Direction 1920x1314 (37)

Vision becoming reality

Brave and courageous people from different churches have joined forces to see Guyana transformed by the gospel, writes Steve Kempton

Last year, Elim Guyana began a new church planting initiative. They have gathered leaders who are being trained by Elim Minister Steve Kempton and local Elim Global leaders, based on the ‘Four Fields’ method which has proven fruitful in Nepal and Cambodia.

Steve Kempton recently sent us a report of the new Church Planting Movement’s progress after his visit to Guyana in February. Since that report, Steve has travelled to Guyana again to conduct the second part of the church planting training.

From the Vision Casting Gathering in February 24, it was wonderful to see folk respond to God’s call to plant churches and initiate a Church Planting Movement across Guyana.

We gathered in Georgetown at the Elim Church on Albert Street to commence our CP training. Around 30 leaders and lay people from across Guyana attended this first CP training which included Elim folk, AOG, Methodist and other independent churches.

The ratio between men and women was half and half. Each participant has committed to attending all four training sessions in April, June, September and December. These are brave, bold and courageous folk from a mixture of backgrounds, but all joined together in a common purpose and goal to see Guyana transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

During our intensive time together the participants were involved in many and varied interactive sessions, role play scenarios, group work and discussions. It was wonderful to witness new friendships being formed along with a new fledgling movement that has been initiated.

The objectives of this training were focused on foundations and the initial steps in the CP journey. The participants were required to know what they were doing, why they are doing it and, critically, how to do it. These three days are followed by two months of application, practice and implementation. It was wonderful to have the input, experience and wisdom of Pastors Bristol Carter, Jomo, and Michael Sammy. Without their vision and willingness to take this ‘step of faith’ we would not be in the place we currently are today. I hold them all in high honour and look forward to journeying alongside them in the journey to come.

Some of the next steps each participant is expected to complete include gathering a small group of people as a prayer focus team, visiting the area where they are seeking to plant a church to pray and fast there, identifying the empty field where they will plant the church and learning about the area, the people, culture and traditions. All of this is alongside the vital requirement to keep their own prayer life and walk with God right.

This Church Planting Movement in Guyana, including the training provision, has been funded with money that was set aside by Elim Missions for church planting activities in Guyana. Please pray for Elim Guyana and especially for all these church planters as they step out in faith to establish new congregations.


This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.

Enjoy this article? Don't forget to share

 
 
Spirit and Study: Why it’s not either/or
Should believers study theology or enrol in the ‘school of the Holy Spirit’? Michelle Nunn considers the options.
20 Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ saw the fulfilment of an astonishing number of Old Testament prophecies, as Jesus himself pointed out to the two dejected disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:27)
A new day dawning in the favelas
When a mission team from Ingatestone Elim visited a charity ministering in a Brazilian shanty town or ‘favela’ they saw God’s love in action. Sophie Rickett told Chris Rolfe about the trip
Are we peacekeepers or peacemakers?
God’s peace flows ‘to’ us, but it should also flow ‘through’ us, says Malcolm Duncan
Answering the call: From leading to serving
Kevin Kirkland has served at Rugby Elim for decades, but wonders if God is now calling him from secular management into ministry? In the second of our series on Elim’s Ministers in Training he shares how he is finding out.
 

Sign up to our email list to keep informed of news and updates about Elim.

 Keep Informed