2014 IC Participants

 

1. 
   
2. Peter Wiebe

p.wiebe@to-all-nations.de

GERMANY
Male – 37 years old

Recommended by: Daniel P. Sweeney

 

Before and during my studies at Bible Seminar Bonn I was involved in the youth ministry in our Church in Lemgo. 2003 – 2005 After graduation I became the youth Pastor in our Mennonite Brethren Church in Lemgo, Germany. 2005 – 2011 we where sent out with To All Nations as Missionaries to Malawi (Africa). My wife Helene was involved in the Orphanage with 500 children. My involvement was in Evangelism and Church-planting. God blessed us abundantly and several Churches where started during that time. 2009 – 2011 during our time in Malawi I was elected as Field Mission Director for Malawi and Mozambique.

When we came back to Germany 2011, I was appointed to became one of the three Directors at To All Nations Headquarters in Germany to oversee the International Projects at To All Nations. Since August 2011 I am in this ministry. As church we started a new church-planting project in the town Hameln. Currently I’m also involved there as the team-leader.

The International Center gives you a unique opportunity to share your story and gain from the stories of other people who are in the same situation like I am! The cross-cultural aspect and the fact that the International Center invites leaders from all over the world to learn from one another are the reasons why I would like to join this group!

I believe the two and a half weeks at the International Center will be a good retreat where I could:

• – grow spiritually
• – rest” physically in listen, discuss and reflect with other missionaries and leaders
• – gain more strength for my ministry
• – earn more about biblical principles in mission and ministry through the workshops and seminars.

 

I can contribute my experiences in:

• – living in the third culture…
• – how we started a new church planting project?
• – understanding a different culture
• 
  

If we would have a music group for worship, I could join the group with singing. I am fluent in German and Russian language. If you would need someone to translate, i would be willing to do that.

 

 

1. Richard Houston

richardhouston@hotmail.co.uk

NORTHERN IRELAND
Male – 34 years old

Recommended by: Rev. Norman Cameron

 

Regional Youth and Support Worker for clusters of rural congregations in the republic of Ireland (2001-4)
Community evangelism through an inner city Belfast church in a deprived community which was deeply divided by sectarianism and religious violence (2004-6)
Youth Pastor in an inner city Belfast church. This was during my ministry application process (2006-7)
Assistant minister large congregations in Larne and Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland (2008-12)
Associate Minister in High Kirk Presbyterian Church (2013 – present)

My role in High Kirk Presbyterian is 3 pronged. Firstly I am one of 2 ordained ministers, responsible for regular, systematic preaching and assisting with leadership & vision casting among the eldership team. Secondly I have specific responsibilities for promoting, educating, inspiring and enabling the congregation in their local and global mission. Our congregation supports 5 missionary couples, sends 3 teams each year to overseas projects, supports an international student from Ecuador and offers countless mercy and compassion ministries to the neediest people in our town. We want to become a more missional church, constantly redirecting our resources away from ourselves and towards those who need to meet Jesus and experience his life-changing gospel. We want to be a community of people who are obedient to Jesus’ call to “go”. Thirdly I chair a committee at denominational level which overseas the provision of discipleship for children, young people up to age 25.

The prospect of travelling to be part of the International Centre is very exciting and potentially hugely advantageous to ministry development, greatly enabling and inspiring me to be a positive influence for change in my congregation and denomination. To be in a learning environment with brothers and sisters from various ministry backgrounds and cultures would bring a depth and colour to our learning together as we think of global ministry and how we can influence change in the name of Christ and for the growth of his church. To be part of a global network, in the context of a western congregation is a very exciting opportunity.

I hope to gain a valuable membership in an international network of church leaders. Through this network I would hope to be able to glean and share knowledge as we help each other to become ‘greater for God’ in our various ministry contexts.Learning also from from the church cultures and practices at Elmbrook is something I desire as 2 of my colleagues have spoken very highly of the church and have brought some changes to High Kirk as a result. Partnership in the Gospel (sharing both ways) is one of my ministry convictions. Additionally I feel I have a growing level of responsibility within my denomination, so I would hope to gain some knowledge and skills that would help me influence a generation at home in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

1) With significant experience working in a divided sectarian society, I feel I would be able to bring some understanding of what role the churches can play in the public square in relation to peace and reconciliation.

2) As an associate minister in a large resourceful congregation, I would hope to be able to bring my experiences of pastoral ministry in a post-Christian and increasingly secular society, especially in relation to how we reach and keep the ‘missing generation’ of 20s and 30s.

3) My Masters thesis was entitled “Growth and Renewal in the Inner City Church”, which focussed on solutions and ways forward for congregations which have seen recent and drastic numerical decline due to social deprivation and residualisation in working class inner city areas.

 

 

 

1. Arlete Castro

arlete.luiz@sapo.pt

PORTUGAL
Female – 54 years old

Recommended by: Barbara Lamp

 

I have been working in many areas of ministry. In Portugal I have worked with church planting, but I have helped (together with my husband he is a pastor) the Portuguese Church to develop their vision to mission, church planting and for many years I also led the development and training of leaders (from different churches) in an inner healing ministry.

I still work with church planting and we are now working in a city whose name is Ponta Delgada in Azores (Portugal islands) However, after so many years serving as a missionary, and experiencing various difficulties that are part of the life of a missionary, I am focusing on a new project of ministry that aims at training, equip and care of missionaries in cross-cultural field. I am a psychotherapist and I would love to help people who are serving in the transcultural fields.

It is going to be a excellent opportunity to share experiences with other leaders from different backgrounds. The idea of “learning community” is something important for me as we surely share experiences that will enrich our vision and our ministry.

Tools for my ministry. Fellowship with others from different places, and especially I hope to find some fellowship that will help me to grow in my intimacy and relationship with God.

I have a Masters in Counseling and Psychotherapy. My dissertation was about Third Culture Kids and how this experience affects the personality and worldview of an adult TCK. I think if could share the results of my research it could be contribute for all of us.

 

 

 

 

1. Aurelian – Axente Fisca

addy.simona@yahoo.com

ROMANIA
Male – 35 years old

Recommended by: Mircea Deresan

 

We were part of 2 church planting in Targu Mures, Romania. One started in 2002 and another one started in 2003. Where we are active members in this second church planted. I’m part of the leadership structure of the church, overseeing/leading the youth and worship department of Bethany church in Targu Mures, Romania.

