Global Proclamation Congress Holds Second Gathering
The second GPro Congress was recently held in Panama and once again A3 was integrally involved. A3 Council of Reference member Dr. Ramesh Richard founded the movement (the GPro Commission) with the hopes to raising up a million new pastoral leaders and 100,000 pastor trainers over the next decade.
GPro Congress I (held in Bangkok in 2016) featured A3 via the parallel tracks as well as the MC’s for the gathering. Given our strong footprint in Asia, this was a perfect fit. Nearly 2,500 pastor trainers were present and A3 had nearly 50+ people involved. To learn more, follow these links:
This second congress in Panama was smaller with around 800 participants and A3 had a few over 10 people involved (some pictured in this blog).
The Goal of GPro II Panama 2023
GProCongress II is not primarily a training event for pastor trainers, but a connecting, uniting, and strengthening of pastor trainers in personal commitment and strategic collaboration for multiplying the quality and quantity of trainers of pastors. This work begins at the Congress and continues for the following seven years till the end of the decade.
Pledging to Raise Up New Pastor Leaders
By the end of the Congress, those of us who participated pledged to raise up around 500,000 new pastor leaders. That’s a good initial step toward the goal of 1,000,000. Praise God!
A3's Pledge
On behalf of A3, I pledged to raise up 130 new pastor trainers and equip another 525. The other alumni likely pledged several as well. Given our unique focus on ‘Changing the few who change the many' our part plays out through reproducibility. 93.95% of our alumni (from a recent survey), show growth in equipping others and a significant number go on to reproduce the training in their networks. I know of entire denominations who have adopted and reproduce our process.
Together, the whole of us pledged:
Together we renew our commitment to the training, forming and strengthening of pastoral leaders for Christ's Church by multiplying the quantity and quality of pastoral trainers during this decade. This document builds on the strategic assumptions of the Pastoral Trainers Declaration (in the spirit of the Lausanne Movement Cape Town 2010), we clarify ministry assumptions to reflect critical needs in pastoral training.
A3 shared through several ways at the Congress:
Pastor Herman Moldez, who leads A3/Philippines, shared about Mentoring during a plenary session. And, not knowing he was part of the A3 movement, a substantive global leader said his presentation was one of the best of the entire week!
Pastor Jeyakaran Emmanuel, from A3/India, led one of the devotions for the South Asia group.
And, Dr. Jason Tan (from A3/Philippines and who serves on the GPro Leadership Team), was not able to be present but he designed a new set of standards for effective pastoral training that were revealed during the week.
A few of our faculty were present sharing their ministries alongside the work I focused on related to raising up millions of new Christ-like Disciple Maker Leaders (Galileans) through the latest venture A3 helped launch called the Galilean Movement. I was also networking with groups like ICETE and TOPIC to talk about strengthening pastor and Christian leadership training through collaboration between formal and non-formal theological training.
Praise God for the vision of Dr. Ramesh Richard.
And join us in praying for more Christ-like Leaders to be raised for Jesus’ harvest today. As Dr. Stephen Loots has said,
“The Church is growing like a bullet train, but leadership development is lagging behind at the speed of a bicycle.”
We need pastors and Christ-like leaders for every sector of society as we continue the path forward in Christ’s Great Mission!
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
— Matthew 9:37-38
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
— Matthew 28:19-20
For more Christ-centered leaders,
Joseph W. Handley, Jr., Ph.D.
@jwhandley
@jwhandley
"Untrained and isolated pastors faithfully minister where Christ's Church is numerically growing. Church health, unfortunately, is not keeping up with church growth. I believe strengthening pastors stands at the epitome of missions strategy today. A3 strategically and effectively equips pastoral leaders in needy regions so churches can grow to be spiritually healthy. I am honored to serve on their reference council."
— Dr. Ramesh Richard
