“The growth of the African church in recent years has been phenomenal. It is estimated that the number of Christians in Africa increased from 9 million in the early 1900s to about 380 million by the end of the century. While such rapid growth is encouraging, it brings with it the urgent need of leadership training for the local churches. It is estimated that 90 percent of all pastors in Africa have no formal biblical, theological, or pastoral training.”
-David Stevens
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CCI'S JOURNEY INTO AFRICA
And The Next Step...
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In 2015, Aaron Issler accompanied me to Bolivia, where we led the first Teacher Training Workshop. I trained Aaron to equip new trainers with the CCI philosophy of the relational environment of discipleship and the BTCP curriculum. In 2018, Aaron was invited by Jeff, the director of a men’s ministry called Man Up and Go.
Aaron had discipled Jeff, who was working with orphans in Uganda. Aaron told Jeff that he wanted to go with him and train any pastors associated with his ministry. Aaron started two classes while he was there – in Jinja with Pastor Andrew Victor and in Pallisa with Bishop Abraham Koche. Fifty (50) pastors from these two classes were leading churches without formal training. A year later, Aaron invited Bob Loeffler to go with him to Uganda. They trained pastors together. Bob saw the effectiveness of the training, and as we say, he was hooked!
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Aaron training church leaders in Uganda in 2018 |
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As the pandemic spread around the world in 2020, the classes were halted. A year later, in September 2021, Aaron passed away due to COVID complications. In 2022, Bob and I met and discussed the ministry that Aaron had started in Uganda. We decided that restarting the classes there was a worthwhile project. I challenged Bob to prayerfully consider assuming the role of Regional Director over not only Uganda but all of East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Tanzania).
While sub-Saharan Africa is predominantly Christian, Islam is an existential threat, the majority of pastors are under-equipped, the prosperity gospel is rampant, and the church is biblically malnourished. Some have described biblical Christianity in Africa as a mile wide and an inch thick. While many are Christians in sub-Sahara Africa, there is a tremendous need for equipping indigenous pastors with comprehensive Bible knowledge, effective ministry skills, and character for long-term effective ministry.
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Matthew Parris, a British atheist, wrote an article for The Times, titled, “As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God.” Parris explained that Africa does not need more financial aid. Africa needs more missionaries to go and teach the Bible. They need a heart change.
He explained, “In Africa, Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.”
Matthew grew up in South Africa and saw that secular NGOs did not work. International aid and government agencies did not see lasting change. Christianity resulted in heart change. “Removing Christian evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone and the machete.” (The Times, December 30, 2008)
After Bob prayerfully considered my challenge, he discussed this with his wife, Becky, his home church, and other mentors. He accepted my challenge and has been serving as the East Africa Regional Director since then. Last summer, we celebrated the first CCI graduation in Pallisa, Uganda, with 13 students. This class was started by the late Aaron Issler and Bob Loeffler in 2019 and taught by Abraham Koche.
In 2023, we have six (6) classes in Uganda, with a total of 105 students, and new classes have been started in Rwanda and Tanzania.
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First CCI Graduation in Uganda with Bob Loeffler (back center) |
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Bob is leaving on July 25th for East Africa. Through Bob’s leadership, Andrew Victor and Abraham Koche are serving as coordinators. Bob and his team will lead Teacher Training Workshops in Tanzania and Kenya. There is so much demand through Andrew and Abraham’s relational network that they cannot keep up with the demand.
Not only are they receiving invitations for expansion there, but we receive email requests daily for new classes in East Africa. The demand is so great that we are not able to meet the demand due to a lack of resources and personnel there.
Not only are we growing in East Africa, but we are also growing in West Africa. Last year, Pastor Morris, who lives in Dallas and is from Liberia, contacted us about expanding to Liberia. After prayerfully considering this, we decided to accept the invitation. I personally traveled to Liberia in February. Twenty-four (24) pastors attended our Teacher Training Workshop. We certified them as CCI trainers. Four (4) of them have started classes, and 35 men and women attend them.
We receive requests almost every day also from pastors in West Africa. The demand is great. The work is great. The work is challenging. We need God’s help in meeting this need. We need more investors to help us bring the CCI ministry to Africa to equip African pastors to lead their families as loving shepherds and their churches as servant leaders with integrity.
Just as the Lord has gone ABOVE & BEYOND with doubling our equipped leaders, we are trusting Him to help CCI expand His kingdom in Africa. Please pray that God raises up new trainers and coordinators to meet the need.
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Pastor Geofrey Ochari of Latter Rain Cathedral in eastern Uganda attended the God’s Financial Principles Seminar in February. He said this about the seminar training:
“We are so excited as ministers of the Gospel. We had about 200 people, ministerially, that is, about 50 senior pastors, in attendance. We are so blessed. The seminar has come at the right time. Some of the things that we heard, even as Christians, we have never heard before. It is true that we (Ugandan church leaders) have challenges with money and finances because the fact is people don’t know. We thank the Lord for Dr. David and CCI for bringing such a life-transforming seminar.”
Pastor Ochari continued, “In the eastern part of Uganda, churches and people believe that to be poor is a godly thing, and if somebody has money, perhaps they are ungodly. So the more money you have, the more ungodly you are; the less money you have, the more godly you are. But through the lesson, we learned that neither is true. What we have to do is be faithful. We are stewards.”
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Our African leaders are interested in attending the Global Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from November 4-12. For these staff members and others to participate, additional funding is required for travel from their countries to and from Thailand, lodging, food, and local travel. We anticipate roughly 200 staff members. The overall cost of the conference is about $75,000 to cover all the expenses. We praise the Lord that due to your generous giving, we only need to raise $32,000 more.
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Please consider sponsoring our staff to attend this significant training event. You can help meet the need through a sponsorship donation. To give, please click here.
Below is a list of nations attending the Global Conference.
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Albania
Australia
Bangladesh
Cambodia
India
Indonesia
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Laos
Mexico
Myanmar
Nepal
Pakistan
Philippines
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Rwanda
Thailand
Uganda
USA
Vietnam
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We also want to encourage YOU—our ministry partner—to participate in this transformative event. The conference offers an up-close look at the CCI ministry as you connect with the national CCI staff from around the world.
The cost is $2,895 per person and will cover your flights, lodging and meals, local travel, and travel insurance. To learn more, please click here and reserve your spot before August 4.
Thank you for your partnership in equipping national church leaders for effective ministry. Your giving helps these disciple-makers grow the gospel in their countries.
Grace and Peace,
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Dr. David Nelson
President & Founder
Crossing Cultures International
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From August 16 to October 16, we will kick off a Fall Tour with several National Directors from Southeast Asia—Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. We will visit our ministry partners in the southeast—southern Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.
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CCI is co-leading an inspirational tour in Israel. We would love for you to come and join us.
Reservation due by: December 23, 2023
Final Payment due by: February 1, 2024
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Staying connected to CCI is even easier! |
Text the word CCI to 833-981-3459 or scan the QR code to receive communication alerts such as reminders, invitations, event communication, links to videos/photos, surveys, and giving opportunities.
You can also click here to sign up for text messages.
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July Edition CCI Equipping and Multiplying News
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Click here for more CCI News from Around the World
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