Locally I’m running a Café House ministry http://www.opencafe.ro as an evangelism project, and a mercy ministry with the homeless. I’m also part of the director board of a national youth movement in Romania, which is called “Peniel”. Peniel, I may say is the largest youth movement in the country, comprising teens and youths from all evangelical spectrum. If you go on the site www.peniel.ro you’ll get a window with few things.

I am in a period of time when I asked God for a spiritual refreshment and wisdom regarding some future decisions for life and ministry. I believe this opportunity is an answer to my prayers. I believe that opportunities of spiritual growth are coming from the Lord. As I was praying (with my wife) for God to facilitate a refreshment in my life and ministry the Elmbrook International Center was brought in attention, last week by pastor Mircea Detasan. I know I.C. could be a step forward into whatever God has in store for me and the future ministry.

Through this experience I would like to get better equipped. Gain a spiritual refreshment of the inner man. Get an impulse for the next level. A deeper understanding and image of whoGod is based on the Bible and the experiences of others. Get new ideas and ministry strategies. Not as least to be a blessing and an encouragement for those that I’m going to get in touch with.

I will gladly contribute with whatever I can in order to bless the universal body of Christ. Considering the context where I come from, there are different things that I can bring up in discussion. The effects of Communism, Democracy, Hopelessness, Persecution, Religiosity, since Romanians consider themselves Christians for more than a 1.000 years.

 

 

 

1. Daniel Requena González

daniel.requena@08860.org

SPAIN
Male – 41 years old

Recommended by: Omar Gava

 

I stared helping with the Young People’s Group (13-30 years old) in my church when I was very young. Over the years and after having served in various areas of that ministry, I became the Youth Leader. For a long time I was part of the Worship Team, playing the drums. I served as the sound and music man for the Church Radio Program in the Local Radio Station for some years too. I have been part of various FIEIDE (free baptist church) committees related to Youth Work, both at a regional and national level. I was part of the .~Misión Posible’ Conference Organising Team (a Conference for Young people from all over Spain), which has taken place 6 times (Easter 01, 03, 05, 07, 09,11 13). I was the director of that event for 5 editions (10 years). Last Easter someone took over from me. Representing FIEIDE, I was also part of an interdenominational committee formed by young leaders in the churches in the Region to put up an Annual Day Conference for young people in Catalunya.

Now, I am focused on the church where God has placed me, and our vision is to become relevant with the Gospel in our town and the surrounding area. As you know, churches based on the Gospel are a minority in Spain. The average church has less than 50 members, and most churches cannot afford having a full time pastor. It is a privilege for me to be a full time pastor, and we are very thankful to God for blessing us with a new building. The construction and all the finances needed was a great challenge due to the financial crisis in our country. But God opened the doors and now we have a building that gives us many more opportunities to serve our town. It has been and it still is a challenge both spiritually and financially. But we trust in God, who has brought us this far. Our challenge is be relevant with the gospel in our city and our country.

I have always loved to learn, make projects, share and expand my vision of God’s people.

I hope to learn new thing and catch the vision of the proyect. To know new people and learn from them too.

I don’t know, but maybe share the Spanish situation… how to connect with the people and share the Gospel. I can share my experience among young people and the agnosticism in our country. How we work like a church… and connect people with this country.

 

 

 

1. Aklilu Horissa

aklalego@gmail.com

ETHIOPIA
Male – 42 years old

Recommended by: Joe Harding

 

I have been involved in various church ministry positions like: Youth leader and pastor, Bible school director and teacher, Senior Pastor and denomination leader.

I am General Secretary for my denomination for southern zone. I am coordinating 1200 local churches which are divided under twelve districts. These include Bible Schools, National and International out reach, Discipleship trainings and humanitarian services to the communiy like: providing water and sanitation programs, food security programs HIV AIDS prevention programs and so on.

In order to share experiences what God is doing internationally through churches. To make relationship globally to expand God’s kingdom in partnering by mission work. I am also hoping to get outstanding consultation how to impact our world holistically.

Sharing experiences from various leaders throughout the globe, which will help to evaluate and develop my leadership capacity. Different kinds of leadership strategies from different leadership experiences will be discussed and will impact my future leadership ministry.

How to expand the kingdom of God in our world. To be specific how can we all be united hand in hand to reach the unreached. How can churches Impact the world systems in righteousness?

 

 

1. Woyita Woza Olla

wwolla68@gmail.com

ETHIOPIA
Male – 46 years old

Recommended by: Joe Harding

 

While I was in high school, I involved in Bible studies and singing within my local church. While I was in University, I was one of team members in coordinating students and my especial responsibility was witnessing Christ to others and involving in prayer in prayer team. After I finished University, I began to involve in youth ministry leadership and sining. After I graduated from seminary in BTh, I began serving in leadership and teaching ministry. After I graduated from seminar in MA in CE, I began serving as theological education and colleges coordinator to my denomination. While I was studying my PhD and then after graduation, I was serving in the capacity of senior leadership, as Deputy General Secretary, overseeing all Spiritual ministries of my denomination.

Today I am serving in leadership position, as Deputy General Secretary of the Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church. The Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church is the leading evangelical church, comprised of 8000 local congregational churches and with a total population of 8 million members. I am overseeing all the Spiritual ministries of my Church: Missions department, theological education department, discipleship and church education department, youth ministry department, women ministry department, children ministry department, Literature and media department, communication and public relations department. Besides this, I oversee the spiritual ministries activities of all zonal spiritual ministries heads, fund raising for ministries, and related other works of facilitation role.

I would like to participate in The International Center because I have strong conviction that the training that I will receive at this center will help me greatly in my future career and ministry life. I am hoping that this training will provide relevant knowledge and skills for my ministry as well as it will form my character and shape into Christlikeness. I hope that my interaction with international key leaders and with those who offer the subject matters will enable me to share thoughts and our experiences. I hope that I would benefit to others. I hope that I will understand many great things from the life experiences of others. Also it will be outstanding exposure for me to experience others and learn from their respective contexts. I see that we operate in a global and digital world which makes world in a close connection. I hope that I will get some ideas from my exposure to other people and their understandings and contexts.

