Saturday, November 10, 2007

LMC presented at Korean roundtable in Bangkok

Min-Young is a longterm missionary from Korea, who works with Wycliffe Bible Translators. He has done the Leadership Matters Course and even helped in the team of trainers.
He writes: "In January 2008, there will be a Korean missions roundtable meeting to be held in Bangkok (called the 5th Bangkok Forum). The theme will be "Korean mission and leadership." I am asked to introduce a well established & approved program to the forum, and I will show & tell about LMC, of course. Hope this occasion will result in much more active Korean participation."

Let us pray for this meeting, for our Korean brothers and sisters in this emotional time (after the tragic incident in Afghanistan) and for wisdom to see how the LMC training could be of use to them.

Friday, July 13, 2007

LMC Buzz from Aorund the World

Dear LMC Staff
Thank you for sending us the LMC newsletter. We enjoy reading that.
My wife talked a lot about the wonders of LMC and what she learned there. Her report reminds me of the Townsend Institute that I did in the early ‘90s. LMC has really improved by the sound of things. She keeps telling me, "You must attend again!" I'll be happy to go, now that she has convinced me that I could learn more.

We are making up a report in order to bring a proposal and recommendation to our administration that we recognize the importance of tooling our people through LMC. We'll let you know how things go.

God bless you …


Dear LMC Staff
The relationship building skills did me a good treat. I have made three new friends and am encouraging them by keeping in touch. I am making sure that I practice responding with affirmation to people when they call. There was a load of paper work piled and waiting for me when I came back to work but I saw things in a new perspective … which is really hard to believe. I’ve been working through identifying the needs of my stakeholders (my boss, creditors and staff) and am pleased at the ease in doing PR and the POA now that I have them written down.
I just have so much to share.
Thanks for your prayers and I will continue to pray for the LMC trainers and their families.

With much love in Christ Jesus, Sister … (still smiling)

“The environment of affirmation created a place where we could all be transparent, vulnerable and teachable. What a difference this makes to people’s ability to learn!” (Jo Cummings, OM Australia)

”The course presents an integrated concept of leadership. Whereas I may have come across much of the material before in a scatted way, this course brings it all together in a way that demands attention and a response. It will be valuable to me to the extent I can spend further quality time on it and integrate it into life and ministry” (Phil Bushell, Asia)

This course has given me exactly the right tools I need to recruit, build, strengthen and encourage my team.” (Tillmann Klein, OM Australia)

I should have done this course twenty years ago!” (Sineina Gela, Bible Translation Association, Papua New Guinea)

Spain Relationship Matters Course

Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for your prayers for the Relationship Matters Course, the first in Spanish! From both the written evaluations and all the comments we received from the participants, the course was a huge success. We had 24 participants and 9 trainers.

There were many positive comments. One of the more experienced pastors, from one of the churches represented, had tears flowing down his cheeks and found it difficult to speak. He said this course was marvelous and that he truly believes it has the potential to revolutionize the country of Spain. That is what we have been thinking for the last two years, but we have been working, praying and anticipating the day when a Spanish leader would say that.

One of the questions on the evaluation asked participants: “if we offered another course, would they attend.” Every participant answered yes, and the majority used some adjective to say “emphatically yes”. Many said, “when are you going to offer it?” We praise the Lord and thank Him for doing more than we could imagine.

Here for HIS glory,

Jeff & Susan Turnbough

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

My life was deeply touched, my confidence enhanced

“A few lines is insufficient to express the value and depth of this training. . . . My life was deeply touched, my confidence enhanced to go on.”

Sineina Gela

Staying focused

“The importance of having a personal mission statement helps me stay focused and helps me in making decisions.”

Elizabeth Thomas

Worked wonders in their lives

"Affirming others has worked wonders in their lives. I am praising and rejoicing in the Lord.”

