Developing Successful Leaders
Four years ago, Bev and I launched what we believe is the work that we will do for the remainder of our lives. My twenty year goal is to raise up one significant model church in a major city of South Asia every year. At the end of twenty years, my dream is to see twenty vibrant, nation-changing churches established. The key to the success of those churches, I know, will be leadership. Author John Maxwell said, Everything rises and falls on leadership . Over the past four years, the Lord has helped Beverly and I develop four promising leaders.
Dishan DeSilva, Colombo , Sri Lanka
Our first church plant was launched in May 2001, with Dishan. We spent four months with Dishan & his wife Stephanie, helping to lay the foundation for their work. Dishan now has over 650 adults attending his Sunday services. In the past two years he has ministered in six nations. He has 14 village churches under his leadership. Last month I sent Dishan to Pakistan where he held our first leaders encounter with our new church in Islamabad . In a two-night outreach that followed, over 350 people came to the Lord.
Victor Nazareth, Gurgaon, India
In November 2002, Bev and I spent three months with Victor & Esther Nazareth in Delhi, India. Victor was already pastoring a church in Delhi , but we helped him to launch a new congregation in a rapidly growing city about twenty miles south of Delhi . That congregation has grown steadily and last month moved to a new location. Victor now has 12 pastors and 15 Sunday services under his leadership, totaling 850 adults. Victor is pastoring both the Delhi and the Gurgaon congregations.
David Sagar, Bhaktapur , Nepal
In September 2004, we launched our third model church with David and Sony Sagar. We had started a children's home with David in 2003, and we moved that home from Katmandu to Bhaktapur at the same time we launched the church. We have 14 children in the home, and this humanitarian work has helped us establish credibility in a town that has been resistant to the Gospel. The church has now grown to over 150 adults. David has 12 men that he is developing as lay-leaders in the Bhaktapur church, and he launched his first village church this year.
Safeer Ahktar, Islamabad , Pakistan
In March 2005, we started our fourth model church with Safeer and Shimsha Ahktar. This congregation has developed more rapidly than any of our works and in 18 months grew to over 550 adults. Safeer is quite an energetic leader, and his work has tremendous potential. Like David Sagar's congregation, his people are poor and lead especially difficult lives. Over 80% of our congregation members in Pakistan and Nepal are illiterate. Safeer started an adult literacy class this year, and my dream is to eventually build a school and educational center near our church.
Thanks for all you have done to help us develop these deserving leaders!
Rick |
