2026 Kingdom Ecosystem Summit Reflection: Refueled For The Work
By Partner Doug Juday, Executive Director of HEART Africa
With experience as both a business leader and a ministry leader, I often find myself navigating two worlds that don’t always intersect as naturally as they should. The Sacramento Kingdom Ecosystem Summit was a powerful reminder of what can happen when they do.
In a word—it was refueling.
Ministry work is deeply meaningful, but it can also be isolating. Walking into a room full of like-minded leaders—people who understand both the weight and the joy of this calling—was incredibly encouraging. There was an immediate sense of connection and shared purpose.
The Summit opened with a compelling look at the Sacramento region. Jeff Kreiser’s historical perspective, paired with Jennifer Bressler’s eye-opening data, highlighted both the depth of need and the opportunity for impact locally. While my work with HEART is primarily in Kenya, this session grounded me in the realities of my own community and gave me a greater appreciation for those serving here.
The time of worship created space to slow down and reconnect with God—something that can be easy to overlook in the pace of leadership. But the most impactful moment for me was the foot-washing.
Participating in this act, modeled by Jesus, shifted the entire posture of the Summit. It was a humbling and powerful reminder that, above all else, we are called to serve. It brought clarity to why we do what we do.
Beyond the spiritual impact, the Summit was also highly practical. The breakout sessions offered real, actionable ideas—I participated in the international ministry group and walked away with several insights I’m excited to implement. I heard similar feedback from others across different sessions as well.
Just as valuable were the relationships formed. Connecting with both business and ministry leaders opened the door to meaningful partnerships and ongoing collaboration. I’m already planning follow-up conversations and look forward to seeing how those connections grow.
I left the Summit encouraged, energized, and excited—not only about the work we’re doing at HEART, but about the broader Kingdom movement happening around us. It also made me wish more leaders across the country had access to gatherings like this.
The Sacramento Kingdom Ecosystem Summit is more than an event—it’s a catalyst. A space where leaders are strengthened, aligned, and reminded that we are not alone in this work.
I’m grateful for the experience and look forward to being part of it again.
About The Author: Doug Juday
Doug graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2000 and began his career at Fidelity Investments as a Financial Advisor. Over the next 25 years, he held a variety of roles—from advisor positions to leadership and coaching—earning multiple “Leader of the Year” awards and guiding teams across different parts of the organization. In January 2025, Doug felt called to take a new direction and followed God’s leading to join HEART, a nonprofit supporting HIV-positive mothers in Kenya who have been widowed or abandoned, along with their children.
Doug has also served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including the adoption agency through which he and his wife adopted three of their four children.
Doug met his wife, Alicia, in high school in Modesto, CA. She graduated from San Francisco State University intending to become a teacher but found a deep passion working with children with autism during college. That passion led her to a career in in-home therapy until they decided to start a family.
Today, Doug and Alicia live in Granite Bay, CA with their four children, who range in age from 3 to 19. They are active members of Bayside Church in Granite Bay and are thrilled to be part of the Barnabas team in Sacramento.