Skype leadership conferences
When it comes to leadership development we are always trying something new. Our passion is to help Latin leaders. In the first few years we learned that it was literally impossible for us to visit all of the places around the world that people asked for us to come, so we made the move to provide everything we could online through the internet. Since then, we have tried a number of innovative ideas from downloadable leadership development packages to live streaming conferences. The latest thing we have been testing has been live Skype leadership sessions.
At this point we have done two conferences. We set the conference up as we would a conference with a speaker present in the room. Sometimes worship, announcements, etc. Then, when it is time for the speaker to talk we connect them via Skype. They speak to the Spanish audience, someone translates it, and the participants follow the power point presentation. Those speaking can see their audience and those listening can see the speaker.
We have gotten some very good feedback from those who have attended the conferences. In the last two months we hosted two businessmen meetings where a successful business owner in Canada taught an hour session on a Saturday morning. One of the most valuable elements of this format has been the time of questions and answers where the Bolivian business owners had the opportunity to ask the guest speaker questions.
We truly believe it is providing our leaders with opportunities that they never would have had before and allows us to bring in the highest caliber leadership development opportunities that are available.
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A few years ago I was talking with one of my missionary friends. We were discussing the hit the US economy was experiencing and how it was effecting the ministry operations in Bolivia. He explained that they were going to put in a request to their missions organization for a raise in salary. He asked, “Are you guys going to put in a request for a raise to your mission organization?” After I explained to him that we do not have a missions sending organization, and that we are independent missionaries, he asked, “Then where do you get your finding from?”
Many times, I think the people who receive our correspondence do not realize what type of missionaries Angie and I are. When I refer to the term “independent missionaries” it means that for the most part our missionary operations are supported through the charitable giving of individuals and churches. In other words, no mission organization backs us financially. Many of our missionary friends in Bolivia have sending organizations that actually help by raising funds for them. We, on the other hand, do not have that luxury. I am not saying that either way is wrong, just different.
As a result, God supplies the food for the children in The House of Dreams Orphanage, the resources that we give to the pastors we help, and the basic needs of our family through the charitable giving of people like you; people who give what they can, when then can, because they believe in what we are doing. If it were not for them we would not be able to do what we do in Bolivia.
We are so thankful for the many people who support us so faithfully. It makes more of a difference than you will ever know.
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100 leaders
“Pastor, I have the final list of the leaders in the ministry that will be attending the leadership training this week. There are 100!” This was the surprising report from my administrator last month the day before our all staff leadership meeting. Between the orphanage staff, pastor’s help staff, school teachers, and church volunteers there are over 100 people directly connected to the ministry.
We have dedicated our efforts, over the years, to leadership training. This year, we decided to bring together the leaders within our organization once a month for mentorship and training. The goal is to provide a time of leadership development to help them do their jobs more effectively.
April 19th we hosted the second of the meetings this year. We have covered the subjects of priority management and increasing your influence as a leader. Our belief is that if we spend time investing in our leaders that in the future it will yield great results. Just think, there are 100 Bolivian leaders directly connected to the ministry in an administrative way and we have the blessing once a month to develop their leadership gifting.
Angie and I would like to thank you again for your support of what we do here in Bolivia. You may not always see the fruit, but you are impacting lives.
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My answer to corruption
During our first missionary assignment in Bolivia some 9 years ago I was the director of a Bible school in one of the local prisons. We offered the program free of charge and every week we sent volunteer teachers to work with the inmates. One week, I went to pay a visit to the inmates and see firsthand all of the good things that were happening through the program. When we arrived to the prison before we could enter we had to go through the security check point. One of the leaders shared with me that if I did not give the guards a bribe that I would not be able to get through the checkpoint without hassle. You can imagine my horror at the idea for us to do a Bible school we first had to deal with corruption.
I am sure that this happens in many countries, but Bolivia is a special case. Bolivia was rated the 4th most corrupt of all Latin America (2009 Corruption Survey by Transparency International). As a missionary we deal with that fact on a regular basis as we try to make a difference in people lives. In fact, one of the reasons we are here is to help change that figure.
So what have we found to be effective to combat the corruption in our city? My answer is planting Christian Schools
In 2009 we started Christ Nation School as a solution for the orphans in The House of Dreams Orphanage. We were not pleased with the results we were getting from the public school where we sent the children and our costs were expensive. When we added up the expense we discovered that it was better for us to start our own school. When people started to hear about our plans they asked us if they could sign-up their children as well. We started the 2009 year with 32 students. In 2010 the school expanded by offering middle school and changing the educational model to 50% Spanish and 50% English thereby reaching 85 students. In 2011 the school moved to a new facility that allowed the enrollment to reach 160 students. Currently, in the 2012 school year, we have an enrollment of 185 students.
