Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what can you do for your country. ~JFK
We believe that by pastors and leaders gathering together and sharing information about ministry, praying for each other, assisting where possible and undertaking some joint events, a great sense of unity in the church in a nation can be developed which will cause the world to sit up and take notice, like Jesus referred to in John 17. We encourage you to join your national group and have your say, add comments to the wall and write discussion forums.
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A group of leaders gathered outside listening to Howard Sands. The start of Africa Network BFTF in Kampala, Uganda, 2007. |
When you encourage others by:-
Starting an initiative for national prayer, worship, teaching or leadership development,
Kingdom development in aspects of civic duty, education, politics, business or judicial system,
that is outside of your church or denomination or structure where you are a part, but take a view of developing the Kingdom of God in your country, you will attract like minded individuals to join and share this initiative.
In so doing you will gather momentum and provide spiritual impetus to your nation to shift towards unity and cause the Holy Spirit to advance the cause of the Kingdom in the nation because there are people moving forward with kingdom objectives not constrained by personal, financial, church or denominational constraints.
What is your strength?
Where has God called you to serve?
How will you develop and share kingdom principles on a wider scale?
How can you inform other leaders of such initiatives, report kingdom events and successes or gather momentum, seek ideas and constructive helps for things will will turn the kingdom principles loose on your nation in increasing measure?
Find places people who have interest in such things, join there and share your ideas, programs, plans and requests.
Participate with others in concepts and programs already established with similar objectives.
One such place that is gathering momentum is national group on Africa Network BFTF (over 4500 Christian leader members from 46 African countries and beyond).
Having trouble completing your application for membership?
He is available as a speaker for churches, outreaches, business & missions.
INTERESTED IN INVITING HOWARD SANDS
to speak at your church, College or organisation?
For more details on how to frame an invitation see
here.See ministry recommendations
here. See products and services
here.
If you would like to donate to BFTF International Missions for training leaders in developing world countries donate here.
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Replies
Sorry to take so long, it has been a matter of priorities. I have had to set aside promotional sites like this to work on on-line courses. My books haven't sold well and the courses have done much better so I have spent my time promoting the courses. Comments on article-I think it is important to belong to national groups but many need local support and encouragement and the national groups usually don't provide that. It is important to develop local groups that people can share and support one another within the national network. Also- I don't really know how to get the benefit from a group like this and could use some advice. How do you get benefits from a group like this?
You are correct, national is only as good as the boots on the ground in a local context.
Just like you can't get discipled by attending Sunday church - there needs to be a small group relationshiop where someone is doing mentoring on an individual basis.
getting your name and what you arec known for out into the general areas of interest is important and then, showing help to others in that situation.
You probably have books or courses that can help people you find in groups talking about their challenges - offer your product.
We do have a fb group that offers basic goal setting and vision development course for African leaders, all free, 4 questions required for admission. https://www.facebook.com/groups/growingafricanchristianleaders
I believe as Ministers of the Gospel We should sweep around our own front door before we go abroad. There are homeless living outside next to the Capitol in Dst in Washington DC and under the freeway in Sacramento, CA. There are dilapidated houses in Baltimore and Detroit that can be renovated and created low-income housing to help those people in those communities. Job training and other things for the people here. Food pantries for families and summer meal programs for students here. It is a blessing to go abroad because our USD spreads better in other countries but we need to stop neglecting home.
Blessings,
Monique Jefferson
No arguments with your sentiment here, however your comment misses the point of churches working together, sharing insights together, joining national inititaives for the sake of the gospel in the nation and having a say on national groups. Perhaps you could encourage others to take up your suggestions by sharing some of the things you are doing in this regard by way of example. Ask for others to join you or offer training to others to help set up such initiatives in their communities based on your expereince.
I am both a Social Worker and a pastor and have therefore been asked frequently to help churches set up local ministries and train pastors. However, with Covid, many of the State and national conferences have gone on-line and opportunities to speak have dried up. I have turned to Facebook and Linked-in to provide information but those have limited outreach. You don't get rich helping the poor unless you work for the government so i have very limited funds. Do you have any suggestions?
Suggestions. Build your profile here and opther places to look professional (profile photo of your face is a good place to start)
Put out snippets of information about your content.
Post your books with links to your book selling site.
Even though you may have books available on many sites, have one site that links to all others for every book. See my AllAuthor site for example https://allauthor.com/author/howardsands/
Do a couese on basic digital marketing
Have a spreadsheet with a list and the links of all the places you want to post and create regime where you systematically go around them all with each ad, blog or info you are releasing.
if you have interest in Africa, join the above Africa network BFTF and at least join and contribute to the BOOKS page, the TRAINING page and the USA group.
Lots more ideas but that should get you started.