Betty Dunstan

Filled back to full and overflowing

“… I went to Brisbane like an empty container, but I thank the sponsors and the LMC staff who filled this container back to full and overflowing. “

Mara Iyama

Sunday, August 06, 2006

LMC Brisbane 9 July - 23 July

Dear Friends,

'G'day Mate', as they would say in Australia, down under. I want to take this time to thank each and everyone of you for praying for me. your prayers really made a difference in my life. You have all been a wonderful team behind the scene. Your prayers and support made it possible for me to attend this course on Leadership in Brisbane, Australia. I want to say again, thank you for your support.

I have just returned from Brisbane after being away from home, office and family for 14 days. For me this course has been a life changing experience. I must admit that I have attended many other leadership courses and this one is the top of the notch. I mean it is the best one I have ever attended so far. I can sum it up by saying Skill empowerment. By that I mean Communication Skills, Relationship Skills, Management Skills, Life Management Skills, Ministry Skills,Training Skills, Creative Thinking & Decision Making Skills and Public Relations. I could have not ask for any more than these.

These course has really helped me in all the above areas and I look forward to applying them now. Well, I already have believe it or not. You see when I returned from Brisbane, we were just finishing our Orientation. I was asked to do my final session on Communication between office and missionaries on the field or the sending churches and supporters. One skill that I learnt was in the area of How to Lead a Workshop. Without delay I used the toolkit on how to lead workshop. My topic was on How to have good communication between the OM office and the missioanries on the field. Guess what? I applied the skills I acquired at the LMC on How to lead Workshop. It really worked. I was able to draw a lot of feed back from the team rather then me giving all the answers.

The next day we had a farewell meal for all the trainees and again I was able to give my talk using the Modular speaking technique. Again it worked very well. Later my wife told me that my way of presentation upfront really improved. Wow, what a comment to have from your wife! I was able to share about OM using the bolts & nuts technique. It was a great start for me.

I enjoyed my two weeks of training in Brisbane. It was hectic as there was lot of group work, individual work and participation in class as well. No session was done without participation from the class. All the Trainees were kept thinking for themselves all the time all throughout which was very good. The Trainers were very good. They had been doing these for many years so they were very experienced.

After 14 days of hard work we graduated with our certificates after a lovely Banquet or meal. By the way, it was winter at that time so it was cold for me. I had enough warm clothes to keep me warm during the day and night as well. If you ask me this question, Is it worth it all? I was not too sure what was involved in this course. I have attended many other similar courses as well. I had my fears of not knowing what was involved. In fact I was at cross roads in my leadership as well. I had been dealing with some very difficult relationships with people. After attending this course I am glad I have learnt some skills to be able to apply. we were encouraged to write to some of these people and appreciate them for who they are in God. Then I remembered, it is worth it all for attending the course. It has helped me to face these people with confidence and hope for the best for them and me.

Once again I want to thank you again for your support and prayers for my trip. I am now preparing for my trip to Germany to attend the OM International Forum in August. Would you pray for this trip as well. Pray that the finances will come in so we can make this trip to Germany.

Thank you

Kini Kila

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Spiritual Maturity and Professionalism

“The combination of the level of spiritual maturity of the Christian leaders who give this training, with the professionalism in their training skills and the fact that different missions work together in this course is unique in the world.”

Ian Cullen: Pastor CAMA Australia

Communication Skills and Focus

“I have done a lot of preaching for many years, but really valued the communication skills and the help to be more focussed and to the point.”

Rod Russell Brown: President C&MA Australia

Go Away From Here As A Leader

“In China they have a saying that you feel your way through a river, by feeling the stones. That’s how I did my work as a leader. I came as an administrator but I go away from here as a leader.”

Brian Allen: (SIL China)

Power of Affirmation

“I have seen in this course the power of affirmation. Never before have I experienced it like we have done it here. I am committed to practise this myself in my family and with the local staff.”

Steve Strong: (Runs CMA guesthouse Bangkok)

Many In a Position of Leadership Who Lack the Skills to be Effective

"Across Africa there are many in a position of leadership who lack the skills to be effective. This is not really their fault. They had no one to teach them. In the year 2001 I dissolved a ministry I was leading. If I had done this course, the story would have been different."

