Training Leaders In The USA, 9/2021

 

Johnstown, PA. Truth Connect is guiding the Emmanuel Baptist Church deacon board through John C. Maxwell’s classic book on leadership, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Each deacon meeting includes a twenty minute block of time to cover three leadership laws. Maxwell teaches that, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Therefore, this investment in leadership training pays rich dividends in the church, the home, in the community and on the job. Good leadership principles are woven throughout the Bible.

Helping Church Leaders During The Pandemic, Part II

Kitale, Kenya. Richard Ondicho is a young Kenyan man I met 5 years ago at one of my Leadership Training Conferences (LTCs) in Eldoret. He is a professional singer who’s music is played on local radio stations. He came to faith in Jesus and followed the call of God to serve in ministry. He now sings for Jesus! After attending a few Truth Connect LTCs he was encouraged to preach and serve the people in northwest Kenya. COVID hit Kenya very hard and the people were locked down for nearly a year. In that time Richard’s mother became homeless. She is a widow. Richard asked if Truth Connect could help provide a home for her. With the generous help of a number of supporters, a piece of land was purchased and a home was built. Richard is so very thankful to you for helping him and his mother by your prayers and financial help. The home is a simple framed house with mud stuffed between the cross pieces but they are so happy and thankful. Even though Truth Connect cannot take a team to Africa, its ministry is still on going through the seeds sown in the hearts of leaders like Richard at our LTCs in previous years. This is what you have done! Your prayers and generous donations allow Truth Connect to invest in leaders like Richard who go and preach Jesus! 

                                                       Brother Richard & Dr. Don

                                          Richard's mother's house under construction.

                                                          Mud plastered walls.

                                            Richard and his mother at her new home.

Helping Church Leaders During The Pandemic

Mbale, Uganda. I met Pastor Moses Namwano a few years ago in Kenya at one of our a Leadership Training Conferences (LTC). He is a good man and sacrificed much and traveled far to attend our LTCs. This past year has been very difficult for Pastor Moses and his family of 6. He ministers in an area of Uganda where Christianity is a minority. His church is small and very poor. As a “tent maker” he makes and sells bricks. But, with the COVID pandemic restrictions and lockdowns it became too much for Moses and his family was evicted was from their small apartment. In one of our discussions he told me their was a foundation on the property where his church is located. He asked if Truth Connect could help him build a house there. After praying about it and getting some costs from Moses, I sought the Lord’s provision. Jehovah-Jireh, “The LORD Provides” quickly made the funds available. This is a good Kingdom investment. It supports one of our ministers and his family during a time of severe need. It also encourages the gospel witness and presence in this Northeast corner of Uganda. Lord willing, I hope to visit Pastor Namwano and his church. If this trip would be of interest to you, please let know. Thank you Truth Connect donors for supporting this pastor and his family in such a very practical way. Together we say, “Weebale” (Thank You)!

 

Church Leaders Hunger For Truth And Training Truth Connect Serves Them

 

Truth Connect Leadership Training Conference Graduates,  11.3.2020
Christian Best Camp Kenya (CBCK), Kibera Slum, Nairobi, Kenya

     Truth Connect exists to encourage and equip church leaders to be more effective ministers in their local churches and communities. The above picture clearly demonstrates an extreme contrast between hope and despair. The church leaders above sit in the middle of Kibera slum. The background is crowded with homes~shacks made of rusting sheet metal, old cardboard and discarded lumber. Many of Kibera’s residents live in extreme poverty (subsisting on less than $2 per day, per person).  Kibera slum is the largest slum in Africa and one of the largest slums in the world with a population of approximately 250,000 people. Who will help them? Who will tell them about Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, the Savior?Help and hope for Kibera is found in the people proudly holding a Truth Connect Leadership Training Conference (LTC) Certificate. These are church leaders who serve in Kibera slum; their churches are some of the poorest on earth and yet they stay, living among and ministering to “the least of these” in Jesus name (Mt. 25:40). What love and commitment!

     It has been and will continue to be Truth Connect’s mission to serve Jesus Christ by serving His church by going and serving where few others will. It is challenging to do this. It’s not financially profitable to minister to “the least of these” but it is Christ-like. Truth Connect provides Leadership Training Conferences in some of the poorest places in the world like Kenya, Uganda, India, and Haiti. These church leaders are passionate about serving God and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost. Unfortunately, many of these leaders lack the opportunity for any kind of Bible and leadership training. It is Truth Connect’s mission to stand in this gap. And a key reason Truth Connect can do this is because of you!  Thanks to all of our supporters for standing with Truth Connect ~ your prayers and financial gifts make the difference.  We could not do what we do without you. You have invested in the lives of the leaders you see above and so many others. They are better equipped to serve the needy and share the gospel because you helped.  Thank you so very, very much!   

