Global Advance empowers national church leaders to evangelize and disciple their own people.
International (MNN) ― "We're working on borrowed time," Global Advance's David Shibley says, as he explains why they're doubling the pastoral training meetings in 2007.
Though there are limits to what can be done through a three-day Frontline Shepherd's conference (FLSCs). "What we have seen is that these conferences become a catalyst for vision, for planting of new churches, for the fulfilling of the Great Commission and especially for evangelizing and discipling the unreached peoples in surrounding areas."
Other pastors' conferences may emphasize family life, leadership development, or some other subject. GAM may address these subjects, but they are not the theme or purpose. FLSCs must always promote evangelism, discipleship and missions. They communicate through both instruction and impartation by the Holy Spirit. Their teaching is a mix of inspirational instruction and practical instruction in ministry skills.
At a FLSC, there is always a call given to the delegates to publicly commit to spending daily time with God and planting at least one new church within the next twelve months.
What then? Shibley says their approach to discipling pastors is five-fold: "Through ongoing printed material, the Lifebook; 2-Tim-2.org, which is our ongoing training through the Internet; our Global Advance Centers, which hold Global Advance Institutes; the Warren Shibley library in India; and then, literally, hundreds of sets of our 100-hour bilingual training virtual institutes."
The Lifebook is a 52-week topical manual geared towards Christian leaders in the developing world. It's translated into multiple languages and given away to pastoral and ministry leaders throughout the world.
The virtual institutes provide a "fast-track" of practical teachings for the discipleship and development of leaders around the world. 100 hours of training on Video CD and DVD in native languages are given to key church leaders for the purposes of training others.
It's all geared toward encouraging the church to reach its full missions potential for the global harvest. Click here if you want more information.