I hope that I will gain knowledge on subject areas of the designed training. I hope that I will learn from informal relations and interactions as well as sharing experiences. I hope that I will interact with trainers and gain skills and knowledge that I will later apply my church context. I am hoping that I will develop my skills in connecting, interacting and relating with others who come from all over the world.

If the institute sends out some questions in advance in relation to the subject matters to be discussed in the training, we will come with some ideas and responses that would make our discussion lively and relevant. If I will be informed about the subject matter that we are going to discuss, I hope that I will bring some ideas and themes that will have great significance to us all.

 

 

 

1. Alice Kinyua

al.kinyua@gmail.com

KENYA
Female – 32 years old

Recommended by: Janice Ryder

 

Before joining Mamlaka Hill Chapel as a pastor, i had served in various leadership capacities in church. I have been a youth leader for more than 5 years. I have also served as the organizing secretary in Mamlaka’s ministry to the University students. This ministry is called SALT (Serving a Living Transformer) where more than 800 students congregate and where there are more than 70 bible study groups that within the university hostels. In the year 2006, i served as an Intern giving leadership to this same ministry under the then youth Pastor of Mamlaka. I was also privileged to be part of a team that pioneered a rehabilitation ministry in 2007 that reaches out to women in prostitution. Full Circle ministry as it is known is one of Mamlaka’s ministries and has now been in existence for 7 years. I served directly in this ministry for two years full time and another three years part time as i completed my Mdiv in Biblical studies at Africa International University in Nairobi Kenya.

Today i serve as a missions’ pastor at Mamlaka. We endeavor to be intentional about missions both within our borders and without. I am also engaged in mobilizing people and resources for missions. I organize short term mission engagements for members of our congregation. This we have done to marginalized and unreached areas of Kenya, Kigali in Rwanda, Berlin City in Germany and also various cities of New Zealand. I am also involved in training and preparation of missionaries for long term. So far we have 4 missionaries: two in Berlin and two in East Pokot region of Northern Kenya. Caring for our missionaries is a responsibility i take gladly. This includes caring for our Full Circle staff team, communicating to and ensuring visits to our long term missionaries and also mobilizing for prayers. My husband is also a pastor at Mamlaka. He and I are also passionate about marriage and relationships and we serve in the premarital counseling ministry.

I am a young woman (or so i believe!) in ministry. There are very few women pastors in Nairobi and even fewer younger ones. Yet the population of women in churches is by far larger than that of men. I would like to hear what other churches are experiencing and hopefully also learn from other women pastors from other parts of the world. Being young in ministry and in marriage I would like to have the kind of exposure that would help shape my view and passion for ministry. Our church Mamlaka Hill Chapel is also young. We are part of the larger Nairobi Chapel group of churches but as a congregation we are only 9 years old. I would be great being part of other church leaders and hopefully learn from them. I also believe that being part of a forum that brings men and women from different parts of the world is a rare opportunity and being part of this would be a great privilege.

I hope to learn. I believe that this is the biggest opportunity offered in a forum such as this. I hope to be challenged, inspired and re-envisioned for ministry by hearing what God is doing in his church worldwide. I hope that the knowledge and the inspiration i get, i will be able to come back to my Church and share the same inspiration with other leaders. I also hope to get some international exposure that will contribute towards widening my perspective of ministry and also of life in general. Such exposure would also be instrumental in aiding my husband and i continue to widen our ministry scope as we search for God’s guidance in how to continue serving him as a couple. I also hope to gain a clearer perspective of global missions. God willing i also hope to be part of a network of like-minded people/churches that can form meaningful partnerships for missions and ministry at large.

I think that i can bring my experiences in ministry so far. I would also like to Share about Mamlaka Hill chapel and what God is doing here with the hope of encouraging the larger body of Christ. I would also be able to bring a perspective of missions from our context sharing about the challenges and successes Africans face trying to reach Africans and also to reach people in the North and in the West. Having been involved in Full Circle ministry i would be glad to also share about some of the experiences we have had as a church working with women in prostitution. Over the years we have discovered that this is an area mainly championed by NGOs and para-church organizations and yet the reality here in Kenya is that the church is the equipped institution to champion a transformation campaign for such as these. If challenged to, i think i am able to also research on any relevant topic and prepare a presentation on the same.

 

 

 

1. Bawa Garba

bawagarba59@yahoo.com

NIGERIA
Male – 49 years old

Recommended by: Rev. Emmanuel Jatau

 

I belong to a denomination that centrally controls the posting of Pastors and so I have been moved quite a bit around churches within the District with which I serve. I served as resident Pastor in the following churches within the ECWA Jos DCC area; ECWA Dogon Karfe, ECWA Gospel Tudun Wada in Jos, ECWA Good News Ahmadu Bello Way Jos and now as the DCC Secretary. In all of these places my major work was equipping the body of Christ for the work of service through the following avenues like Seminars, workshops,practical involvement and conferences.it was during this period that I trained several Sunday Teachers, enrolled twelve women in adult literacy class, empowered the youths through skills acquisition training after which they were encouraged to establish their own businesses.

Currently I serve as the chief administrator of the District Church Council. My work involves staff development and deployment through transfers. I am also saddled with the responsibility of recruitment, training and retirement of Pastors. I have one hundred and two Pastors working directly under me. In the head office, there are five unit heads directly under my office.These officers are the Christian Education organizer, EMS of ECWA Coordinator, District Health Community Program supervisor, people Oriented Development of ECWA coordinator,and the ECWA Strategic Plan Coordinator.All these unit heads are directly under my supervision. Apart from these there are other office staff comprising, security guards, drivers, accountant, auditor, and cleaners.

I am sure that participating in the International Center will afford me the opportunity to interact and rob minds with leaders from divers backgrounds. It shall also afford me the opportunity to network in strategizing for mobilizing the Church toward world evangelisation.

I hope to acquire knowledge and skills for transformational leadership. Through listening to other leaders and sharing wealth of experiences from other backgrounds I believe I will be richly blessed and equipped for the ministry. it is hoped that practical and holistic approach to ministry shall be tackled and so the prospect of gaining a lot of spiritual benefits is expected.