Efi Walters (Cameroon)

Saved Me 3 Years of Management Schooling

“This course saved me three years of management schooling. It gave what I needed.”

Kafah N.Mekwi (Campus leader in Cameroon)

Best Input

“This is the best input I have ever received in my whole education.”

Martin Beyala (SIL Cameroon)

Turning Point

“This course has brought a turning point in my life and ministry.”

Adebayo Kolawole (Cameroon)

Great Impact On My Future Ministry

“This course will have a great impact on my future ministry.”

Frederic Walraven (Church-planter from Holland)

Course That Comes Once In A Lifetime

“This is a course that comes once in a lifetime.”

Alemayehu Hailu (Ethiopia)

Basic, Workable and Practical Training

“The course is basic and excellent! Many of the Africans have never had such training. It is valuable for families, pastors and even for leaders in the secular world. The challenge of French speaking Africa is simply huge. This is a basic, workable and practical training in leadership and management and I pray that it will benefit many more people.”

Dr. Michel Kenmogne (Cameroonian director of Wycliffe for nationals, an organization with 80 people)

Life Changing Experience

“For me this course has been a life changing experience. I must admit that I have attended many other leadership courses and this one is the top of the notch. I mean it is the best one I have ever attended so far. I could have not have asked for any more than these.
When I returned from Brisbane, we were just finishing our Orientation. I was asked to do my final session on Communication between office and missionaries on the field or the sending churches and supporters. One skill that I learnt was in the area of How to Lead a Workshop. Without delay I used it and it really worked.
The next day we had a farewell meal for all the trainees and again I was able to give my talk using what I learned in the LMC. Again it worked very well. Later my wife told me that my way of presentation upfront really improved.”

Kini Kila (OM leader in Papua New Guinea)

Friday, June 09, 2006

Impact in Nepal

Dear John,

Thank you for writing.

After the LMC in Nepal, the way I function in the ministry has started changing.

Right after I reached home I had a meeting with my staff for our church planting school and reported to them how you taught us in LMC by using the workshop module. I asked them: “can we go that way? “They all said, “why not?” Then we stared having classes after I have told my staff how we should be doing it. The fearful students became very confident and we all laughed during the class. We all enjoyed the format. I asked every student how it was. They said “ sir why didn’t you do it before. We do not want to go away from this training Institute. ”

On 5 May the 12 trainees were graduated happily. We did the graduation ceremony like we had at the LMC. People said it’s wonderful.

In the church too I used the story module. People said it was excellent.

Now my family devotion is growing. I tell 2 stories then a scripture. My wife enjoys it as much as I do.

In the church where I pastor, I am training the believers, along with the leaders, the Relational Skill on Sundays. Two Sundays have gone. Twenty four of them are participating. They enjoy it so much.

Thank you for you training us to train other people.

Love Tomba Khoisnam

Friday, May 12, 2006

Buzz from the Philippines

Thanks for the mail. I am blessed to hear from you. Just last night, I was reviewing my LMC notes on management. I will be sharing with the ministry heads of the church on how to make a PRD for the ministries they are handling. I really found the seminar helpful. Please pray for me as I give the lecture on PRD.
The Lord Bless you, your family and your ministry.
In His Service,
Noel Erese

Buzz from MV Logos II

It really is amazing that I would get this mail from you at this time, for some time now I have felt the Lord laying it on my heart that I need to take some time out - a time of solitude, to rest, to look back and evaluate, to look ahead and seek His guidance, but above all a time just to rest in His presence and draw close to Him and allow Him to fill my cup...
It's amazing that all this actually started with the LMC in Turkey and since then there has been so many instances where God has reminded me of this and really given me this desire to take action to make it happen...
Even more than this I have this unexplainable sense of expectation that during this time God wants to meet with me and do an amazing work in my life - I am normally very careful of relying on feelings or emotions, but this really is different and exciting...
PLEASE pray with me that God will lead and direct me in this, I have already discussed this with my leaders and it seems that the doors are slowly opening for me to be able to take at least 1 month out somewhere within the next 4 months - I have decided that I will not go home (to South Africa) during this time because from my experience I know that it will not work for me to try and do this back home, so I am trying to find the right place and time to do this...???
Since the LMC, I started and led the Intensive Training Program on board the Logos II and for the past year been working also as the program manager onboard, it is GREAT to be part of this ministry and to see and experience God touch so many lives.
Wow, that's already a whole mouth-full...
Anyway, THANK YOU John for your updates and please know that I am and will be praying for you !
In Him,
Brian Esterhuizen

