Colombia (MNN) ― Global Advance's David Shibley took a Frontline Shepherd's Conference into a former drug cartel region of Choco (cho-KOH), Colombia.
Shibley says up until now, there had never been any kind of pastoral training in the city of Quibdo. "During those days, not only were we able to conduct this pastor's conference with some 1400 pastors and leaders who came from all over that region of Colombia, but also there were thousands of people who attended an evangelistic event at night, and hundreds of people gave their lives to Christ."
All of this happened during Carnival, when police were expecting riots and drinking. Instead, says Shibley, many of those who would have been carousing in the streets were found in the evangelistic meetings, hearing about the life-changing Gospel of Christ. Pastors excitedly told Shibley that this was a first for them not only in unity, but in community impact.
Aside from the isolation, Shibley describes one of the discipling challenges facing pastors in Choco. "There are few Bibles that are readily available in the remote area. Even though there is a pretty high percentage of illiterate population, we were able to partner with YWAM in getting hundreds and hundreds of Bibles to those pastors for them to distribute to their members."
Once the team is gone, the work of discipleship begins. Global Advance strives to leave each frontline shepherd with a vision in their heart and tools in their hands. Pastors can access more training through the books and CD Virtual Institute GAM provides, as well as through their website: http://www.2tim2.org.
Shibley explains that no matter how primitive or remote an area is, an internet café can almost always be found. Pastors can download other materials they might need off the Web site as they continue to grow the church.
One way it helps pastors is detailed in the following story: Church planter Pastor Jorge traveled two days by boat to get to the conference. Although he's planted four churches, he was in need of refreshment. He also was equipped. Pastor Jorge said, "For the first time in my life, I've received training on how to be a better pastor, on how to plant new churches, on how to do evangelism and mobilize my people for evangelism."
As a result of this, he goes on to say, "Now, I'm ready to plant more churches than ever and to reach farther than ever into the interior."
The purpose? Shibley says to make sure every Colombian village has a life-giving Christ exalting church. Pray for the protection of Colombian pastors, that they would continue to exercise zeal, faith and the intelligent advance of the Gospel.
