Earlier this month we loaded up a team of eleven from Kampala and made our way to the big island of Buggala in Kalangala District for our second annual conference of the Island Leadership Network.
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| Brent teaches a workshop on worship under a large tree |
Since we’ve been working on the islands for the past five years, our vision has expanded from simple weekend church visits to intensive Bible schools to a now comprehensive plan to link local church leaders together and systematically “take the lake” for the Kingdom of God. Here’s our official mission:
The Island Leadership Network (ILN) exists to encourage meaningful relationships and strategic partnerships between local church leaders, equipping them to be more effective in their ministries, for the purpose of maturing strong churches that will transform the communities of Lake Victoria’s islands.
As I stood on the platform and addressed a group that represents nearly half of all believers on the islands, I was humbled by the humility of the group, their willingness to follow a young foreigner in the vision of God for their congregations, and their eagerness to be trained in the Living Word of God. Many of these leaders have sacrificed more prosperous futures on the mainland to serve in these island slums for more than a decade, fighting through discouraging population shifts, intense spiritual warfare, and a pervasive culture of self-indulgence that has left the majority of the islands infected with HIV, and drunk with sin.
My few sessions were devoted to vision casting, so from Psalm 24, I iterated the position of local church leaders as the spiritual gatekeepers of their community, capable and responsible to let the glory of God enter into their local populations, ultimately allowing the glory of the Lord to flood the islands as the waters cover the sea. Our conference theme, “Vessels of Honor” capitalized on the idea of cleansing leaders’ lives from things that would dishonor and mar the glory of God, while becoming useful for the Master and prepared for good works (2 Timothy 2:21).
Because most “Bible teaching” in Uganda comes in the form of a simple salvation message or a word on material prosperity, topics like “Honorable Marriage,” “Honoring God through a Life of Sacrifice,” and “Honorable Shepherding” were as fresh as they were foreign, producing lasting impact in the hearers. I spoke with one participating leader the other day who so enjoyed the teaching and fellowship at the conference, he hasn’t stopped mulling the principles around in his head ever since. “What was spoken there has done so much in my life, Pastor,” he told me over the phone, the reception crackling due to his remote location, “I’m ready to come back anytime there’s another teaching.”
Here’s the network’s strategy for infiltrating the entire Lake with the message of the cross:
Annual Conferences – The ILN sponsors an annual conference for the purpose of developing and deepening relationships, inspiring vision, and equipping ministries. These gatherings of all members from across the islands are times of great personal refreshing in the presence of the Lord.
Regional Conferences – Throughout the year, the ILN sponsors smaller regional conferences in geographical centers so that members can build deeper relationships with leaders closest to them, gain a vision for their region, and come together to implement strategies for continual collaboration.
Island Leadership School – We offer a 16-week intensive leadership training school for our members. Because of the high cost of attending traditional Bible schools far from home and the great pressures between school, family, and ministry, we position these courses in various regional centers to make training accessible and affordable for leaders as they continue the work of ministry (additional fees apply).
Equipping Seminars – Our specialized equipping seminars train leaders and their congregations on various Biblical topics inside individual local churches. These are designed to boost and sharpen ministry already occurring in members’ churches and are instrumental in taking the entire church to a new place of maturity while allowing those serving the network to understand the state of the church and its leadership.
Resources – ILN offers Bibles and other printed materials to members at subsidized prices, and will eventually publish a membership directory and website (www.islandleadership.net) that can assist people in locating ILN related churches.
Consultation – Our leadership team is committed to the growing of strong, healthy churches and is always available for pastoral counsel, nurture, and care to members. From personal edification to church strategy to troubleshooting ministry issues, the network will be a source of strength, encouragement, and wisdom to members.
Evangelism Support – Partnering together with members, the ILN assists in bringing in teams from the mainland and overseas to spread the Gospel throughout the islands while equipping and encouraging island leaders to do the work of evangelism.
We’ve already been facilitating most of these strategic activities, so the new leadership network is simply a formalization of ministry already taking place across Lake Victoria. It brings together all local church leaders in an entire region of the world under one vision of community transformation by the glory of God through the development of healthy churches led by Christ-like leaders. With 80+ “Born Again” churches located on the islands from all different denominations and church covering organizations, we realize this is an impossible task, but with our God, all things are possible!
As this network continues to form, relationships are being cultivated, leaders are being refreshed, paradigms are being challenged and enlarged, resources are being multiplied, pastors are being equipped, and the impact will only be supernatural in the years to come!
I am SO happy to be a follower of Christ in these final days. I am so grateful for the work you are doing as ambassadors for Jesus and the multitudes of people you are saving. We Love all our brothers and sisters over there and pray for your work to spread quickly.