My Experience of the Leadership Matters Course, Turkey, October ‘04

The Leadership Matters Course (LMC) was a wonderful opportunity to take a few steps back from my assignment and review the whole leadership task. The two week course brought together many of the bits and pieces of training, reading and informal learning of the past 20 years, and helped me integrate these elements into a unified framework. It was stimulating to be alongside experienced and emerging leaders from other agencies, in particular those from OM.

The trainers were experienced leaders with well developed presentational skills. They were very effective in modelling the principles being taught. Five trainers who serve with OM in significant leadership roles were accompanied by David Cummings, former President of WBT, John King of Wycliffe Canada and Peter Lester of East Asia Group.

Very little of the course content or skill set was new to me. The benefit came from being reacquainted with things I already knew and being helped to appreciate the value of these fundamental skills and insights through reflecting on them and applying them in practical exercises. An analogy might be a course of advanced driving instruction – sharpening my awareness of the basic driving skills, identifying areas of weakness in my technique, and equipping me to drive more expertly and with fewer mishaps. For example it was very helpful to take time to work through skills such as delegation and supervision. In addition to vital leadership elements such as vision, communication and management the course also covers areas such as the pain associated with leadership.

The LMC does not make any attempt to address theoretical models of leadership-related issues. It confines itself to teaching a set of practical skills in addition to development of healthy attitudes towards the task of leadership

Towards the end of the two weeks I found myself thinking more like a leader and less like a manager or administrator. Back in my assignment I am now tending to ask myself questions such as, “What leadership skill is appropriate in this setting?” as opposed to asking, “How can I overcome this problem or address this situation?” The LMC is designed to develop an increased awareness of God’s anointing and an associated confidence in approaching the leadership task. I have found this to be the case.

The instructional technique had much in common with Learning that Lasts – first drawing on the awareness and experience of the learners, and then adding the learning appropriate to a given unit. The question asked at the end of each training session was, “What will you start doing, stop doing, or do differently as a result of this training?”

I see the LMC as complimenting SIL’s MDOC programme by adding a leadership emphasis as well as reinforcing the basic management skills. Recommended reading in areas of management and leadership theory alongside MDOC and LMC would, in my view, provide a comprehensive equipping for leadership. In a profoundly simple way LMC develops a broad understanding of essential leadership issues and foundational skills, and makes direct application to the assignment of the participant.
LMC is a program of the International Training Alliance, an organization which has come into being in response to the deep need for leadership training amongst mission and church leaders, both amongst the expatriate missionaries and nationals in the developing world.

Eric Graham (England)

Buzz from Myanmar

I often think of our times in Bangkok; and yes, I have taught many great things that I learned while I was there. I have done the LMP for lots of youth groups and it was wonderful.
Your friend,
Katie Holley

Buzz from Nepal

I have been quite busy learning how to function as the new field leader. The biggest difficulty has been most of my time has been spent on getting things set up. Some of these practical steps from LMC are part of my new vision for the team structure and how we will be training but there is so much that I have not had the chance to do yet. A simple example is my ‘PR’ plan. It is all set up and I am just waiting for the time to get together with pastors and leaders to start pressing forward.
I hope that we are on the cutting edge of what is going on in Nepal. I hope we are always looking at what we are doing and asking ourselves hard questions.
Blessings To You,
Michael Huff


