Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Chikumbindi.
Hi Leah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2014, I officially launched Girls Set Apart Ministries after responding to a lifelong calling to serve and uplift young girls. My passion was shaped by my own journey, one marked by faith, resilience, and healing.
I grew up in Zimbabwe in a loving, stable home. I never went without food, clothing, or care. Yet behind that security was a painful truth that l carried in silence for years. From the ages of 13 to 15, l was sexually abused by a close family relative. Though deeply wounded, l kept this trauma hidden.
At 17, my life took a transformative turn when l gave my life to Jesus Christ. While my faith began to renew my heart, the unresolved pain of my childhood remained. As l grew older, God gently led me through a journey of healing and freedom breaking chains l didn’t even realize still bound me. Out of that freedom was born a desire to help other girls discover their worth, their voice, and their identity in Christ.
Years before founding the organization, l had already begun on the mission. In 2007, l started hosting summer gatherings in our home called The Princess in Me, inviting girls from my neighborhood to experience God’s love. Every girl received a crown, a symbol that she was a daughter of the King. These gatherings continued for seven years and expanded to include college aged young women as well. We met to talk about life, faith, challenges, and purpose, all within a safe, Christ-centered environment.
I firmly believed that when children know who they are in Christ and feel safe to share what they are going through, they are far less likely to become victims of abuse, silence, and shame. My heart was to provide truth, love, and belonging things that had needed as a young girl.
In 2014, that vision became official when I registered Girls Set Apart Ministries with the state of Texas. The organization began hosting summer retreats for girls across the metroplex. What started as a one-day retreat soon grew into two day experiences, and every year the impact expanded. As the girls grew older, so did the ministry. Teen retreats, themed conferences, and life skills workshops were added, including, navigating high school, college preparation and leadership development.
In 2016, the organization was honored as Community Organization of the Year, recognizing the powerful impact it was making in the lives of young people. Around that same time, With my team, we realized the need to extend beyond girls alone. Boys were facing many of the same struggles identity, pressure, trauma, and confusion. With a heart to serve all children, the ministry expanded and was renamed Set Apart Global Ministries to reflect its broader mission.
During the COVID years, the organization continued to serve through workshops where both boys and girls learned life skills, personal responsibility, and the importance of education and character. The goal has always remained the same: to help young people walk confidently in who God created them to be.
Set Apart Global Ministries is supported by partner organizations, individual donors, and dedicated volunteers from local churches. Every volunteer is a committed Christian, background-checked, and trained in child safety. Guest speakers and mentors also pour into the students, offering guidance, faith, and real world insight.
Many students who joined the organization years ago have now graduated from college. They are celebrated, supported, and often invited back to encourage the next generation.
In today’s world filled with noise, technology, and identity confusion children are more vulnerable than ever. Set Apart Global Ministries exists to anchor them in truth, reminding them that they are loved, chosen, and created for a purpose.
Faith must be lived out, not just spoken. And through Set Apart Global Ministries, I continue to do exactly that. One child, one story, and one life at a time. Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has been deeply rewarding and firmly anchored in faith, but it has not come without challenges. As a Black African woman and immigrant leading a nonprofit organization in the United States, I have encountered unique obstacles that often go unseen despite our work being just as impactful and transformative as that of other organizations.
One of the greatest challenges has been building trust and securing financial support. Identifying organizations and individuals willing to sponsor, donate, or invest in our mission has proven to be difficult. There are times when it feels as though I must work twice as hard to validate both the vision and the leadership behind it. However, I am deeply grateful for those who have sown into this ministry, those who have generously donated, sponsored students, or partnered with us financially. Their willingness to believe in the mission and invest in the lives of children has made a tangible and eternal impact.
There is also a misconception that because I am black and from Africa, our organization exists solely to serve Black African communities. In reality, Set Apart Global Ministries is an inclusive ministry. We welcome children from every background and ethnicity. Our heart is for every child, the churched and the unchurched alike, without compromising our biblical beliefs. Some families bring their children to our events because they have become discouraged with church. Others have never stepped inside one. For some, our ministry becomes a bridge, an opportunity to encounter Christ and potentially connect to a local church through our community partnerships.
