Vision becoming reality

Brave and courageous people from different churches have joined forces to see Guyana transformed by the gospel, writes Steve Kempton

Last year, Elim Guyana began a new church planting initiative. They have gathered leaders who are being trained by Elim Minister Steve Kempton and local Elim Global leaders, based on the ‘Four Fields’ method which has proven fruitful in Nepal and Cambodia.

Steve Kempton recently sent us a report of the new Church Planting Movement’s progress after his visit to Guyana in February. Since that report, Steve has travelled to Guyana again to conduct the second part of the church planting training.

From the Vision Casting Gathering in February 24, it was wonderful to see folk respond to God’s call to plant churches and initiate a Church Planting Movement across Guyana.

We gathered in Georgetown at the Elim Church on Albert Street to commence our CP training. Around 30 leaders and lay people from across Guyana attended this first CP training which included Elim folk, AOG, Methodist and other independent churches.

The ratio between men and women was half and half. Each participant has committed to attending all four training sessions in April, June, September and December. These are brave, bold and courageous folk from a mixture of backgrounds, but all joined together in a common purpose and goal to see Guyana transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

During our intensive time together the participants were involved in many and varied interactive sessions, role play scenarios, group work and discussions. It was wonderful to witness new friendships being formed along with a new fledgling movement that has been initiated.

The objectives of this training were focused on foundations and the initial steps in the CP journey. The participants were required to know what they were doing, why they are doing it and, critically, how to do it. These three days are followed by two months of application, practice and implementation. It was wonderful to have the input, experience and wisdom of Pastors Bristol Carter, Jomo, and Michael Sammy. Without their vision and willingness to take this ‘step of faith’ we would not be in the place we currently are today. I hold them all in high honour and look forward to journeying alongside them in the journey to come.

Some of the next steps each participant is expected to complete include gathering a small group of people as a prayer focus team, visiting the area where they are seeking to plant a church to pray and fast there, identifying the empty field where they will plant the church and learning about the area, the people, culture and traditions. All of this is alongside the vital requirement to keep their own prayer life and walk with God right.

This Church Planting Movement in Guyana, including the training provision, has been funded with money that was set aside by Elim Missions for church planting activities in Guyana. Please pray for Elim Guyana and especially for all these church planters as they step out in faith to establish new congregations.

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.

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