I talked to my “boss” about what we had learned at LMC. It was quite difficult to put together all the info into a format relevant to our work, but it was a good challenge. I realised it will take some time to implement as I need to understand the current situation. However, I have really found it so important to talk to the people that I have in the team, and this has already been reaping rewards in that they are coming to talk to me about challenges in their work.
I do need to make time to sit down and go through all this info again, but unfortunately time seems against me for a number of reasons, please pray I find this time, even in small blocks!!May the Lord bless & keep you,
Kylie Loneragan

Buzz from MV Logos II

Just a followup to the LMC Edinburgh commitment. I met with my supervisor and discussed the course. For me, the Life Management Plan is the focus that I keep returning to. I've finalized my personal mission statement, set up new accountability partners for two of the Life Dimensions, and have six goals that I wish to work towards during the next year. Been pondering this focus during the last weeks of my furlough - it has been a good time to seek God's will and re-orient my next steps. All my best to you, Rejoicing in Christ!
Ginny Newell

Buzz from Cameroon

The director of the Cabtal, Dr. Michel Kenmogne, told us that many years ago he could not believe his eyes seeing his sister being so in love with the Savior. When he himself first decided to follow Christ, his parents asked if he had gone mad because of his studies. How could he think that he was wiser than all the others in the village, leaving the traditional worship of ancestors and spirits? His mother, knowing very well the terrible state many of the churches are in, remarked: “Did you not know that even the pastors of the Christian churches worship the spirits, after their own church meetings are over?”

So when he saw his sister in love with Jesus, he wondered what in the world had happened to her. Apparently, during his long absence from home, she had gotten hold of a copy of the Scriptures in her mother tongue. She had learned to read a little bit and was very impressed with Jesus Christ. She even told Michel in great earnestness: “We need to tell our father too, before he dies …!”
That’s what the Scriptures do!!

Report on the LMC in Cameroon, January 2006

Excerpts from a report written by Joop Strietman

”Oh the mistakes I have made. I actually closed down a whole ministry and sent the workers home because I had no idea how to handle the situation. I have found out in just two days that I could have done it in a way that would have saved the ministry”
Stated by one of the participants in the January course.

Participants:We had thirty-six participants in total, mainly from Wycliffe, SIL and Cabtal, but also from Campus Crusade for Christ and a few from smaller local ministries in Cameroon and Nigeria and even a Baptist pastor from Chad who travelled five days to get to the course. We were told that we had 40 definite applicants and a few more on the waiting list who were pretty desperate to get in. We ended up with exactly 36, which was a relief for our small team of trainers! Those on the waiting list we did not allow to join.
The participants came from Cameroon, Nigeria, Zambia, Benin, Chad, and Ethiopia.
Of them 26 were Africans and only 8 Westerners. We therefore experienced a strong African cultural flavor to the course.
One of the participants, a Dutch missionary, had to leave us for two days in order to bury the wife of an African colleague. She was only 38 years old and left a husband behind with seven children. Such a thing in Cameroon is always of high significance, as nobody dies ‘just like that’. Normally the husband can be accused for example of having poisoned his wife. The members of the small village church coped wisely with this and all the arrangements went well. The missionary told us afterwards that on his way to the funeral he had to make a detour of five hours over bumpy roads because of a roadblock put up by drunk, angry, striking students!
The quality we saw in the participants was of a high level. One was a lawyer, another a former F-16 pilot, some had major degrees while others had not much of an educational background but were very godly people with much ministry experience. At the end we identified seven participants that we will approach about the possibility to help (someday) as a table trainer. Four of them are Africans, of which three are French speakers!


