Through the Fire: How Testing Shapes Leaders Who Last
- Rhonda Mincey
- Oct 29
- 3 min read
This special edition follows the release of my new book, “Refined in Rwanda: Where Obedience Meets Overflow and Faith Finds Its Fire.”
The book has launched — but the message continues. Because refinement doesn’t end with the Release of a story; it continues in the lives of those who read it, live it, and lead through it.
We often admire leaders for their vision, strength, or charisma. But the truth is, true leadership isn’t found in comfort — it’s forged in the fire.
I didn’t just go to Rwanda. I went through a fire.
And fire doesn’t just consume — it refines.
🔸 The Fire as a Teacher
In Rwanda, I encountered trials that revealed more about myself than I had anticipated.
There were days when the need felt overwhelming. Nights when tears blurred my prayers.
Moments when I wondered if I had what it took.
But the fire became my teacher.
I met a woman named Emeritha whose resilience shook me to my core. Though her
circumstances were challenging, her faith was radiant.
I watched young children walk miles for water, yet smile as they struggled to carry the jerry cans that weighed more than they did.
I sat with elders who had endured loss and lack I could hardly imagine, yet spoke of hope with a conviction that silenced my doubts.
These moments reminded me: fire doesn’t define us — it reveals us.
It reveals what we truly believe, what we hold onto, and who we trust when the heat is on.
“The fire doesn’t destroy those who walk through it with God — it refines them into leaders who last.” — Rhonda G. Mincey
🔸 Refinement Over Ruin
Here’s what I’ve learned: the fire doesn’t destroy you when you walk through it with God. It
shapes you. It strips away fear. It burns off pride. It strengthens faith.
Think of gold. It’s not valuable because it avoided the fire — it’s valuable because it endured it.
The same is true for us. Fire clarifies what really matters. It forces us to release what’s shallow
and hold onto what’s sacred.
It takes us from questioning our capability to a quest of trusting God completely — from striving to surrender, from independence to reliance.
And it gives us a strength that can’t be shaken by circumstance.
I used to think that fire seasons meant I had failed — that I’d taken a wrong turn or missed God’s direction.
Now I understand the opposite: the fire often means I’m exactly where I need to be. Refinement happens only in the heat.
🔸 Lessons for Leaders
These are the lessons Rwanda etched into my heart:
Resistance is part of refinement. Pressure shapes us in ways ease never could. Don’t resent the struggle — ask what it’s teaching you.
Fire reveals identity. Titles and positions may impress others, but who you are in hard
times is who you truly are.
True leadership is forged, not found. Leadership isn’t handed out like a certificate. It’s
developed through testing, perseverance, and surrender.
🔸 When You’re in the Fire
Maybe you feel like you’re in the fire right now — the deadlines, the decisions, the demands that won’t stop.
You’ve prayed for balance, but what you really need is refinement.
Here’s the truth: the fire will not consume you when you walk through it with God.
He is the Refiner. And though the process is painful, the product is pure.
Rwanda taught me that fire seasons are not wasted seasons. They produce clarity, courage, and conviction that comfort never could.
And they remind us that leadership is less about perfection and more about perseverance.
🔸 The Heartbeat of Refined in Rwanda
This is why I wrote Refined in Rwanda. It’s not just a memoir — it’s a testimony of how God
uses fire to refine ordinary people for extraordinary callings.
From village mothers to students, from my own tears to breakthroughs, Rwanda became a
crucible where faith was tested and legacy was forged.
🔥 My prayer is that as you read Refined in Rwanda, you’re reminded that your fires are not
meant to destroy you — but to shape you into someone stronger, clearer, and bolder.
📖 Signed copies are still available — I’d be honored to share this journey with you.
💭 Reflection: What has the fire in your life revealed about who you are — and who you’re
becoming? Let me know in the comments.
For legacy, love, and lasting change.
– Rhonda G. Mincey
Reading this felt like a mirror to my own journey — learning that the heat of refinement is where God shapes our strength and clarifies our calling. Beautifully written and deeply felt.