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.

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.

Leadership Training Conference in Lumakanda, Kenya. October 17-18, 2019

Truth Connect conducted its third annual Leadership Training Conference (LTC) at Lumakanda Baptist Church, Lumakanda, Kenya.  Pastor Martin Shikuku organized the conference and Pastors Julius and Enosh were the hosts.  The two day conference served 66 church leaders.  Dr. Donald Schreier and Mr. Moses Colon were the conference trainers.  Mr. Colon taught verse by verse through the book of Ephesians.  Dr. Schreier taught on the importance of the local church and its leaders.  He also taught a session on the 4 steps to Bible study and exegesis. The leaders were very enthusiastic learners and participants. Truth Connect is committed to training church leaders so that they can better lead in the homes, churches and communities for the glory of God and the magnification of the name of Jesus Christ.

Leadership Training Conference, Lumakanda, Kenya.  October 17-18, 2019

Mr. Colon with host Pastor Enosh.

Each leader was registered for the LTC and given a booklet, pen and tablet.

Leaders listening and learning at the LTC.

Mr. Colon teaching with the help of his Swahili interpreter.

Local leaders at the LTC.

These godly ladies prepared lunch for the LTC participants each day.

She is making the best chapatis on an open fire for lunch.

Pastors practicing the 4 steps to Bible study: observe, interpret, correlate, apply.

This older pastor eagerly searching the Word of God - priceless!

Leaders fellowshipping at tea break.

The ladies who served tea pose proudly with their LTC certificates.

So happy to receive her LTC certificate from Mr. Colon and Dr. Schreier.

Pastor Shikuku, Dr. Schreier, Pastor Julius at the LTC conclusion.

Eldoret, Kenya Leadership Training October 2019

Truth Connect partnered with Glory Baptist Church, Eldoret, Kenya to provide a Leadership Training Conference (LTC) for local and foreign church leaders October 14-16, 2019. Pastor Martin Shikuku and his wife Anne hosted the training at their church. Dr. Donald Schreier and Mr. Moses Colon were the Truth Connect conference trainers. One hundred and twenty six leaders enjoyed three full days of training.  Mr. Colon taught the Epistle of Ephesians verse by verse -- this was very well received.  Dr. Schreier taught on the importance of the church and its leaders. The leaders were taught the four foundational steps to Bible study, broken into study groups and given a Bible passage to exegete.  This assignment was well received and leaders worked enthusiastically to accomplish the task.  At the conclusion to the training each participant received a Certificate of Participation. God was at work in the LTC and we give Him thanks and praise for His grace and blessings.

Pastor Martin & Anne Shikuku, Leadership Training Conference hosts.

Eldoret, Kenya Leadership Training Conference, October 14-16, 2019

Pastors listen and learn at LTC.

Mr. Moses Colon teaches the book of Ephesians.

Dr. Schreier teaches the importance of the church to uphold the truth of the gospel.

Pastors apply Bible study methods to exegete the Scriptures.

Church leader learning and growing at the LTC.

Leader receives his Certificate with pride from Dr. Schreier.

Dr. Schreier, Pastor Shikuku, Mr. Colon

Tanzanian church leaders apply Bible study principles at the LTC.

Visit To A Masai Village - Kenya 10/14

Truth Connect conducted a Leadership Training Conference (LTC) at Eldoret, Kenya in October 2014 (please see earlier blog posts).  Once the LTC was completed, Karen and I took a few days to see the beauty of God's creation in Kenya.  Peter, of Elida Tours (based in Nairobi and highly recommended), drove us from Eldoret to the Masai Mara, where for three days he guided our safaris (see the previous post).

One of the most interesting parts of the tour for me was a visit to a Masai Village.  Peter helped us locate a local tribesman who then took us to his village.  Once I negotiated our "entrance fee" with the Masai leaders, we were warmly welcomed into the village.  (I was forewarned that any Masai village we visited would want an "entrance fee." The fee is used to benefit the community as a whole.)

Dixon (left) led us to his village and we negotiated the entrance fee with these men.

Karen & I were warmly received by the Masai men.

Masai men jump high while others sing and blow a ram's horn.

Masai warrior blows a ram's horn.

Dixon places a lion fur hat on me.  Masai boys, when 15 years old, are sent into the wilderness to kill a male lion as a rite of adult passage. 

Karen is cloaked with a red Masai shawl, the prominent color used by the Masai. It is a color that demonstrates fierceness. Red also makes it easier for Masai herdsman to be seen by their herds of cows and flocks of goats and sheep.   

Masai live in small huts constructed from woven sticks plastered with cow dung.  The Masai women are responsible to build the family hut.

Karen and I sat in this Masai's house and talked about the Masai way.  He told me of the Great Spirit who made everything.  I shared with him how this Great Spirit sent His Son to take the away the darkness that we all have in our hearts.  It was an interesting discussion.

These children listened as we talk about the Great Spirit God who created the animals, people and all there is.  They heard that God loves them and sent His Son Jesus to die for their sin/darkness of heart.  They learned that they need to believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sin and to receive God's gift of eternal life.  Please pray for the Masai people.

Dixon shows Karen herbal bark used to make a medicinal tea.

A mother and her children.  Notice the brush fence, it circles the entire village.  Their cows and other animals are brought inside the fence at night to protect them from lions and other predators.  

This beautiful little girl waved goodbye to us as we ended our visit at the Masai Village.