Evaluation with directors taking the course:
On the second last day we sat as a team of trainers with the directors and representatives of SIL Cameroon, the Wycliffe, SIL and Cabtal, (the national Bible translation organization) the representative of Campus Crusade for Christ and SIL in Ethiopia, Nigeria and ATALTRAB in Chad. We asked them to tell us how they viewed the training and how they saw the future. The response was very positive. Besides the comments that the course was very packed and that a little more time here and there would have been helpful, it was also felt that a little more cultural adaptation would be helpful in future courses.
George Schultz (the SIL director) asked: “Can you come back in two years?”
Dr. Michel Kenmogne (director of Cabtal, an organization with 80 people) said: “The course is basic and excellent! Many of the Africans have never had such training. It is valuable for families, pastors and even for leaders in the secular world. The challenge of French speaking Africa is simply huge.”
The representatives of SIL Nigeria, Chad and Ethiopia said things like: “This course is much more practical than other courses … Most churches have huge problems in their leadership … Our colleagues need this too … It would be good to develop African trainers.”
The representative of Campus Crusade for Christ commented: “Our challenge is to be effective in ministry. There is a crying need for this training in French. In many ministries leadership is crumbling to ‘zero’. The fee needs to be lower for Africans in order to afford it.” (The Campus Crusade folk paid 100 dollars, which is a big amount for them.)

The non Wycliffe trainers:
As trainers we all went home after the course with a deep appreciation and admiration for the work of Bible translation in Africa.
I know that facts don’t sell, but let me give you some anyway: Chad has 125 languages and 8 are being worked on at present. Nigeria has 550 languages and 52 have at least a portion of the Bible translated. Cameroon has 270 languages and has 5 with the Scriptures and 16 where people work on right now. Benin has 52 languages and plans are made for a work in 10 of these.
That is a total number of almost one thousand languages in just four African nations! No wonder that Cameroon is the largest SIL base after Papua New Guinea.

How people described the course:

  • “You have built an excellent power-packed set of tools that can make my ministry more fruitful.” (Mindy Lamberty - USA)
  • “This is a course that comes once in a lifetime.” (Alemayehu Hailu - Ethiopia)
  • “This course presents a balanced view of leadership, with clear, practical and spiritual challenge to all who desire to grow in their responsibility and who want to go beyond the superficial in their life and service.” (Titus Olumuyiwa - Nigeria)
  • “This course provided some wonderful tools and some good practice to enhance godly leadership.” (Vince Griffis – USA Missionary High School Teacher)
  • “It is very timely and needed to rescue the African church.” (Emmanuel Ngeh – Cameroon)
  • “The course gives basic information that I learned previously, but it was good to review these things and it motivated me to change.” (George Schulz – USA Executive Director of SIL Cameroon)
  • "This course is essential for anyone who wants to succeed in leadership." (Ngoh Rapheal Febia Cameroon)
  • “This course will have a great impact on my future ministry.” (Frederic Walraven – Holland, Brethren Missionary)
  • “This course has brought a turning point in my life and ministry.” (Adebayo Kolawole – Cameroon)
  • “This is the best input I have ever received in my whole education.” (Martin Beyala - Cameroon)
  • “This course saved me three years of management schooling. It gave what I needed.” (Kafah N.Mekwi – Cameroon Campus Crusade)
  • “This is a basic, workable and practical training in leadership and management and I pray that it will benefit many more people.” (Dr. Michel Kenmogne – Cameroon, Director of Cabtal)
  • "Across Africa there are many in a position of leadership who lack the skills to be effective. This is not really their fault. They had no one to teach them. In the year 2001 I dissolved a ministry I was leading. If I had done this course, the story would have been different.” (Efi Walters – Cameroon Church Relations for Cabtal)
  • “This course is timely for African leaders.” (Sule Aufa – Nigeria Director of NBT)
  • “Though I was skeptical at first, I found the course very helpful, motivating and practical.” (Pete Kluck – USA)
  • “This course is very inspiring!” (Sinclair Gabriel Tehegyu – Cameroon)
  • “This training is necessary for leaders!” (Pastor Timothee – Chad)

Why the Field day was appreciated

“A great opportunity to practise our skills.”

Why the workshops on Creative Thinking & Decision making were appreciated

”Very helpful to me. In my work there are constantly new ideas.”
“I must be patient with the more judicial thinkers in our board of trustees.”

Why the workshops on Training & Workshops were appreciated

”I appreciated seeing the various teaching styles modelled.”

Why the workshops on Communication (stories) were appreciated

“This gave me more confidence in public speaking.”