Nigeria is one of the biggest countries in Africa. I believe I will have the opportunity to share the Nigeria Christian Experiences in the last twenty years. Both the challenges and the success stories will be presented for discussion… issues such as the Sharia law, Boko Haram insurgencies and other forms of persecution will be shared. I also hope to share some of the African Cultural practices affecting the growth of the Christians in Nigeria. I shall share the growth of Evangelical Christianity amidst other faiths.

 

 

 

 

1. Mercy Yusuf

shomer69@gmail.com

NIGERIA
Female – 44 years old

Recommended by: Associate Professor Bulus Galadima

 

I have served the church as a chorister and youth leader through my youth days before I got married. I continued to sing in the church after getting married as a chorister with the women fellowship of the church. I have supported my husband as a pastors wife at different levels, especially in the women fellowship. I have also worked with the children section of the church.

Today I primarily serve as a teacher with the ECWA Theological College Zabolo (about 25 km north of Jos). I teach children and marriage & home related courses in addition to spiritual life, Old Testament prophets and educational courses. I currently serve as a volunteer National Coordinator for Children & Youth Community Bible Study International. I and my husband are involved in training and mentoring ten young pastors and their wives. Our focus is to raise pastors/wives that will influence their generation for Christ especially in the light of moral and spiritual decadence of Nigerian society and the church. The name we have given this group is “The Families Of Issachar” (FOI). I also have a children home ministry where I teach them the Bible and train them to be good children for the Lord.

From the response I gave above, you will see that this training conference will provide me with more opportunities to receive empowerment to give the church, the theological college, the children, and the Families Of Issachar my very best. I hope to learn from other leaders what the Lord is doing in their areas of calling and develop ways to improve on my leadership especially to the college. I hope to be able to involve in networking with other leaders on how best to serve alongside my husband as a team.

Empowerment to do ministry better. Network with other leaders from other countries and ministry context. Learn from others on how they do ministry. Be able to contribute to other leaders through my ministry challenges and experiences.

The challenge of doing ministry as a female within the context of my denomination, ECWA. I am an only female teacher in the midst of men in the school I work. The challenge of doing ministry among children in my community with very little resources and yet with great results.

 

 

 

 

1. Sholy Yusuf

shomer64@gmail.com

NIGERIA
Male – 50 years old

Recommended by: Associate Professor Bulus Galadima

 

I had been involved in church ministry both as a pastor, elder and teacher. When I accepted Jesus I particated at the youth fellowship level as a Bible study secretary. This presented me the privilege to test my spiritual gift. This was further developed between 1985-87 when I served as a civil servant in Bauchi state, one of the Muslim dominated parts of Nigeria. Between 1990-date, I have served as an elder in two local congregations and leader to our children sunday school section. I have served as pastor to 5 local churches within our denomination and taught in two seminaries and one Bible college. Currently a teacher. I have trained (still does) Bible study leaders from over six major denominations under my leadership of Nigeria community Bible study between 2002-20011. I have been involved with the church in discipling and mentoring young leaders, couples, and especially members of my family. As a couple we are engaged in raising our five children as a generation of priest.

Today I am involved in teaching at the JOS ECWA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. I am involved in the pastoral leadership and administration departments of the seminary. I teach both the undergraduate and graduate levels. I have also been involved in church planting ministry in the last 19 months. As a couple we are involved in raising other couples in the pastoral ministry. We presently lead a team of ten couples from different cities within Nigeria. We call this group “families of Issachar.” The focus is to challenge each couple to dare to be different in spite the political, religious and sociological challenges of 21st century Nigeria. We meet three times year and have one retreat to round up the year. The teaching ministry at the seminary opens a door to raise godly leaders that will pursue the biblical mandate of making disciples of all nation, passionate about a stewardship that is rooted in faithfulness, leaders that will demonstrate a life of faith that seeks first the kingdom of God.

Spiritual leadership demands that leaders must be opened to listen to other leaders from other cultures and regions. We must hear from other leaders and exchange notes on how God is working through our various cultures, local situations, challenges, and what strategies He has helped us to develop as we pursue the church’s vision. The world is increasingly becoming smaller courtesy the technological developments. As we come together at the International Center, networks are created to provide support and tools in order for leaders to better position for the 21st century. I see the participation at the 2014 International Center as a privilege, an open door to empower and provide tools to do ministry better. The tools here refers to the issues to be raised and the dialogue, teachings, interactions, etc that will be a part of the program.

I hope to be empowered from the series of teachings, ministry testimonies and strategies from other leaders. I hope that this will be the beginning of a lifetime partnership and network in ministry with other leaders and the International Center. This partnership and network is in the area of prayers, sharing strategies, challenges, testimonies, and more open doors for further training.

I hope to bring to the discussion my ministry experience, unique ministry challenges and opportunities from the Nigerian context. I hope to contribute godly insight to issues with special emphady on biblical paradigm. Nigeria is a country with diverse cultures, religions, socioeconomic and political difficulties. Therefore doing ministry within this context has its challenges. Other leaders will certainly benefit from some of our responses to these challenges.

 

 

 

 

1. James Muyango

muyangj@yahoo.com

RWANDA
Male – 36 years old

Recommended by: Mr. Ngoga Emmanuel

 

I served as the chairman of the fellowship of evangelical students (FES) at the university. I served as chairman of a Christian staff fellowship at the Rwanda Revenue Authority where I worked as an engineer. I served as the new converts’ pastor at Rwanda for Jesus church, served as the executive Pastor of the same church.

Today by the grace of God, I serve as the Legal representative of the Potter’s Hand Ministries (PHM) Rwanda the legally covering ministry of Rwanda for Jesus Church. I am at the same time the senior pastor of Rwanda for Jesus church located in Kigali city. I also serve as a leader of one commission in the Forum of Born-Again Churches and Organizations in Rwanda (FOBACOR). I have founded and currently leading a movement called Christ’s Ambassadors in the Market Place (CAMP). a movement that ignites, equips, commissions and mentors people of faith to share and model Christâs life in their respective work environment through seminars, conventions, media, lunch-hour fellowships and other possible avenues. By the grace of God I have been able to write a book called ” The Pathway to destiny”

I would like to participate in the IC so as to learn from other ministers’ and ministries’ around the World, learn from their experiences, insights and knowledge. I would also like to build a relation and bond with other ministers, knowing that iron sharpens iron I look forward to being sharpened.

