August 2007

Leadership Training in Central Africa Meets Needs In Three Previously War-Torn Countries

Ben Staley, Pastor of Northridge Friends Church in Wichita (KS) for 17 years, has been making mission trips to Africa’s Great Lakes Region since 1994 for leadership training efforts with national Friends leaders in Burundi, Congo, and Rwanda. He presently chairs the GLLT Committee as a member of the EFM Board.

After years of violence and civil war, there is a welcome level of peace in Rwanda, Burundi, and Congo, called the Great Lakes Region of Central Africa. God has answered prayers for peace throughout the region. The improved political conditions allow Friends to go forward with a much needed, aggressive leadership training movement in all three countries.

Friends leaders and missionaries in these countries are working together with Evangelical Friends Mission (EFM) leaders to facilitate Great Lakes Leadership Training (GLLT). This intensive discipleship venture is multiplying the number of pastors and lay ministers who are better equipped to reach the poor, lonely, traumatized, and broken hearted with the healing love and light of Christ. They are also learning valuable lessons in Bible, theology, care giving, organizational management, and more, to better lead their churches.

In past years, fifty students have graduated from Great Lakes School of Theology, which was located in Burundi. Although Great Lakes School of Theology no longer exists, these students and other yearly meeting leaders are helping with the GLLT programs in each of the three yearly meetings.

Veteran Missionary Willard Ferguson continues his long-term participation with African leadership training in an advisory capacity.

BURUNDI
Leadership training is focused on helping pastors at various levels of education grow in their pastoral skills. College students from a nearby university also attend the leadership courses.

RWANDA
The emphasis is on developing leaders who are able to guide Friends into new church planting projects and the multiplication of ministries. Theological Education by Extension (TEE) has been, and continues to be, useful as an effective way to equip church leaders in Rwanda Yearly Meeting.

CONGO
Friends leaders are advancing to new levels of training with national and visiting teachers offering their expertise to teach leadership institutes and secondary school courses.

GLLT SUPPORT
During the past year, GLLT offered leadership development courses to over one hundred yearly meeting pastors, leaders, and college students. The goal of GLLT is to train more than five hundred students in a five-year time frame.

With the support of Friends in evangelical Friends churches, GLLT will be able to accomplish all of this with $37,000 per year. $30,000 of these funds will be distributed to the African Yearly Meetings according to their projected needs. $7,000 will cover travel costs for GLLT Director Lon Fendall to make a few administrative trips to the region each year.

In order to support these great efforts of Friends in Africa, other Friends may designate contributions for GLLT and send them to EFM at P.O. Box 525, Arvada, CO 80001. Printable brochures are available via the EFM website for use in local churches or as part of yearly meeting promotions.

Comments and questions are welcome. Those who desire to teach in the Great Lakes Regions are invited to inquire. Contact Lon Fendall at lfendall@georgefox.edu or Ben Staley at benstaley@sbcglobal.net. Please keep these leadership training efforts in your prayers.

—Ben Staley