Another challenge we face is operating independently rather than under the umbrella of a single church. While we actively seek church partnerships, continually having to prove that your calling is genuine and your passion is authentic can be emotionally and spiritually exhausting.
In the midst of these challenges, I remain deeply grateful for our past and present board members and volunteers who have steadfastly believed in the vision. Their encouragement is a powerful reminder that even when the journey feels difficult or isolating, God faithfully sends the right people to stand alongside you.
I continue to trust God as our provider. Even when resources are limited, my faith is not. With every obstacle, I am reminded that this calling is far greater than me and that God is faithful to sustain the work He has begun. As it says in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Set Apart Global Ministries is a faith-based nonprofit committed to developing the next generation of leaders by caring for the whole child, spiritually, emotionally, and practically. Our mission is to ensure that kids from every background have access to mentorship, guidance, and essential life skills that empower them to thrive and lead with purpose.
We focus on character development, leadership training, mentoring, and faith-centered life coaching for elementary and high school students. Our programs address real-life challenges such as self-worth, trauma, identity, decision-making, academic achievement, and social growth. Through structured mentorship, enrichment initiatives, and community outreach, we help young people discover who they are, understand their value, and move confidently toward their future.
What distinguishes Set Apart Global Ministries is our holistic and inclusive approach. We believe that impact should never be limited by race, income, or circumstance. Every child deserves to be seen, supported, and empowered. Our work is grounded in love, dignity, and intentional care. We are known for creating safe, nurturing environments where children feel heard, valued, and protected, often becoming a source of stability and encouragement when it is most needed.
The children we serve come from diverse environments, and we meet each one with compassion, structure, accountability, and hope. As a brand, we take pride in our unwavering commitment to integrity, service, and meaningful community impact. Beyond teaching knowledge, wisdom, and practical tools for success, we instill the importance of selflessness and giving back. Our students actively support local missions by assembling care packages for individuals experiencing homelessness, preparing snack bags for after-school programs, donating socks and underwear to children in shelters. They take great joy in making a tangible difference in their community.
Our organization operates largely through dedicated volunteers who believe deeply in our mission and generously give their time, energy, and hearts. Even with limited resources, we remain steadfast because we see lives being transformed. Every child who gains confidence, healing, or a renewed sense of purpose through our programs represents a powerful success story.
Set Apart Global Ministries is more than a program it is a movement. A movement to help children rise above their circumstances, walk boldly in their purpose, and become leaders who bring positive change to their families, schools, and communities. When you support our work, you are investing in a future where children are equipped to stand strong, live with intention, and make a lasting impact.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
My view on risk is rooted in purpose rather than fear. I don’t see risk as recklessness; I see it as obedience to a calling and the willingness to step forward even when the outcome is uncertain. For me, risk has always been about trusting the vision God placed in my heart and being brave enough to act on it.
One of the biggest risks I ever took was walking away from a job without knowing what the next step would look like. In the midst of searching for the next opportunity, God had a different plan altogether.
Founding and growing Set Apart Global Ministries meant stepping out in faith. Without any money, supporting the cause meant trusting donors, volunteers, and community partners to believe in a vision that was bigger than me. It meant opening myself up to rejection, financial uncertainty, and constant challenges. But it also meant creating safe spaces where children from all backgrounds could feel seen, valued, and empowered.
I believe healthy risk is necessary for meaningful impact. Playing it safe may protect comfort, but it rarely changes lives. I approach risk prayerfully and strategically, seeking wisdom, preparation, and then moving forward even when the full picture isn’t clear.
Ultimately, my perspective on risk is simple: if something aligns with my values, my faith, and the mission to serve others, it’s worth stepping into even when it’s uncomfortable. Every major step forward in my life has come from saying yes to something that once felt uncertain, and I have learned that courage often becomes the doorway to purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.setapartglobal.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/setapartglobal?igsh=OXRvdzZ0djR5eG9z
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AJj8M59WH/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-chikumbindi-25567010b
- Twitter: @setapartglobal
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@setapartglobalministries4642?si=T2Fed1MqjiaOhlf3
- Other: https://thislifewalk.wordpress.com/