I look forward to having a better understanding of what is going on in the body of Christ in the rest of the world, learn from the speakers as well as the participants which will in the end enrich the church I lead as well well as the body of Christ in our region.

I think I would contribute a lot in discussions with other

1. leaders. for example the role of a church in rebuilding a nation or people that have gone through breaking experience like the case of my country that experienced Genocide.

2. on a special note, trusting God to raise up a ministry that was in ruins to rise up from the ashes and experience the grace and glory of God again as for the case of our church.

3. The hope found in Christ Jesus that can rejuvinate a life that had lost a meaning due to past tragic experiences

 

 

 

 

 

1. Angelo Wello Agwa Obang

angelowello@gmail.com

SOUTH AFRICA
Male – 41 years old

Recommended by: Rev. John Philip

 

As a Church leader, I used to teach at a local Bible School in Khartoum as part of call to leadership development. While I was pastor in charge of church in Khartoum God gave me the vision of church leaders training so that the work of the Lord will expand. The real challenge was like of finance to support the students, after prayers, we had to believe God provision. We started with one brother who got his training at a local Bible School in Khartoum. Thanks be to Godâõ we started to contribute towards our church member study by giving the little we had for three years. After three years our church member completed the training and after two years he was ordained and sent to plant churches in his home villages. Today, he continues to serve the Lord in his home villages.

Today, I am a pastor in charge of a congregation in Juba most of whom are refugees or displaced. I also, write some stories of the persecuted church in Sudan to make people in the first world aware of what they brothers and sisters are undergoing because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

Participation in the International Center will be a source of new experience and a mean to share what God is doing in South Sudan and learn new skills of mission work. It will be also a chance to meet servants of Jesus and exchange with them ministry concerns and form prayer network for the work in the Kingdom of God. Also, attending this conference would serve as an opportunity to partner with other church leaders include those of Elmbrook as well.

• New working experiences of what doing mission work in today world.

• New partnership for a better ministry of the mission.

• Prayer partners.

Share challenge of the ministry and how God is using the church in South Sudan.

 

1. (Hira removed)

 

 

 

 

1. Satyanarayana Yellasiri

satyamyellasiri@gmail.com

INDIA
Male – 47 years old

Recommended by: Stuart Briscoe

 

I joined Operation Mobilisation and was involved in Track distribution, Gospel and Evangelistic literature sale, leading small group studies, street preaching etc. In 1993 I started small fellowship which grew by 2004 it become Good Shepherd Community Church. Now we have around 800 members worshiping God, we have two services on Sundays, about 85% of them are first generation Christians.

As I mentioned in point 8 that I pastor a church, Good Shepherd Community Churches are around 300 of them in this region (Andhra Pradesh, India) about 200 pastors, I oversee the training and welfare of the pastors for Good Shepherd Community Church. We also have around 15 Church Planting evangelistic teams who plants the churches. They are about 50 young men and women committed to serve God volunteer. I am also actively involved with All India Christian Council (www.christiancouncil.in) to protect and serve those pastors and Christians who are attacked by Anti-Christian Elements. We are voice for voiceless people.

• To have Global Exposure with Christian leaders,
• To learn new methods from global christian leaders / ministers and lessions which we can use in our own ministry.
• To learn more

 

To be refresh, relax and revive my spiritual walk with the Lord Jesus and fellowship with various leaders. To be better and to better leader / pastor in the areas which are entrusted to us. To learn how to grow church, multiply and equip new leaders. To copy the models which are productive.

The Church administration and governance. The Lay training in the church through mentoring (one person per year?) The Persecution and our response.

 

 

 

 

 

1. Wesley George

wes4christ@gmail.com

INDIA
Male – 37 years old

Recommended by: Rev. Paul Sinclair

I started as a novice when the Lord led me into ministry and by the grace of God was associated with the diverse kinds of ministry in the local church. With the background of my corporate experience and exposure challenged the young people to play a proactive role in the Kingdom of God by their skills, talents and capabilities. Youth Ministry led me to active leadership roles and accordingly contributed for the formation, development and multiplication of cell groups in the church. Pastoral and leadership roles were further enhanced by my period of learning theology at the university which resulted in accentuating and enlargement of my ministerial horizons. I was thus involved in teaching, training and empowering pastors for the service of the Lord. The humble beginning of my ministerial responsibility was honoured by God and I am now leading a church planting movement with over 750 pastors, 7000 churches and 450,000 believers in over 22 states of India & neighbouring country Nepal.

I serve as the Director of INEC the church planting movement of Hindustan Bible Institute and College with over 750 pastors and 450,000 believers in 22 states of India and Nepal. 27 years ago it started with a vision to plant 10,000 churches and to raise 2000 church planters. In the initial phase INEC was involved in cross cultural and mono-cultural missions. INEC seeks to have visible, dynamic and transformational church in every city and village, colony and town of this nation. Transformation is realised when every home becomes a worshipping centre and INEC engages in realising this objective at the present moment. As the director of the movement I am engaged in continuously envisioning and empowering the pastors, influencing and impacting their lives to be transformational agents of the church and society at large. Pastoral and leadership care of the committed missionaries and pastors is a continuous ministry engagement of the director.

Church planting movement is not a human enterprise but primarily a work of the Holy Spirit all over the world. As leaders of the body of Christ, the meeting together is to share, to reflect, and to learn from one another about how the Lord uses the church as an instrument in reaching the unreached. Our world witnesses incessant changes in all aspects of life which has serious repercussions to our world view and ministry perspectives. This forum would help us in learning about the common challenges and issues facing the body of Christ and also to learn about the best practices available to counter the schemes of the evil one. Itâs a time to detach oneself from the ministry engaged and to be involved in a process of self introspection and critical and constructive analysis by friends and critics for the betterment of our lives and ministry. The International centre would help us in pooling our creative faculties to serve the Church faithfully and constructively in India and Nepal.

Elmbrook has a long and cherished legacy of involvement in world missions and has impacted the Mission of God profoundly with their presence and participation.The real ministerial exposure and experience with Elmbrook ministries will help us to step into newer domains of ministry in the days to come. The networking and coordination of leaders around the world will help in strengthening our energy and efforts to realize the kingdom of God on earth. This association will enhance not only our skills, capabilities and resources but help us to be connected in one accord as we endeavour to pray and support one another in this mission of God.The ministerial challenges are not unique and peculiar to any particular region or country but in the globalized world the insights at the consultation will help us to engage in a holistic ministry. The newer insights will help us to energise the INEC churches and pastors and would serve in advancing the church planting movement in India and Nepal.

