2010 GLI Video Report

See our team video reporting on many of the wonderful adventures, relationships and experience had by the 2010 Global Leadership Institute program.

Stories from Sierra Leone, West Africa

One pastor said that he had pastored for 20 years and never planted a church. Because of the challenge we gave the pastors to plant a church, this past year he planted two churches.

One pastor went to a village known to be one of the “most” wicked places in the country. It had a mountain in the village with a demonic presence that demanded a human sacrifice every three months. To make a long story short, while this pastor was in the village for a week, the chief of the village had a dream of a man with blood on his hands. The man in the dream opened his hands and invited the chief to come to him. Through this dream, the chief and the entire village came to Christ. Since there was no church building to meet in, the villagers took the mosque and converted it into a church for the village. That village has now planted two other churches in adjacent villages.

One pastor said that before last year, "if you were not a Christian, I would have nothing to do with you. That was hindering the ministry. But after the Global Leadership Institute last year, I prayed and God has given me the peace to work with Muslims." This past year he now has a group of 7 Muslims who have come to Christ and are meeting in a cell group on Thursdays. He has another group of 5 Muslims professing Christ that are from three different tribal backgrounds who are meeting in a cell group on Wednesdays.

One pastor went to a village that has never had a church. The chief had a problem. The pastor prayed for him and he was delivered. The chief then gave 3 lots of land to build a church. The construction is almost complete.

One pastor said he was a workaholic. He never rested and even almost collapsed in the pulpit. From the teaching last year on the biblical rhythm of rest, he realized he needed to systematically rest. He decided to take one day off a week. His relationship with his wife and children has become "so sweet" this year. He discovered there were negative things happening in his home with his children that he knew nothing about because he was always gone. He is also now in good health. Last year after the teaching on rest and renewal, this pastor asked me to meet with he and his wife and we talked about the struggles they were having. He told me at that time that he felt I had come just for him. (This is the same pastor described in the second bullet point who led a whole village to Christ this past year.)

One pastor came back to his church last year and shared with them the vision to plant a church in an unreached area. A young man came to him and asked him to come plant a church in the village he was from. This village is known as the headquarters for witchcraft in the region. In the past, that village had killed a pastor with food poisoning. When the pastor from GLI heard these details about the village, he was timid about going there. But he said he knew from the lessons given at GLI he needed boldness. So he told the young man to let him go and seek the face of God. The pastor reported, “So I asked God for his strength and grace and I really received something from God: boldness. And I went to the village. I spent three days there and planted a church.” A brother asked him to come to the village next to this one to plant a church there too. These two villages are rival villages in witchcraft, each one boasting more power than the other and using witchcraft against each other. So this pastor went to the rival village and planted a church there too, making two churches that he planted this past year.

Fund-Raising Update (Take #3) 2010 Sierra Leone

Friends you are so wonderful and gracious thank you. I thank God for all of you and pray your investment, time and kindness is returned to you in t his season. Your prayers are really securing favor and heaven's sufficient funding of this years GLI program.

I last reported that we needed another $375 to meet the my expense goal for Sierra Leone. This week at least $400 in anonymous donation came in to put my in country reserve over the top. Thank you very much. Additionally, one of you have paid for five bags of rice that will cost of $43 each. Our goal is to purchase 50, one for each pastor to take one to feed a family for a whole month.

A parallel story but represents this kind of heart and joy I have to be able to walk with those Heaven desires to change their destiny is this. I am leading a Shoes for Orphan Souls project for a Rotary Club here in Claremore and this year I believe we needed to double all our previous years of contributions (As I want to take our own shoe project to Sierra Leone next year in 2011). With four days to go for the campaign we have made this goal of 500 pair of shoes. I was walking out of store having just spent all we had collected and needed to buy three more large bags of socks one for each box of shoes (20 pair per box). So I needed about $25 or so dollars. Well walking out of the store, I see a friend walking out of his store (on a Saturday and he is never in on Saturday), and the first words out of his mouth is how much do you need and hands me $25. (Thats what I am talking about.). Maybe through you all we can make at lease 10 more bags of rice and fun at least 10 more pastors. Again thanks for your more than generous partnership. The pastors starting their 1st year being trained by three of the 1st years students from last year and Pastor's Gregory & Agnus starts today. More to come ...

