Last week I was away for 10 days all together – 5 days in Czech (see previous post) and 5 in Slovakia, again in the heart of the mountains, but this time in the beautiful Tatras. Both trips had a very different purpose.

It has been said, “The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision” (Theodore Hesburgh). Well, at NLI we have plenty of vision; to be structured (shaped) so that we empower and multiply a new generation of leaders to create movements (organisms) to facilitate the expansion of God’s Kingdom. It was this vision that brought together NLI’s Sheldon Armitage, Scott Thomson, Rod Corcoran and myself, in Slovakia. The four of us are currently working on a brand new training project called ‘DNA’. This course embodies the very heart (DNA) of NLI and is due to go live in January 2010. We are looking at what we believe are the 3 fundamental characteristics of leadership. I can’t say anymore – we don’t want anyone nicking our ideas!

In October 2008 we met to begin structuring the course; defining the 3 areas we want to focus on. This has become the skeleton of the project. And so the task was now to put flesh on these bones. The purpose of our time together in Slovakia – getting away from the usual work distractions – was to begin writing course curriculum.

I’ve never been involved in anything like this before and have to admit I found the working environment quite a challenge. I’m used to working more on my own, even though I share an office with others. On this trip we spent the days (and some evenings) brainstorming and refining ideas continually until we were happy with the results. Sheldon is coordinating the project and is a brilliant facilitator. On the whole we accomplished a great deal in four days and have finalised the outlines and objectives for each module. I guess you could call that the tendons and ligaments! The challenge now is to flesh everything out, and we each have certain sections to work on before we next meet in May. I have set aside as many Wednesdays as I can, to work from home and focus on my modules.

It’s a great privilege to be invited to work on the NLI DNA project. I believe the course will have real depth and quality, and will definitely challenge the mindsets of many we are partnering with in Europe. I can’t wait to see the finished product. Please pray for the team as we work on this project; that our individual and corporate gifts and experience will combine to produce something of eternal value that will equip and empower many Christian leaders across Europe.

My only previous visit to Czech Republic was as a tourist in 2005, spending a great weekend in the lovely city of Prague. Well, it was lovely till it became the number one destination for rampaging Brits on hen/stag parties. Since becoming involved in the new church planting project in Czech I’ve been twice in 2 months! In January I travelled to the Ostrava region for the first training event for the 6 new church planters. Churches are being planted in Opava, Hlucín, Orlova, Jablunkov, Novy Jicín, and Príbor. We also have 12 partner churches from UK, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand involved in this project.

Last week I was back in Czech for the 2nd CP training event. This time preparing the church planters to host their first short-term mission teams and prayer team later this year. I led the training, but Kerry Parker (NLI Country Leader) and Janelle Fowlow (NLI Intern) accompanied me and were a great help on the trip.

The STM training is very practical. It has to be! We have to help the CP understand how to plan for mission; working with overseas teams, mission budgets, programs, cultural issues, etc. I know that a few of the church planters (and national staff) were fearing that the 2 days were going to be a bit boring!! I think we were successful in not living up to this low expectation!

The CP are a great bunch and it’s been a blessing to get to know them more. Please pray for them at the start this church planting project. Although NLI wil be partnering with them for the next 3 years, we believe that these churches will impact their communities for many years to come. Pray for revival in the Ostrava region.