Training trainers: Preparing for Power of One phase 2 launch

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Büsingen, Switzerland

The Power of One, the Eurasia Region’s missional church initiative, continues to unfold. In preparation for the release of its second phase, leaders and trainers met in Büsingen, Switzerland, for a Training the Trainers Conference from August 22 to 24. 

Twenty-four Nazarene leaders gathered to learn more about discipleship, church planting, and evangelism, particularly about how to train others in these areas.

Chosen by their respective field strategy coordinators, participants were selected for their experience in church planting and evangelism, as well as their potential ability to train others.

The attendees plan to replicate the training event on their respective fields, with the objective to train 40 districts and 3,000 pastors. These districts and pastors are expected to mobilize every church on the region in its missional initiative.

"The task is so important, we need to be more intentional in discipleship and church planting, and so an intentional training event hits us right where we need,” said Jay Sunberg, field strategy coordinator for Central Europe.

Church of the Nazarene General Superintendent Stan Toler co-led the event with Gustavo Crocker, Eurasia regional director. Toler taught on evangelism and discipleship, using the "Church Multiplication through the Power of One" material that he has successfully shared throughout the U.S., Africa, and South America.

Crocker provided training on principles and models of church planting. He also trained participants in principles and practices of "Training trainers for missional effectiveness."

"Although the Power of One has been effective in inspiring and equipping pastors and leaders in Eurasia to mobilize their congregations, leaders of the region decided to increase its effectiveness by training key leaders in helping districts and local churches maximize the resources included in the first phase of the initiative," Crocker said.  

"When we give successful church planters and evangelists additional tools to train others, we equip them to join a true multiplication movement in their respective fields."

The Eurasia Region’s Power of One missional church initiative first launched in October 2010 as an integrated initiative that equips local churches to be missionally engaged through discipleship, evangelism, church planting, and compassionate ministry. Nazarenes have taken up the vision to help their local churches and lay people recognize God’s call on each believer and church to be involved in his mission to the world.  

The second phase will officially launch in October with training and inspiration events in India, Bangladesh, the Middle East, and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Those trained in Büsingen will be involved in training others at these events in their respective fields. 

Ravi Gopal, a JESUS Film team member on the Andhra Pradesh District in India, said that although he has been involved in evangelizing and church planting for several years through JESUS Film ministry, Training the Trainers changed his thinking.

"I was doing it for six years — evangelism and church planting — for the sake of somebody else. The vision should become my vision," Gopal said.

"This is not a training but it’s a challenge for us all," added Trisha Das, a pastor and compassionate ministries coordinator from Calcutta, India. "Each and every Christian has the responsibility of church planting or witness Christ to others."
--Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region

 

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