact Work — reaching out to kids where they are
Campaigners — to make disciples who, in turn, make disciples
For personal growth and development as a leader, Martin commits to seeking regular coaching and guidance. He plans to assess each step, acknowledging areas for improvement, and will continue leaning on his wife to help strike a balance between work and family time. “Although we make friends every day for so many reasons, I had never thought that I would need to intentionally make friends with someone to introduce them to Jesus until I joined Young Life.” – Martin
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