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.

Training Leaders in the Bahamas ~ September 2016

Truth Connect was in Nassau, Bahamas to train church leaders in September, 2016.   Dr. Cherelus Exante and the New Haitian Mission Baptist Church hosted the 4 day Leadership Training Conference (LTC).  I had the privilege to teach local pastors, seminarians, and church leaders who were enthusiastic students.  The LTC curriculum focus was Leadership Principles of Israel's Shepherd - Kings.  One key idea that captured the hearts of the participants was, "You do what you do because you think what you think.  To do better you must think better."  It is a simple but powerful truth.  Truth Connect's training helps leaders to think better so they can lead better.

I have worked in the Bahamas since 1993 and therefore have plenty of friends and associates I visit when I can.  Tim & Felicia Ryan are missionaries from Wisconsin.  They serve at All Saints Camp, a care facility for residents experiencing difficult life circumstances or terminal illnesses. They are God's special caretakers.  The Bazile Family oversee a Haitian church in Nassau and direct a church and school in Cap Haitien, Haiti.  Alley and Keshner have birthdays a month apart and we celebrated at McDonalds with happy meals and ice-cream.

Dr. Exante and Mrs. Anne Cherelus were the hosts for the LTC.

Local church leaders and seminary students participate in LTC.

Pastor Exante and Sister Moises helped interpret for the LTC.

Award certificates were given to LTC participants.

The Ryan Family ~ missionaries in the Bahamas.

The Bazile Family.  

Here I am with Alley (left) and Keshner celebrating their birthdays. Over the years they have become like grandsons to me ~ they are special boys.  

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.