From April 10-11, over 40 pastors attended Purpose Driven (PD) Essentials Training at Saddleback’s Rancho Capistrano Retreat Center. Catering toward regional directors, the event equipped church leaders on best practices to build a network of coaches across the US and Canada.
Led by Pastors David Chrzan and Mike Constantz, attendees were guided through training materials covering the eight PD modules. Over the course of the event, members participated in interactive exercises and round-table discussion on leadership.
According to Bob Bradberry, Saddleback’s Global Team Pastor, “The goal was to actively seek people to take the initiative in PD training,” he says. “It was a call to activate the PD coaching network on a larger scale.”
Several pastors with their own networks of PD coaches shared success stories and experiences to encourage others to decentralize training. Among them were Pastor David Minton of Capital Christian Center, Pastor Scott Weatherford of First Baptist Church, Pastor Les Bon-Bernard of First Alliance, and Pastor Glenn D. Bone of Good Seed Ministries.
Each offered to mentor other leaders who were stepping into the PD network for the first time.
Following the PD Essentials Training, a group of 15 church leaders attended PEACE Leader Training from April 11-12. Coming from LA and Plano Texas, pastors were encouraged to adopt the remaining 30 countries in Africa and serve as International Partnering Churches (IPCs).
Pastor Mike gave an overview of the PEACE Plan and its Biblical foundation, and then offered practical implementation through the four-step process: 1) The Foundation of a healthy church with a solid disciple-making process 2) Mobilization of members to live on-mission personally, locally, and globally 3) Transformation through local PEACE to follow Jesus’ model of going after the lost 4) Expansion to work from church to church, and ultimately complete the mission of going to all the unengaged people groups of the world.
“We would love for them to come to Rwanda in November,” says Pastor Bob. “It really helps to see PEACE in action.”
For several leaders, the PEACE Training helped them get back to the PD basics and rethink missions 401. Among those taking the next step were representatives from Life Point Church in Texas who has committed to serve as the IPC for The Republic of Cameroon.
This dedication is right behind Silver Creek Fellowship that will be taking on Gabon in Central Africa. From May 26-June 5, their leadership team will be conducting an exploratory trip to build relationships and make introductions for a steering team.
Simultaneously, steering teams are well under way to bring PEACE to Zambia through Parkway Place Baptist Church and to Botswana through East Point Church in Spokane.
Offered quarterly at Saddleback Rancho Capistrano, these in-person PEACE training sessions allow church leaders to implement PEACE in their own churches and around the world. To learn more about being trained in PEACE and the Purpose Driven Movement, visit pd.church.
