Global Leaders

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Benjamin Kreps:

Hey everyone. And welcome to the Mark Prater podcast where our aim is to connect our global family of churches with our Executive Director. Mark, on the last podcast, you were anticipating a Global Leadership Development Retreat that you in fact attended. As we record this you just got back last night. Tell us how it went.

Mark Prater:

It was outstanding, Ben. I don't think I had expectations of what to expect, but it exceeded my expectations I didn't have, right? Maybe that's the way to say it. And if you weren't listening last week, just a reminder, we gathered this past week in Southern California with men that we believe, now it's confirmed, that these men are global leaders for Sovereign Grace. Just a reminder of who was there: although Dyonah Thomas couldn't get a visa from Liberia he did join us throughout the retreat from Liberia (via Zoom); Dave Taylor from Sydney, Australia who led the retreat; Carlos Contreras from Juarez Mexico; Jeffrey Jo from Manila, Philippines; Barnabas was from Nepal; Ed O'Mara who's an American but moving to Italy to plant a Sovereign Grace church there, he's actually moving in July; and Jose Mercado who our listeners know travels throughout Latin America. And then Jon Payne joined us for about a day and a half. Eric Turbedsky joined us for yesterday afternoon. And I had the joy of being there as well.

And so that's who was represented and it was just an outstanding week. God blessed it in many ways. First of all, just being around these men was so helpful because they're godly men. They're humbling to be around and they're faith building to be around first of all because of their Christlikeness, but also because of what they're facing in their different nations as they do gospel ministry, as they advance the gospel through church planting. That's both humbling and faith building. There are times when they're being persecuted or they're in dangerous situations. And they respond with even more faith. So that, that was wonderful.

I think the other thing about being around them for me, and I think this will be true for Americans in the years to come as we become more of a global family of churches, it's just good to learn from them because they're in a different ministry context and they're in a different cultural context. And even though they share our Statement of Faith and certainly imbibe our 7 Shared Values, how those get worked out can be a little bit different culturally. And I remember a couple of times, actually a few times during the week, I just thought, I think like an American, I've gotta learn from these men. So I think that'll be our experience in the coming years which I think will strengthen our family of churches as we seek to advance the gospel together globally.

Benjamin Kreps:

Amen. I mean, I had the the privilege of visiting Carlos Contreras who was at the retreat in Mexico in Juarez with Ricky Alcantar and some other guys a few weeks ago. And boy was I humbled and encouraged and strengthened in my faith to just sit and listen to Carlos and Abelardo talk about their history and the ministry they're doing in Mexico. And I just came back full of well, an increasing sense of faith to risk and press into the mission of Jesus. And so these kinds of men are wonderful for our family of churches to help us, as you're saying, to learn and to grow and to build our faith as well. Could you give us some examples of what these guys were talking about and what they're experiencing?

Mark Prater:

Yeah. One example Jeff Jo brought up; in Manila, he was saying that in his cultural context, there can be an exaltation of leaders a bit and combined with a majority Catholic influence in that nation so he can actually be looked at almost like the Pope. And he's obviously very uncomfortable with that. He wants Christ exalted in all that he does. And so he was asking, what do I do with that? How do I help people transition from that mentality to just them seeing me as a pastor? He talked about some of the things that he's doing, which I thought were very good. For example, they would use the phrase, Reverend Jeff or Reverend Jo. And he's just moving them away from that.

That just takes time. But, you know, when he asked the question, I'm like, I don't really face that here. I don't know how much I can help you. But we talked about it. Carlos actually had some good ideas in that conversation, as well as Dave Taylor. So that's just an example of what we were talking about. There's also just guys that are facing some persecution and just asking how they should do ministry in those kinds of contexts, which I'm just not able to help with. Mostly what I can do is encourage them. But it's a reminder that we have Sovereign Grace pastors who are doing ministry in parts of the world that are facing things we just don't face here in the states. And yet at the same time, they are passionate about reaching the lost with the good news of Jesus Christ.

It's just pronounced in their lives and in their ministry. So they're planting churches despite the challenges they're facing, and they're planting churches in some difficult areas. So I think I've mentioned this before: Carlos is talking about planting a church in Reynosa, Mexico which is a really dangerous town because of gangs there and gang conflict there. But he hopes to do that in the next couple of years, and then Oaxaca, another city in Mexico where he hopes to reach more people with the gospel. Jeffrey Jo is planting churches right now and has plans to plant more in the Philippines. There's an area south of Manila that has more Muslims there. And they're seeing Muslims come to Christ which is very exciting. We really don't have those same kinds of stories here in the states like he does. And he just has a heart to reach the lost with the gospel. So just hearing those things was faith building and humbling at the same time.

Benjamin Kreps:

That's excellent. Yeah. I've actually enjoyed getting to meet, I think most of those guys, and before the podcast we were talking about this, that they're the kind of men that you think "I wanna be like you when I grow up". Just being around them, their passion and conviction, you leave there wanting to be a better, more faithful pastor. I found that anyway, and I imagine you do too.

Mark Prater:

Yeah, I was actually taking a walk yesterday morning before boarding my flight and praying just thanking God for those men, because they are very good leaders, not just good pastors, they're very good leaders. And wondering why God would be so kind to our family, small family of churches. To give us quality leaders and godly men like that, I was just thanking God for those men. So pray for them and pray that God protects them and uses them. And we're a richer family of churches because of them.

Benjamin Kreps:

Yes. Amen. Well, thanks for serving those guys. Thanks to the other guys, those guys making the sacrifice and coming to California from where they live and leaving their families. So thank you guys for that sacrifice and investment, and I'm sure everyone enjoyed watching Dave Taylor consume large amounts of candy and grape soda and cookies all week.

Mark Prater:

(Laughter) Exactly. And he did.

Benjamin Kreps:

Nice. All right. Thank you for watching or reading the podcast. We'll see you here next week, Lord willing. Bye for now.