PASTOR GLEN - THE CONFERENCE REPORT FROM NICARAGUA

REPORT FROM OUR NEWEST TEAM MEMBER 
 PASTOR GLEN PITTS

NICARAGUA CONFERENCE REPORT

Lynn & Ruby

I want to thank you again for helping make our "Pastor's Time Out" in Nicaragua a wonderful success.  

Pastor Paul, who travelled with me to help with the teaching load, told me several times... "Glen, this was one of the most meaningful and fulfilling ministry experiences I have ever had." 

OUR THEME VERSE was Micah 4:2 NIV  "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord ...and he will teach us his ways, and  we will walk in his paths."

Let me share some of the highlights of this first pastor's conference.  

ABOUT NICARAGUA

    - has a population of almost 7 million people.  Spanish is their main language.

    - 53% are under the age of 18

    - it is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere behind Haiti

    - minimum wage is $137 a month

    - literacy is 66%

    - unemployment runs between 50 and 62% ...depending who you ask.

    - 1 in 3 children suffer from chronic malnutrition

    - only about 30% complete grade 6

    - two centuries of dictatorship, civil wars, natural calamities, mismanagement, corruption, and exploitation have prevented this  nation from moving forward    

    - Hurricane Mitch in 1998 traumatized the nation and caused an estimated $15 billion damage.  9,000 people perished and 2 million people were left homeless.  They have never bounced back from this horrific event.

    - in spite of this, many have turned to Jesus through various outreaches over the years

    - most needed in Nicaragua today are Bible teaching; leadership training; evangelism; and help to alleviate enormous social needs

  ABOUT OUR FIRST "PASTOR'S TIME OUT!"

    - 23 pastors attended.  They ranged in age from 23 to 73.

    - God had the right people there.  We found the size of the group to be ideal.

    - A token $5 was charged each pastor.  The balance of $145 per pastor for the four day period was underwritten by us.

    - The group meshed unbelievably well.  They socialized, played soccer and basketball together; some swam in the pool; they     lingered after every meal to strum guitars, worship, share stories, and have fun.

    - In our 13 sessions with them they hung on every word!

    - Only two pastors had ever attended a conference

    - Only two pastors received any pay or financial help from their churches.

    - All but one were from poor communities within a 30 km radius of the Skylark Retreat Centre

    - Our focus for this first conference was:  1.  Being the man God uses.  2.  The essential elements of an effective Shepherd- Leader.   3. The importance of clarity re mission and vision.  4.  The importance of Team.

    - When we asked the pastors at the end of our time "How many of you are planning to return in June?" ...every hand shot up like a  bullet!

    - We closed our time in a unity circle praying that God would use us more fully and effectively for the outworking of His purposes     and plans.

    - As we said good-bye I felt I was re-deploying 23 reinvigorated "Ambassadors for Christ"  ...23 freshly encouraged and determined     "points of light" ...into 23 needy communities of Nicaragua ...each determined with God's help to serve him better as Shepherd-    Leaders in their communities.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR...

    - each pastor, that they will experience a new level of confidence and fruitfulness in ministry

    - each pastor and their family that they will truly know God's love, leading, care, and daily provision

    - God's provision related to our upcoming "Time Outs" in June & November.  Approximately $10,000 is still needed.

With gratitude,

Glen

WANT TO HELP SPONSOR THE JUNE CONFERENCE?  JUST GO TO THE DONATE BUTTON  ON THIS BLOG AND BE SURE TO NOTE IT IS FOR THE

 NICARAGUA BARNABAS CONFERENCE  IN JUNE - thanks for the support!

The LAMb Team