Fund-Raising Update (Take #2) 2010 Sierra Leone

Exciting friends, really. Some one today asked if they could sponsor the Rice to be given the 50 pastors coming to the GLI training. I of course said yes, $43 per bag to feed a family for a whole month. We are still looking for support for each pastors expenses ($400 each).

Regarding my individual expenses, I believe we have $375 to go. So great thanks to all. We have had our hotel arrangement made in Bo, Sierra Leone, West Africa for $25 per night. Last year it cost $15 per night, but this is a new hotel.

Fund-Raising Update 2010 Sierra Leone

To all wanting to know, I started the week off with another $200 raised of the $1,350, I last reported. As of tomorrow, I know of another $350 raised which leaves a remaining balance of $800 for my individual trip expenses for the estimated $3,200 for this 2010 Sierra Leone Global Leadership Institute. I am also up to about 40 prayer supporters which have committed to praying for our trip, the 50 pastors and my ability to be used by God in a unique way during this year's GLI. If you can encourage some others to help contribute towards this last $800.

Dr. John Thompson indicates that we still have a way to go in raising our funds to support the 50 pastors from the five West African countries at $400 (e.g., travel, lodging, and food for this year's GLI; and includes a food gift for them to take back to contribute to their churches food needs). So I ask to see if you or a group of you could support one (1), two, (2), three (3), or four (4) of these pastors. Please and thank you.

Sierra Leone Visa is Ready

So excited with my Sierra Leone Visa now in approved for one year and multiple entries to the country. Still looking for contributors to this mission trip to help cover expenses with a goal of $1,350 which is available for some of you to contribute towards. Please and thank you. I can really feel you prayers and your encouragements have bee spectacular. Thank you so much.

GLI Sierra Leone trip status. Passport is in hand, foriegn travel shots complete, fund raising is progressing $1,200 raised of the $3,200 needed for travel and expenses, timeframe and location have been confirmed: was in Bo).

2010 city - Freetown, Sierra Leone (2009 was in Bo)

Travel Dates: September 28 through October 16, 2010

• We now have our required documents to request our visa which is a letter from our host sponsor (Pastor Gregory Bangura) to each team member inviting them and specifing the intent of the mission which is to lecture and train 50 pastors from more than 10 denominations from West Africa for the GLI institute to be held September 29th through October 16, 2010.
  

The GLI Africa Director, Pastor Gregory Bangura, is concluding his visit to the United States to return to Africa for the 2010 Global Leadership Institute. Rev. Bangura went to the States since June. During his visit, he ministered in churches in Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas and Pennsylvania States among others. He also taught at the International Literacy Training Institute in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Elder Ron McVicar is coming this Year with Dr. John Thompson to help in the Global Leadership Institute in Sierra Leone. Elder McVicar is one of the leaders in All Nations Fellowship, Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Lord is using Elder McVicar in prophetic prayers and utterances.

2010 GLI LECTURERS
YEAR ONE Rev. Abraham Turay Rev. Alusine Massaquoi Rev. Sulaiman Kpewa Rev. Gregory Bangura	YEAR TWO Dr. John Thompson Rev. Brian Main Rev. Arlie Whitlor Rev. Gregory Bangura Elder Ron McVicar
Please note: The US based lecturers will teach in the last two days of Year One session.
Year One - September 20 - October 2 Year Two - October 4 - 16.	For more information, please contact: Pastor Gregory Bangura, Africa Director Email: gregorybangura@hotmail.com Mobile Phone: +232-78-600-705 Skype Phone: +1-405-308-4702

2010 Course Schedule for 2nd year students

Bible - Paul’s Writings:	Leadership & Ministry:
Romans 1 & 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians I & 2 Thessalonians Pastoral Epistles (Raise Up Faithful Men) Acts (Paul's Life/Missionary Journeys) Paul's Theology	Leadership Life Map Management Leading Creativity Vision, Value, Strategy Five Leadership Practices Developing the Leaders Around You Raising Up a Healthy Team Building a Discipleship Process Church Planting Leadership (Parts 1 & 2) Dealing with Messes/Confrontation

Our team includes various persons serving this years Global Leadership Institute (GLI) session as an apostle, evangelist, pastor, teacher and prophet. I will participate as a team member in the various GLI classes and sessions serving to encourage our team and the 2ND year GLI students praying for, caring for, and sharing the things the Lord impresses on me to share with various ones or the team. I will be preaching on both Sundays in local churches. Our team will participate in a city-wide prayer and intercession on the 2nd Saturday night in preparation for a crusade in February 2011.