When we started the school we did not take into consideration the long-term effects the school would have. In our country, the legal system is considered corrupt. Some of the students in our school will be the next judges and lawmakers in our country. The business sector is considered to be corrupt. Many of our students will be future business owners. The political system is considered to be corrupt. Many of our students will be the next mayors and city representatives. In the beginning it was not our goal but now we see that the schools that we plant are a vital part of the changing the nation. By teaching Christian values to the future leaders of Bolivia we have a vital part in impacting Cochabamba and the nation.
We believe that in 10 years the statistic of corruption in Bolivia will be changed due, in part, to what we are doing through Christian schools.
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A letter from Puerto Rico
“Pastor DaRonn,
Thank you so much for the material that you send us by email. It is helping us greatly. I am writing you to see if you could send me a copy of your two books (Our Position as Children of God and 8 Steps of Faith) so that I can use them for my own personal ministerial growth?
God bless you, your family and ministry,
Jimmy Roldan
Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico”
We have been sharing a bit with you about the Leadership Enrichment Program that we have been conducting for the last 10 years here in Bolivia. Several years ago we realized that we physically could not get to all of the places around Latin America that asked us to come and help them in the area of leadership. As a result we started to create leadership material in Spanish that a pastor could take and use to develop their leaders. Ever since we started the program 10 years ago we have not ceased to receive testimonies from all over the Latin world of how the material we have sent them has helped them.
Here are a few of the things that we have used to assist Latin church leaders in the last couple of years:
- Leadership Enrichment packets. Each week we send out a leadership teaching with personal application section for leaders for personal use and to use with their team.
- Video conferences. When we host conferences in the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia we also make those sessions available online so that Latin leaders from other countries can partake of these sessions.
- Printed books and materials. Over the years we have written several leadership books that we make available to pastors and church leaders all over the Latin world.
These are some of the resources we have made available for Latin leaders over the years. Angie and I just wanted to let you know that when you give to our ministry you are making an impact on not only Bolivia but also around the Latin world.
DaRonn
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Of all of the challenges we have experienced in the 10 years we have served as missionaries in the country of Bolivia, growing too fast has been the one we invite. We have seen a good amount of growth in the pastor’s help programs and the church but where we have seen the most growth has been in our Christian School.
In 2009 we started Christ Nation School with the desire to provide an education alternative for the children in our orphanage and also our own children. Shortly after we started the school several people came to us and asked if they could sign up their children as well. We started with 30 students. Then the following year, 2010, we made the school bilingual (English and Spanish) and our enrollment increased to 89 students. Last year there were 160 students. This year we are continuing to see great results. Currently we are well on our way to over 200 students with only one week left of enrollment.
One of the things that we did not realize was how much of an impact that a Christian school has on influencing the community. Each day we have the blessing to be able to mold the lives of small children in the Word of God and help them have a life of significance.
This last week I sat down with the leaders of the school to look at what we could do to maintain growth. Our classrooms are over capacity as each day more students are asking to attend our school. This upcoming week we are beginning a project to build 4 new classrooms on our current ministry facility. Each of these classrooms will allow us to minister to 20 to 25 new students. It is a step of faith for us but we believe the timing is correct for us.
Each classroom will cost $1,100. If you are interested in sponsoring one of these classrooms please let us know. I want to encourage you that the impact of these new rooms will allow us to prepare more future leaders of Bolivia in the Word of God.
If you would like to sponsor a classroom simple send us an email at: cnministries@gmail.com and we will send you all of the information to get started.
Thanks again to everyone who is praying for us and partnering with us. We could not do what we do without you.
DaRonn
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Here I am talking about the Pastor´s enrichment program we have had since 2001.
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Moving day
Christ Nation Church will complete its 6th year this June. Last year our church doubled in membership from 150 to close to 300. Our biggest challenge is space in our current facility. Many of our members watch the church service on a video monitor outside the church and our children’s ministry has outgrown the facility. We need a new location.
Click here to see pictures of the new facility
Click here to see a video of the new facility
Click here to give towards this project.
We believe we have found our new facility. It is close to the current facility. It’s built for a meeting room. It has two sections where our adult service can seat 400 people and our children’s ministry can facilitate around 300. It is the perfect place for us to occupy for several years until we are in a position to build. Our church members are working hard to cover the relocation expenses and initial payments to get into the building but if you are interested in helping us we would greatly appreciate it. We want to inaugurate the new church building this February 6th.
I cannot express to you how excited we are about this possibility. This Sunday I have a meeting with the leaders of the church. Then during the Sunday services we will be casting the vision with the members of the church. I will then meet with the owners of the facility on Monday. If everything goes well we will have a place to house growth for our church and children’s ministry for the next 4 years.
Just wanted to share with you the exciting news,
DaRonn
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The Washington Family
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