Between October 31 and November 23, 2010 it was my privilege to travel around the world and train many of our CTK leaders. Besides this blog, there are additional pictures posted on www.facebook.com/davebro (look for Dave's World Tour, 2, 3). The topic of the training was Kingdom Leadership. The premise of the material was that there are three spheres of leadership that build upon each other: Private Leadership (leading ones self), Personal Leadership (leading others), and Public Leadership (leading organizations). I was able to teach this material 11 times in 23 days in the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Kenya and South Africa. I asked all those who were trained to, in turn, train 10 to 100 other leaders in the material in the next two years, so hopefully this effort will yield fruit to come.
In the process it was also my privilege to meet for the first time our leaders in the Philippines and Pakistan, Ronaldo Mamintod, and Shahbaz John, respectively. I have been in correspondence with these men for a couple years, but on this trip we “sealed” and celebrated their part in the CTK story.
God is moving in similar ways around the world. Men and women with great love for God and people are reaching out and establishing small groups and Worship Centers. They are prioritizing Worship, Small Groups and Outreach. They are creative, resourceful and focused. In these respects, it is clear that the best thing about CTK is the dedicated people who comprise it. There are instances in which our leaders serve under threat of Hindu and Muslim extremists. Our leaders are of uncommon spiritual fiber, and I am blessed to call them brothers.
I was surprised in both Philippines and Pakistan at how much they have developed their networks already. There are thirteen Worship Centers in the Philippines, with another ten or so pastors waiting in the wings. In Pakistan there fourteen worship centers and they are operating a half dozen Christian schools and other operations. In both cases they are looking to rapidly expand in the country and then looking forward to moving into nearby countries; Afghanistan and Iraq in the case of Pakistan, and southeast Asia in the case of the Philippines. We have one leader already making forays into Afghanistan, and Ronaldo sees a Worship Center coming to Manilla in the future.
In India the work continues to go forward, if in a non-linear fashion. Around 400 ordination certificates have been issued, so there are no doubt thousands involved, many in remote places where communication is difficult. Yedidya has a definite apostolic gifting and many leaders are tied to him. The bible college, when completed, will give some needed cohesion to our story in India. I also have emphasized with Yedidya that he needs to spend the last twenty years of his life developing the next tier of leaders and he is ready to make that shift.
In Kenya CTK has Regional Pastors in five of the eight districts of the country and are moving into Uganda and other countries. Was able to also meet the leader of the orphanage in Nairbobi that is being backed by CTK in Bellingham. Throughout the continent of Africa there are about 11,000 people associated with CTK, 33 pastors and 40 entrepreneurial pastors. We are established in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. CTK is in development with leaders in Egypt, Senegal, Cameroon, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Ethiopia. Of particular interest is a potential pastor in Russia, who is in correspondence with our South African leaders, and is currently praying about joining the story. Because we don’t provide financial support for pastors there is a higher rate of churn in the African church, but we have solid regional and area pastors established. Travel expenses are a challenge for many of our leaders, and this conference was actually the first that some had met each other.
In the next year I’m hoping to bring more cohesion to our world-wide story. I would like to:
1. - Better coordinate the missions activities of American Worship Centers with CTK’s National Leaders.
2. - Develop a systematic, instead of haphazard, policy for financial stipends, travel reimbursement and development grants.
3. - Create a forum/blog for better communication among National Leaders.
4. - Perhaps have a National Leadership retreat, perhaps in Madagascar or Qatar.
5. - Develop and promote the “sister Centers” concept, where a US center adopts an international Center for prayer, relationship, and emergency response.
6. - Create a notebook of “CTK handouts” that can be used for leader training.
7. - Inspire our network to be more devoted in prayer and sacrificial giving for our brothers and sisters around the world.