Churches in India underwent rapid changes in the past few decades because of globalisation, urbanisation, religious fundamentalism and fanaticism. The socio-political- economic and cultural changes have affected and impacted the churches profoundly and the churches have also responded to these challenges and continues to fulfil the Great commission in this land. Every movement should contextualise its mission and efforts in order to reach the unreached comprehensively and this applies well to the church planting movements in India as well and they had nationalised and indigenized their efforts with cross cultural and mono cultural methods to be effective and effectual in God’s mission. Indian churches though threatened by the rise of Hindu and Muslim religious fundamentalism nevertheless continues to grow. An analysis of the Indian reality will make the participants to understand the impending challenges faced and how the movement advances unhindered by the grace of God.

 

 

 

 

1. Jumik Bhote

laresomusic@hotmail.com

NEPAL
Male – 40 years old

Recommended by: Dr. Ted Mackenny

 

Lord called me in his ministry 20 years ago, when I was 20 years old. He first opened the opportunity in 1994 in Nepal Every Home for Christ. I served there for 9 years as an evangelist, writer, editor and literature manager. After that, Lord gave me and the other Lhomi believers a new vision to work among Tibetan Buddhist peoples of Himalayas. We had been a part of a Nepali church, but then we established a church among Lhomi people in Kathmandu in 2000. Since 2000, I have served as a Elder in my church. When we started the Lhomi church in Kathmandu, there were very few Lhomi and ethnic Tibetan Christians at that time in this city. We faced many challenges and difficulties at that time, but God is so faithful. “He added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.”

My Vision: I want to see original and contemporary ethnic Tibetan Christian music honor God, excel, and unite the Body of Christ. My Mission: I want to encourage and educate the next generation to create and support original and contemporary ethnic Tibetan Christian music. Goal : I hope to share my learning experiences with all Christians, so that they can benefit from them and develop their own style of worship suitable for their own church environment. I believe in sharpening my musical skills in order to glorify God with these skills. I am also involved in an orphanage ministry in Nepal as well as serving as an elder in my church. I am a co-director of First Love south Asia Ministiries.

I have not been to leadership confrence so that I would like to participate in the International Center because I would like to learn more about personal leadership development. I think that it would benefit for and It would be very useful and helpful for our church’s growth and health. I would like to learn from others from around the world. I would like to tell our church’s History to others leaders also How lord has done his mighty work among Lhomi Community.

I hope to gain and learn about How God is moving and working in different part of world and country and church leadership and I will be able to teach and share with other co-leaders in my church. Lord will brings more blessings and fruits in my church and Orphanage ministry.

I can bring my own experience about new church music reformation and the impact of local, ethnically appropriate music on evangelism & church growth in local context. We have seen the local church here thrive and grow as we have developed worship music that is appropriate to our culture and ethnic context.

 

 

 

 

1. Imran

Male – 32 years old

Recommended by: Dave Lovett

 

I have been involved in my church Choir and youth groups when i was young. At the age of 21 i went to the United Kingdom for four years to complete my honours degree in Theology. During my time at the Bible college i preached at different churches, shared my testimony etc. Since i have been serving with OM, my responsibility is also to liasion with the local churches and their leadership to motivate the churches for missions and share the work that the Lord is doing through OM. i also preach and lead seminars off and on at churches.

Since 2006 i have been serving with Operation Mobilization Pakistan. My role is to lead the northeran team and oversee all the projects that we are doing which includes community development work, relief and development work, disciplship programmes and evangelistic programes and outreaches. I also preach and lead in seminars motivating the Christian youth for missions. I also teach at OM bible camps and at OM’s school of mission. My major is missions and missions is my passion and heart beat. I also feel a call to write and in future i see myself writting on missions and teach theology and missiology at the Bible college and seminaries.

I would like to partcipate in the Internation centre because it will be an international community of those who have differnet experiences in different contexts and sharing my journey with them and listening to their’s , wil help me to grow and develop in my ministry. It will be a blessing to see what challenges they have in their mission fields and how the Lord has been working through these people in those challenges. Also it will be good to discuss some major issues Christian mission is facing worldwide and how churches can partner and work together to face some of these challenges in the 21st century.

I want to gain

-Knowledge
-insight
-experience
-exposure to symposium of international ideas

I will be able to share how mission work is done in an Islamic context where the fundamentalism and extremism is on the rise. I will be sharing how the churches in Pakistan are working, what have been the challenges, weaknesses and strenghts of the Pakstani church. I will also like to share how some of the things done in Pakistani church may be adopted by folks from other countries especially those who come from the similar contexts. Recently i have completed a masters in urban missions in an Islamic context so based on my recent studies i will share my findings and conclusions with the group.

 

 

 

1. Thuan

Male – 33 years old

Recommended by: Ms. Phuong Bich Nguyen Duong

I praise God that my parents brought me to church since I was a baby so growing up, I had so many chances to be involved in church ministry. I was a youth/student leader when I learned how to really maximize my single life for God’s works and for building up maturity in knowledge and life experience. When I was in seminary, I served in worship team as a worship and team leader where I developed my intimacy with God as a minister, also I learned a lot about His holiness and our precious identity as His child. Coming back from the Philippines, I served as an assistant pastor, and I also started teaching in different Bible schools in Vietnam. And God used those 2 years to develop my character and relationship skills, and my teaching, preaching skills as well. However, the things I have been enjoyably doing the most is planting and pastoring the church I am with now, Lighthouse Evangelical Church (LEC). I always feel privileged to be a part of His works thru this church.

Today I am pastoring LEC as my first priority. This church will be 4 years-old this coming July and we are blessed with 100 members, 70 weekly attendees and majority of them are new converts, fruits of our ministry. We are also more blessed that God entrusted us a new church branch, 30 adults in another near district in Hochiminh city. My second priority is co-leading Evangelism Explosion Ministry Vietnam as a Board member and assistant director. Through this I can empower and assist field workers from North to South of Vietnam to do evangelism in their own churches and also planting new churches. My third priority is to teach in Bible schools to train more workers for churches. For my church ministry, please see our last year activities: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvp-bs-G3V4 (AEC is our old name, we just changed to LEC this month to register with the government, and also to be easy for Vietnamese to understand than Antioch).

