Eastpoint Church in Spokane, Washington is one of multiple International Partnering Churches (IPCs) committed to launching the Purpose Driven process throughout Africa by the end of 2020. Currently those IPCS have committed to 24 countries, of which 13 have begun the Purpose Driven Essentials training.
Just as Saddleback Church implemented PD principles in Rwanda, Eastpoint is partnering with the country of Botswana to transform local communities by mobilizing healthy churches.
Under the leadership of Senior Pastor Kurt Bubna, Eastpoint is actively building relationships with Botswanan church leaders during this training process for the Purpose Driven Church and The PEACE Plan. With years of Purpose Driven experience, Pastor Kurt currently serves as Regional Director for PD in the Pacific Northwest and is a regular contributor to Pastor Rick’s blog on pastors.com.
Following the recent success of the All-Africa Pastors’ Gathering in Rwanda, Eastpoint’s IPC team—along with global team leaders from Saddleback Church—visited Botswana to officially launch the PD process with the nation’s top senior church leaders. The meeting marked the beginning of the mentor-training process during which Eastpoint’s coaches will present the PD church model to hundreds of churches during five trips in the next 15 months.
“People said Africa would change me,” says Pastor Kurt. “I had no idea how true that statement was until I visited Botswana. As we flew into the airport in the capital city of Gaborone, I fell in love with the land and its people.”
Located just north of South Africa, the country of Botswana is roughly the size of Texas and surrounded by four African nations. With a population of two million people, over one-third are under the age of 15. Despite its small size, the country has one of the most stable and long-term democratic governments in Africa, and is considered one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Still, the nation faces a high rate of residents stricken by poverty and HIV. In an effort to bring hope through PD strategies, Eastpoint will be working with all three of the Christian umbrella organizations in Botswana: the indigenous Church, the Evangelical Church, and the mainline denominational churches.
“This opportunity to influence the whole body of Christ in Botswana and potentially the entire nation is mind-blowing,” explains Pastor Kurt. “In the history of Botswana, there has never been this much enthusiasm for a common Christ-centered cause or this amount of unity in the Church.”
During Eastpoint’s recent gathering with 120 Botswanan leaders, Pastor Kurt wept as locals prayed him, prayed for one another, and prayed for this new Kingdom venture. Before he left, he encountered a security guard, and asked her if she attended church. To his surprise, she said, “No, not for a long time, because the Church has no meaning or value in my life.”
At that moment, Pastor Kurt knew that mindset was about to change for Botswana, as the local Church becomes healthy, impassioned, and invigorated to move tens of thousands of nominal Christians into wholehearted discipleship. Like never before, the Church in Botswana is positioned for incredible impact.
Pastor Kurt adds: “The Church in Africa is ready—ready to take the Gospel to every tribe, tongue, city, and village; ready to address the profound and devastating issues of its people, like poverty and HIV. And quite amazingly, ready to work together—across denominational lines—to touch the entire continent and beyond with God’s power and love.”
To learn more about becoming an International Partnering Church, visit pd.church/start.
