CEE Story From The Mission Field
Key Partner Consultation Makes a Difference
April 6, 2006
Northside Baptist Church will be hosting the next Key Partner Consultation (KPC) this month in Indianapolis, Indiana. This strategic meeting, which will take place April 19-21, is designed to train pastors, key staff and missions-sensitive lay people in partnering with IMB missionaries to reach the unevangelized people groups in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). This is the fifth meeting of its kind to take place in different parts of the country. The results of these meetings have been exciting. New doors of ministry have been opened with people who have never heard about Jesus, and the eyes of the American church-goer have been opened to the pressing need for Jesus in other parts of the world.
The KPC offers three different tracks to get people involved in CEE. Track 1, Strategic Partnering in CEE, focuses on strategic partnering with churches, church segments and individuals. This KPC will offer the first sub track geared specifically toward student ministry. CEE Strategic Personalizer Keith Byrd leads this track and has been excited to see the participants that have already visited CEE as volunteers, come to a broader understanding of what is needed to reach their target group for Christ.
“It is awesome to be there when a partner says something like, ‘So that is why the missionary kept saying we shouldn't do that,’ or ‘Wow, now I understand why the missionary kept saying . . .’ Of course the best is when they say, "Tell me more about . . . the vision, master plans, goals, people groups…’” said Keith.
“The KPC has the ability to enable strategy coordinators (SC) and their teams to put steps into their action plans that they know their team can never accomplish on their own,” he said. “We need to use volunteers strategically, and the KPC is one of the best tools in the tool box for getting it done.”
Track 2, Accelerate Hope through Virtual Strategy Coordination, is designed to recruit virtual strategy coordinators (VSC). CEE Regional Trainer Preston Pearce heads this track that focuses on finding those churches and ministries willing to take on the task of reaching an unevangelized people group with the Gospel. Through partnership with CEE missionaries, strategic training, and periodic trips to the field, this group or individual becomes the strategy coordinator, the main point-man for group evangelization, from his state-side address. To date 12 people groups are being targeted by a VSC.
“The great thing about KPC and the VSC track is that it gives an opportunity for folks to become involved in intentional church planting,” said Preston. “They benefit because the focused work gives them the opportunity to form a real and personal relationship with a targeted people group. They get to see the long-term result of their work and prayers more so than if they went on an isolated volunteer trip. The benefit for us is huge because these folks are going to places and groups where we don’t have personnel. We need them as part of our mission force.”
Track 3, Hope Communications, is focused on recruiting media partners to help advocate the needs of the unevangelized people groups of CEE. At the last KPC in Atlanta partnerships were formed with people in Nashville and Kentucky. The Kentucky team came over to CEE for their first trip in March. They, along with members of the CEE Communication Team, traveled to Bulgaria to develop an advocacy film promoting the Pomak people group. Team leader, Jason, loved the opportunity to use his craft for God’s glory. “Hope Communications let us bring the experience we had and run with it,” he said. “It was a perfect opportunity to do what you love to do and let it kinda become this worship you have to offer.”
Jason highly advocated KPC to others who are called to use their skills in CEE. “I think that everybody, if you have the chance, should go to the KPC. It really gets you in the mindset of Hope Communications, which enables you to produce what they need to communicate their message,” he said.
Other KPCs are planned for this year and next--November in Oklahoma, January-Feb 2007 in Californa, April 2007 in North Carolina, November 2007 in Nashville, TN. Make plans to attend the one nearest you.