    

Church Leadership Training In Kibera Slum, Nairobi, Kenya. November 2020

Truth Connect (truthconnect.org) partnered with Christian Best Camps of Kenya (CBCK) to present a virtual Leadership Training Conference (LTC) in Kibera Slum, Nairobi, Kenya. The event took place November 2 & 3, 2020. Pastor Erick Simba, founder and director of CBCK, hosted the two day LTC in their community center in the heart of Kibera. Erick's story is amazing and compelling. He was raised in Kibera. He left the slum for training and a better life; then God brought him back to minister to the good people who call Kibera home. CBCK has brought a number of life saving and life giving initiatives to the slum. They have built a community center, bakery, study areas for the children as well as a play ground and basketball court. Please visit CBCK's web site to learn more about this amazing ministry (cbckenya.co.ke ).

It was in the CBCK community center that the LTC was held. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only 80 people were permitted to attend.  Simba was host and moderator for the LTC.  Truth Connect provided the training materials (Church Leadership: Pastors and Deacons, Qualifications & Roles, by Donald J. Schreier) and Dr. Don Schreier was the conference trainer.  Zoom was the virtual platform used to connect trainer and students.  There is an 8 hour time differential between Kenya and Johnstown, PA, where Truth Connect is located.  Therefore, Dr. Don taught from 2am to 9:30am (EST) or 10am to 4:30pm in Nairobi. The training was a huge success!  The leaders asked for another LTC as soon as possible. 

A very special THANKS to all Truth Connect prayer warriors and donors. You made this event possible by your faithful prayers and generous gifts. Thank you. 

Pastor Erick & Yasmine Simba, Founders of CBCK, Nairobi, Kenya.

Leaders listen during LTC training on the role of church leaders.

Zoom platform allowed Dr. Schreier to teach from his office in PA, USA.

                

Dr. Schreier's book,  Church Leadership: Pastors & Deacons Qualifications and Roles, was reprinted in both English and Swahili for LTC participants. 

 

Each LTC participant received a Certificate of Achievement.

Between sessions drinks and snacks were provided.

Special prayers were made for the USA as it was election day, November 3, 2020.

A graduation / celebration cake was cut and served at the conclusion of the LTC.

Kenya Leadership Training & COVID-19

Truth Connect has conducted Leadership Training Conferences (LTCs) in Kenya and Uganda for the past 8 years.  October is usually when Dr. Donald Schreier has traveled to Africa to encourage and equip church leaders. But COVID-19 has forced Truth Connect and its Kenyan hosts to make adjustments.  The LTCs hosted by Pastor Martin Shikuku in Eldoret, Kenya have been cancelled for this year.  In its place Truth Connect will conduct a two day LTC in Nairobi via Zoom.  Erick Simba, founder of Christian Best Camps of Kenya (CBCK) will host the LTC for church leaders serving in and around Kibera, the largest slum in Kenya. Erick and his wife have an amazing ministry in Kibera that you can check out by clicking on this link https://cbckenya.co.ke  Lord willing the Kibera LTC will take place the first week of November. 

Eldoret, Kenya 2019 LTC

What In The World Is Going On?

Dr. Donald J. Schreier 

What in the world is going on?  Have you asked this question? There is so much turmoil and sickness—the likes of which this generation has never experienced.  Do you remember the story of how Hansel and Gretel left a trail of breadcrumbs in the woods to find their way home? The “breadcrumbs” in society today are civil unrest, the destruction of private & public property, rebellion, death, lies, government deception and corruption. And to top it all off, a world pandemic.  And even though every bad actor ought to be held accountable for their actions, these “breadcrumbs” lead directly back to the kingdom of darkness.  Do not be fooled by all the smoke, society’s fire has been lit by the enemy of God, Satan and his many evil followers—seen and unseen.  The Apostle Paul, writing under the Holy Spirit's guidance declared, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). Jesus said this enemy only wants to “kill, steal and to destroy” (Jn. 10:10a). Our only hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ! “Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 Jn. 5:5). Stand firm in your faith in God. Smile and know the victory is in Him.