Why the workshops on Management were appreciated

“I have now understood how to organize my work and use the resources in the best way.”
“I appreciate to understand how to delegate properly.”
“This got me thinking about the fact that it is about building other people.”

Why the workshops on Relationship Building were appreciated

“This will help me to open up to others and relate well with them.”

Why the workshops on Communication (AICDC) were appreciated

“Because of its wide application.”
”This can help me working with my branch members.”
“This will help me prepare good sermons, aiming at commitment.”
“This will help me to hear people and for people to hear me.”

Why the workshops on Public Relations were appreciated

“It helped me see the impact of the perspective others may have.”
“Now I understand how to do PR effectively. I am no longer reluctant. In fact I feel excited.”
”It has taught me how to relate to others.”
”This helped me to put a PR plan together and showed me how to fulfil that.”
”I believe my ministry will improve and have more lasting impact through what I learned.”
“This is going to help me to think through my ministry from the perspective to the others.”
“It will help me to develop deep and meaningful relationships.”

Why talks on LMP (Life Management Plan) were appreciated

“It helped me to reorganize my life.”
"I think now I am able to reorganise myself and my future course in life."
"It helped me to think ahead about my role as a leader."
"This helped me tremendously to get a new focus in my ministry."
“This helps me to develop in a way to be used by God ”
“Very helpful for my personal development.”

Why talks on leadership were appreciated

“This is fundamental to all the rest.””The lecture on pain was key. I need to know what to expect.”
“This helps me to be a good leader.”
“They were encouraging, motivating and a great mentoring experience.”

Gilbertson's on LMC


Dear Ray and fellow GMLTers,

We trust that each of you is doing well. Our travel schedule and lack of good internet connections have limited our contact with you, but we have enjoyed your various communications. It is great to hear of some of the things God is doing in the other “S” ventures. Although we may have been silent we certainly are interested! We are looking forward to be together with you in Thailand.

Two weeks out of 52 weeks is a big block of time, isn’t it? We know that each of you is very busy and that time is always at a premium. However, what if we were to recommend something to you, something we have experience with, that has been well worth the time investment? I sure you would be interested in knowing what that is.

We are just finishing the Leadership Matters Course. You will recall that we talked about the possibility of each of the CRD couples participating in the training. Well, having passed through the two weeks course, we want to highly recommend it to each one of you.

Leadership Matters explores the essential skills of being a leader. We participated in training modules which include: communication, public relations, ministry, creative thinking, decision making, delegating, planning, organizing, directing/supervising, evaluating, motivating, and good interpersonal skills. Although we were familiar with much of the content, we found that the teaching style, learning activities, and applications to real life ministry situations were absolutely fabulous.

Leadership Matters connects skills to Christ-centered character and anointing for ministry. We found this emphasis to be very refreshing in light of the fact that many leadership courses focus only on the “how to’s.”

Leadership Matters also provides a unique cross-cultural perspective and is focused specifically on leadership within the mission community in non-North American contexts. This in itself is refreshing. The teaching staff consisting of an American, an Australian, a German, and a South African and is a good example of the cross-cultural focus. All have had extensive cross-cultural ministry experience as missionaries. The participants themselves were a cross section of nationalities and mission organizations.

Another highlight of the Leadership Matters Course was having invited Paul Ens, our soon to be Field Director/Team Leader for Mexico. Talk about added value. Not only did he receive excellent training for his new role but each day we went for a walk after classes and enjoyed a great time of unpacking the day’s training, envisioning how to make the applications for the future, and sharing our lives together.

If you want a one-shot retooling experience in leadership, Leadership Matters is for you. We would highly recommend that you do it as a couple as well as invite key personnel. In this way you not only have a wonderful time interacting them together, but you also are on the “same page” about the things you are learning. Besides, at US$550 we personally think it is a bargain (accommodation, food all included)!

We would encourage you to go to the http://www.leadershipmatters.ws/ and check out details for the courses in 2006 and 2007. Registration is very easy. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Blessings to you all,

Ric and Ruth-Anne Gilbertson

Nov 30, 2005
Brazil