With my current ministry I am quite busy to travel for this long trip, also one of my commitment before I had my co-pastor now was that I would not be absent from church for 2 Sundays, besides, I see traveling with my wife is a very important thing for my ministry and our personal harmonious growth and maturity; but two of the things that caught me when Ms. Phuong recommended me to participate in this International Center is that I can be “recharged” and restrengthened by the works that God has done through you, and also I can gain a wider perspective about what God wants to do for nations in our time. And for me, that’s what I need. I believe in a revival to come soon in Vietnam and I have seen God graciously lifted up our small church to serve and impact the Christian and non-Christian communities in many ways as our church mission “reach the lost, impact the community.” I want to understand more the patterns of God’s movement through this trip.

There are at least 3 things I want to ask God for if He allows me to join:

1) I want to see mission works currently done in different contexts and settings through which I want to understand more the patterns of God’s movement throughout our world at our time in our generation.

2) I want to get connected with godly leaders to be encouraged and to learn from them for my personal growth and maturity.

3) I want to learn how Elmbrook grows in your history and to ask God for things that I can adapt for our ministry and our dream of revival in Vietnam.

I am from a Communism country where we learn to live out our Christian faith under much persecution, opposition, and disgrace not only from society and community but from our own family; but God’s works are not bound. The gospel came to our country, and there are saved souls, and there are God’s miracles, and there are God’s promises for revival on our land so I believe these testimonies of God’s faithfulness and His faithful servants over here can encourage the body of Christ. Besides, I am just one of the young leaders in this generation believes that God is working in a amazing way in Vietnam and He wants to use our generation for revival, so I can share what it means to be waiting or going through a dark time of the churches when Christianity seems not to reflect any light or life of God for a unbelieving and dark world.

 

 

 

 

1. Alejandro Requena

alejandrorequena@hotmail.com

ARGENTINA
Male – 37 years old

Recommended by: Omar Gava

 

Since very young I have been involved in the service of God. The most significant ministries where i worked are: Ministry of Children, Adolescents and Young People. Ministry of Worship, direction of praise and singing. Teacher of Bible School. Preaching of the Word, teaching and evangelism. Leadership in various areas and departments of the church. Pastoral Ministry and counseling.

Currently I am entirely dedicated to the service of God. I am the chief pastor of the church , developing all the activities arising from this function. In the current year, the church will mark 10 years since its foundation. Mainly the tasks currently developed are: leadership and vision. Training of leaders. Preaching of the Word, preparation of sermons and conference. Counseling and visitation. Administration.

I would like to participate because it is an unparalleled opportunity to share my experiences in the leadership of the church during these past 10 years and be able to enrich myself of the experiences, strategies, and tools of other leaders from different parts of the world to develop the same task. It is an opportunity for personal growth, spiritual, and for the congregation.

I expect to get my participation with the possibility to know strategies that other leaders used in different parts of the world to extend the kingdom of God. Get new ideas on how to proceed with the pastoral task in today’s society. Develop contacts and connections with brothers in Christ in different countries, to bless spiritually my ministry and the church that grazing. Listen to the experiences of other leaders, their challenges, goals, and see how God is working around the world. I want to broaden my vision on the work of God on earth.

I believe that from the experience gained in these years as pastor of the church and by participation in various ministries, i can share my successes and failures to enrich the work of other leaders. I have seen the work of God in my life and ministry during these years, and considered what he has done can enrich other leaders. Providing ideas, strategies, challenges and goals for reaching people in the 21st century.

 

 

 

 

1. Josenildo Müller Silva

muller@actosministry.net

BRAZIL
Male – 55 years old

Recommended by: Douglas and Barbara Lamp

 

 

Continuing the previous point, once I got the understanding of my real status on earth, I immediately offered myself to be developed, trained and equipped for a better service. Since then, I have been serving since children ministry, passing by teenagers, youth, adults until leadership development in the local church. Most of the ministry activities I have performed has been in the areas of pastoral care and teaching.

Rigth now, with my wife, I am a missionary to Africa since 1997. As a SEPAL missionary, part of OC Africa Team and coordinating ACTOS Ministries, I have been investing in leadership development in more than 10 countries in Southern and West cost of Africa. Our main focus is the spiritual health of the leaders, and than equipping them. So far, among other initiatives, we have developed a network of pastoral leaders and spouses that we call POPnet (Pastoring of Pastors Network). Using small groups principle, we promote mutuality and peer relationship, moving them to the ultimate goal which is to go back to the body of Christ, where the health is fully provided by Jesus the Head of the Body. Unfortunately, most of the pastoral leaders I know, serve to the body, feed the body, but they themselves are fed by the body body in a practical sense. Because of that, they are sick. Alongside of this, we have assisted pastoral leaders to implement the process of becaoming a transformational church.

First of all, after being referred by friends, I have perused the website and said to them: This is something I would like to take part. The proposal looks great where most of the learning will be through peer relationship. Most of the time in Africa context we are playing the role of giver more than receiver. So, time to time, we need to receive and be challenged.

It seems that this will be a strong opportunity of experience exchange. Even without access to any clue on what the subjects are, I sense that this has the potential to be close to what experienced when I went to Haggai Institute: I learned more, much mire from the relationship we had than from the classes it self we received. But, if I could name something, I would say: At least encouragment and vision renovation.

After 39 years serving the Lord and 17 been in Africa context, I think I can share a few stories about God’s goodness and fidelity. Also, I think I can contribute with some aspects of how to rescue the simplicity of the Kingdom of God.

 

 

 

 

1. Teddy Torres

teddytorres@ctmnet.org

GUATEMALA
Male – 40 years old

Recommended by: Jan Keddie

 

I didn’t grow in a church-based home, although I was involved in some kind of membership since my early childhood. My mother used to take us, me and two other brothers, on Sundays. After turning 27, I made a personal decision to follow Christ, and that’s when I started attending on a regular basis. After a year, I was invited through my Pastor, to get involved in teaching and pastoring. Primarily, because I was well known in the community. So, 1. Pastors played a very important role in my Church’s involvement 2. Community churches I enjoyed the most over the last 12 years I became a youth Pastor and worked for 5 years in 2 different environments, both wealthy and risky. We learned there to see life’s reality by walking alongside with the youth and their parents through daily struggles. We learned to listen, to serve and to guide others as leaders. From ’08-11 I pastored an external focused church in my community. I learned to be a person of partnerships, of peace, long term.

