David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 16:1-5

Paul^[a] came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. ² He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. ³ Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. ⁴ As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. ⁵ So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

PLI International is working in several countries throughout the world – only at the official invitation of the church body in that country. This can bring occasional challenges, but the practice has yielded great blessings and a clarity of mission that Dr. Scott Rische articulates quite well. He sees this as the means by which God leads their efforts as a servant of Christ and his mission. He makes no promises or seeks no special favors in order to bring the missional focus of pastoral leadership to pastors and their wives. When invited by a church body, if possible, they go and teach.

From Dr. Rische:

By God’s grace and power and leading, PLI International continues to receive invitations from all over the world to bring leadership training to pastors and their spouses. This video link provides the latest as far as where work is being done by PLII, and where work may possibly be starting in the future. It is a gift and honor to be a part of the work that PLI is doing, and I thank the Lord for the encouragement and direction and blessing being given by Dr. Jock Ficken, PLI Executive Director, and the BOD of PLI!

Key elements of the four year curriculum are “Visionary Leadership, Leading Change, Multiplying Missional Leaders, and Multiplying Missional Movements.” Diane and I were in Oyugis, Kenya for the fourth year conference with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya. We interacted with 22 pastors and 19 of their spouses for the final year of their program. We were very well received, and even invited back to help the church bring this training to more pastors and their wives and so direct its work more fully on the mission of God.

It was a great privilege and joy to be part of the PLI International experience in Kenya. The trip was difficult in several ways…from the long hours on an airplane to the challenging conditions in a rural third world setting. But the expressions of great appreciation and the break-throughs we saw – especially with the pastors around issues of authority and servanthood – made the trip very worthwhile. We are thankful to have been part of God’s work there.