I hate waiting. Long lines drive me crazy. Slow service can really test my patience.
So here I am, at the airport in Panama, waiting for a bus to take me to the conference center where the Global Proclamation Congress for Trainers of Pastors 2was about to begin. Waiting. For the past 6 months, I’d been very engaged with the Congress planning team. I’d also been asked to lead (with Doug Dunton) a 3-day workshop: Developing Pastors into Trainers. I was also a presenter at another workshop: Evaluation and Validation. So, I was heavily invested in this Congress.
But…here I am at the airport, waiting…waiting for the bus. Waiting for 2 long hours…
So, what do you do if you’re waiting for the bus? …the only thing you can do: strike up a conversation with another wait-er. “Hi, I’m Craig. Where did you fly from?” “Hi, I’m Neroshan Perera from Sri Lanka.” And thus began a God-ordained meeting…
Nero was the only representative from Sri Lanka at the Congress because a long, deep economic crisis prevented others from attending. The Lord miraculously provided for Nero. It turns out Nero is one of the key Christian leaders in the country – he’s a senior leader with the Assemblies of God (AG) denomination. He’s responsible for equipping and encouraging AG pastors and church planters.
Nero described to me the condition of the church in Sri Lanka. So very sad. Many pastors are not grounded in the Word and eagerly embrace anyone who waves money at them. In this way, the Prosperity Gospel had taken root in Sri Lanka, with devastating effects. Impoverished people are talked out of whatever little they own with the promise of future health and wealth. Instead, they fall deeper into poverty and despair. As a result, the name of Christ is dishonored among the Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus…over 90% of the population.
I shared with Nero how we train pastors to faithfully study, teach and preach God’s Word. He lit up…that is exactly what his country needs! By the end of the Congress, plans began to take shape for a “Taste & See” training in Sri Lanka the first week of October. Here’s what we’re telling those invited:
We are hoping that through this “Taste & See,” our Lord will raise up a small team of Sri Lankan trainers who have a burden and calling to equip pastors throughout the country. If it pleases the Lord to do so, our team from the Global Training Network (www.GTN.org) would commit to a multi-year training process to equip and coach these trainers. Could this become a way for pastors throughout Sri Lanka to develop both the passion and the skill to faithfully teach and preach God’s Word? What difference would that make???
Would you pray that the LORD…
- selects the right people for this initial training
- builds trust and shared purpose and vision
- guides me (and Paul Adams) as we lead the workshop
Meanwhile…
- I’ve been to Spain and Ethiopia to coach and encourage other GTN Trainers.
- I’ve led 6 webinars for GTN staff.
- I’ve had a website built to serve pastor-trainers. www.craigparro.org You can view recordings of my webinars, there, if interested.
- I’ll be leading (with Paul Adams) a Bible exposition workshop in July with GTN leaders. I’m hoping some of them will catch a vision for the type of training we developed at WordPartners.
- I’ll be equipping pastors and leaders in Bulgaria and Bangladesh in the fall.
- I continue to co-pastor Imago Dei Church Chicago.
- And, Louise and I occasionally make our way to Colorado (there with Logan and Braydon in this photo).
Lots going on. Very encouraged. And, so very grateful for your prayers and support!
With much love and thankfulness in the Lord,
Craig & Louise Parro
Senior Staff
Global Training Network
Email: craigp@gtn.org
Global Training Network
P.O. Box 6507
Peoria, AZ 85385
GTN Office Phone: 623.217.3867