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.

Cap Haitien, Haiti Leadership Training Conference, August 2016

Truth Connect was in Cap Haitien, Haiti  August 13-18, 2016 to encourage and equip Christian leaders to ignite godly transformation in their communities.  The ministry team of six included Dr. David Pitkins, Scott & Kim Smith, Isaac & Ilayda Jean, and me.  Pastor Aleonce Bazile and the Alliance Church of Limonade was our host.  Three events happened each day: Dr. Pitkins and I taught a Leadership Training Conference (LTC) to approximately 50 persons on the first level of the Alliance Church.  The Smiths and Jeans led a Teachers' Training Conference for approximately 35 elementary school teachers on the upper level of the church.  The training was well received and appreciated.  Each evening in Limonade, approximately 1,000 people came out for an evangelistic outreach.  The gathering was held in a local goat pasture. A stage was built in the center of the field with large speakers stacked high on the platform and portable gas generators provided the electric.  Each evening a band played praise and worship music for a few hours and then the preacher presented the gospel of Jesus Christ followed by an opportunity to repent of sins,  receive His forgiveness and confess Jesus as Savior.  By the end of the 8 day crusade, Pastor Bazile reported there were 56 first time conversions to Jesus Christ ~ two of them were voodoo witch doctors; a testimony to the power  of the Lord Jesus Christ's to change lives.

Pastor Aleonce Bazile and Dr. David Pitkins at the Limonade Alliance Church & School.

Don, Scott & Kim, Dave, Isaac & Illayda in Cap Haitien.

Dr. Dave teaching on "dry wells" and the need for Living Water.

Haitien leaders listening and learning.

Dr. Don teaching leadership principles with Pastor Bazile interpreting.

Truth Connect donors help to provide lunches at the LTC ~ Thank you TC supporters!

Mr. Fresnel and Mr. Joseph traveled from a different region of Haiti to be part of the LTC.

Pastor Willy and I have been friends for  years. He is a special man of God.

Certificates of completion are awarded to all who attend the LTC.

Limonade community evangelistic outreach.

Stage in goat pasture where Pastor Bazile interpreted for Dr. Pitkins and me.

Approximately a thousand people gathered each evening at the evangelistic outreach.

A trip to Haiti would not be complete without a break-down or two or three during the week. Scott assists Dave as he fills the overheated radiator with water on our way to the LTC.

Bahamas LTC With Haitian Church Leaders

Truth Connect is in the Bahamas for a Leadership Training Conference (LTC) the week of March 9, 2015.  Pastor Aleonce Bazile and the United Alliance Church  on New Providence Island is hosting the conference.  The three day conference is being held in the heart of Nassau.  What makes this LTC special to me is my long time relationship with Pastor Bazile and the church.  When I was a project coordinator with Mission Discovery from 1993 to 2010, our mission teams worked at this church.  Youth and adult mission teams helped reconstruct the worship center I am now teaching in.  How special is that? God has unique ways of completing life circles.

Don and Pastor Bazile.

Pastor Bazile speaks in the beautiful worship center where the LTC is being held. 

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.

Kenya LTC 2014. Encouraging and Equipping Church Leaders

Truth Connect's mission is to encourage and equip church leaders to be disciple-makers where they live.  To fulfill this mission a team of four teachers traveled from the USA to Langas, Eldoret, Kenya in October 2014 for a Leadership Training Conference (LTC).  The theme of this year's LTC was "The Qualities of a Church Leader".  Mr. William Thomas taught on stewardship and its implication in every area of the leader's life and work.  Dr. David Pitkins illustrated good and bad leadership qualities from the lives of Bible characters.  Mrs. Karen Schreier encouraged women to live godly lives and the importance of the Christian home.  Dr. Donald Schreier taught on the qualities necessary for good church leadershi.  Each day approximately 250 church leaders gathered to worship, pray, and learn what the Bible says about Christian leadership.  It was an exciting week of learning and making new friends.

Church leaders listen carefully to principles of being a better leader.

Dr. Pitkins teaching the leadership principles of Elijah and Elisha through Swahili translator.

Mr. Bill Thomas teaching stewardship principles.

Leaders listened carefully, asked questions, and took notes.

Karen teaches through a Swahili translator the biblical principles of being a godly woman.

The women listened to Karen teach and asked many questions.

Mr. Bill Thomas illustrating his point as Wilson translates.

Dr. Don emphasizes the importance of integrity in leadership as Wilson translates into Swahili.

Truth Connect Ministry Team Set To Depart For Kenya - October 19, '14

Truth Connect is sending a ministry team of four to Kenya for its second annual Leadership Training Conference (LTC).  The team will depart from the USA on Sunday, October 19th and arrive in Eldoret, Kenya on Tuesday.  The LTC runs from Wednesday through Sunday (10/22-26).  Pastor Chris Luswetti and the Word of Life Harvest Church will again host the event; last year 230 leaders attended.  Pastor Luswetti believes there could be more than 300 participants this year!  Thank you for your prayers.  Thank you for supporting Truth Connect financially.  If you would like to help with the Kenya LTC by sponsoring a pastor or providing Bibles for those in need, you may give a tax-deductible gift either on-line at www.truthconnect.org or you can write a check to Truth Connect and send to Truth Connect, P.O. Box 5608, Johnstown, PA 15904.

The Luswetti family:  Mrs. Tabitha and Pastor Chris with their children.  

LTC host church is located on the edge of Langas, near Eldoret.

Dr. David Pitkins, a veteran Truth Connect trainer in a Haiti, will teach at the Kenya LTC.

Mr. Bill Thomas, a Truth Connect board member, will teach at the Kenya LTC.

Dr. Don & Mrs. Karen Schreier, Truth Connect founders, will both teach at the Kenya LTC.