Since 2003, I’ve been teaching as an Adjunt Professor at the Central American Theological Seminary (SETECA) in Guatemala city, where I graduated in ’04 and ’07. I regularly teach Theology courses until now. My teaching topics have changed a little bit for the last 5-6 years due my local ministry (external focused & partnerships). So, SETECA has let me shared with the students more about partnerships, relationships, community development, etc. In ’11 I was invited by SETECA to deliver a new philosophy in the Practical Ministry Department which I did for almost three years. Along with a team we developed a more contextual & incarnational Department to involve the students with grassroots leaders around the city. Since lastFeb 1, I became the CEO of a faith-based organization (Center for Transforming Mission) in Guatemala city to participate in the social & spiritual renewal. We provide incarnational training and link powerful & powerless to work together for the Shalom of the city.

For the last three years I’ve been invited personally by Paco Cojon to attend to the Harvest Fest Celebration week. I’ve personally witnessed what God is doing around the world; met very godly people who I shared my life with; had the opportunity to see what happens through Elmbrook. It will be an honor to be part of the Harvest this year in order to learn and understand God’s mission better in a more globally way; to meet some strategic people who we could partner with (there are 3 other CTM offices around the world: Nairobi, Tacoma & Santo Domingo); to share what God’s doing amongst grassroot leaders in Guatemala city and to where CTM Guatemala is moving with the linking of the powerful & the powerless. We need a lot of feedback on how to deal with the tensions, to develop our capacity, to serve our partners in a proper, transformational and sustainable way. Also, we are in a process of leadership transition: from a North American to a Guatemalan. We need to learn from others.

This question was pretty much answer above, but I can better summarize it in here:

1. Hear God’s voice and direction through partners that are serving in similar contexts
2. Approach in an objective way to what Elmbrook is doing with their communitarian ministries
3. Iniciate exploring a partnership with Elmbrook Church that leads us to serve our people incarnationally and transformationally
4. Learn from other ministries around the world in similar contexts how God’s including them in His mission and how they are building capacity
5. Share with church, ministries and others what God is doing in Guatemala city
6. Explore opportunities for supporting the network in Guatemnala city

I’d say that we can bring the following:

1. How to deal with transition processes. We are now facing one to become a local-lead organization
2. How to partner with other faith-based organizations for the benefit of the city
3. How to serve and walk alongside grassroots leaders in the hardest places
4. What it is to serve incarnationally. How does it look like on a daily basis
5. How to link, set tables so the powerful & powerless can sit, learn and serve
6. How to create and keep community in spite of lack of time and individualism
7. How to build trust, accountability and development in Third World countries

 

 

 

1. Kenol Bernard

kenol@mohhaiti.org

HAITI
Male – 35 years old

Recommended by: Mel Lawrenz

 

I was a teacher at University in Port au Prince teaching second and third year theology students, I also worked as an assistant pastor at my church for 15 years leading the Hospital ministries there. At different times over the years I have been school director at satellite sites all over the country. I was an academic director at another university as well.

I am currently serving at Mission of Hope, in Titanyen Haiti as the Director of Church Advancement. This means I work with a group of local village leaders, we call them Village Champions, leading and training them to be leaders in their villages. I also work with local pastors and churches meeting with them on a regular basis, training, counseling and encouraging them on their life journey. I teach and lead pastors conferences throughout the year, and work within the communities sharing the gospel encouraging them to focus on the Lord, I also share the vision of Mission of Hope for their village and for Haiti.

As I have been invited I feel this would be a great opportunity for me to learn and grow, and meet others who are involved in similar ministries to share our experiences and learn from their experiences. I hope I can come back to Haiti and share the things I have learned with my fellow brother and sisters here.

I hope to be encouraged and I hope to learn more about other ministries and leaders, and how they do their ministries. I hope to learn from their experiences and grow spiritually.

I can share my experiences with ministry in Haiti, and the joys and challenges that I have encountered. I can also share the testimony of my life and how God has restored my life, I believe this can be an encouragement to my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I can share with them the vision we have for Haiti, and the ways we are trying to impact every man, woman and child in Haiti by working with, and forming leaders and working together with many churches in our communities.

 

 

 

 

1. Betsi Moreno

betsi24moreno@gmail.com

PERU
Female – 44 years old

Recommended by: Pastor Dick Robinson

 

I am a member of the local church, Misionera Evangelical Church in Pucallpa church and over the years God gave me the opportunity to discover and make use of my talent, and I have been serving in various ministries such as Sunday School for two years (general service for children of all ages), for four years and adolescents with youth for one year. I have also had the opportunity to participate in camps as a counselor for adolescents. Being involved in all these ministries helped me greatly in my growth in knowledge of the Lord and love to my brothers and neighbors.

Today I’m working as facilitator in Orality, Oral Bible chronologically, which began in 2008, after being trained / qualified. I realize that the Shipibo people and leaders want to know the Lord and be well trained to share the Gospel. This ministry that I am developing among the Shipibo people, which are located along the Ucayali river in the Amazon basin. It is a ministry in which I feel comfortable and useful for the glory of our Savior. Jesus Christ. I really love my shipibo brothers, I am learning little by little the Shipibo language. The ministry regarding orality is a challenge for both facilitators and students because me need to memorize and put it in our hearts and in this way to have an Oral Bible, in addition to discovering the truth of God through comprehension questions.

I would like to participate in this event because it is a great opportunity to get a fresh perspective, vision for missions, clarify doubts, how to face barriers in place that are developing our ministry, learn new strategies and improvement in terms of ministry development. Also know the work and the strategies that are being used in other parts of the world and my region of South America.

What I hope to get through my participation in this event are to get new tools and strategies to expand my vision of the ministry work I’m doing in terms of orality, in order to improve my service to the Lord in this part of South America.

What I want to contribute to the discussion with other leaders is about how to develop our ministry in a better way, in my case working with the Shipibo people. Also what strategies to develop in this part of Sudamerica.