- What sort of subject areas are covered in this Leadership Matters Course (LMC)?
- Does this course deal only with horizontal relational issues? Does it neglect the more important vertical issues such as commitment to God and holiness of life?
- What is it that makes this course different from others? After all, is our world not filled with institutions, schools, and universities offering all sorts of similar courses?
- Why have you personally become so enthusiastic about this sort of training, to the degree that you are now one of the trainers yourself?
- What sort of people benefit from attending this training? Have you had people that have not benefited at all?
- What has been some of the feedback from past participants?
- Who are the trainers in this Leadership Matters Course and what people are qualified to become trainers?
- Who pays for the course?
- What does it take, time-wise, to participate in a Leadership Matters Course?
- How many courses have been given and how many more are planned for the future?
- Are other organizations besides Wycliffe and OM involved in providing this training to their staff?
Questions & Answers
- What sort of subject areas are covered in this Leadership Matters Course (LMC)?
There are five main subject areas covered in the Leadership Matters Course. These are:
- Communication Skills
- Public Relations
- Management Skills
- Leadership Training and
- Life Management
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- Does this course deal only with horizontal relational issues? Does it neglect the more important vertical issues such as commitment to God and holiness of life?
Spiritual development is a balance between our relationship with God and the outworking of that relationship with those around us. These two areas of growth should not be seen as being in conflict with each other. The Church for example does not consist of prayer and Bible-studies alone. To function effectively, it needs men and women who can express themselves through practical skills of service. As someone said: 'we should work as if it all depends upon our efforts. At the same time we should pray as if it all depends upon God alone.' There needs to be a practical balance.
The ITA trainers are all experienced men and women of God with a 'right to speak' and a committed walk with the Lord. Some have been in the Lord’s work for several decades. At the same time, participants in the course are encouraged to tell the stories of their life. In this way powerful and enriching testimonies of God's work are shared with each other. We also pray, sing together and dig into the Bible to find the principles that will help us to do our ministries well. In the leadership sessions we research a lot of issues that relate to our relationship with God; our need for a vision of God and the work at hand; the need for God's anointing and the need for displaying a godly character in our lives. Included, is an extended period when everyone spends time alone with God. Each participant reflects, thinks and prays about their own ministry, vision and future.
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- What is it that makes this workshop different from others? After all, is our world not filled with institutions, schools, and universities offering all sorts of similar courses?
There are four very significant differences between this course and the average course that is available:
First is the amount of time that the participant is actually doing something. There is emphasis on actively practicing, rather than on passively listening to lectures. The course is built upon the important principle that “people do not remember so much what they hear but what they do."
The aim is to develop skills instead of only gaining knowledge. The participants are only asked to practice a new skill after they have heard it explained and then modeled first.
Secondly, as the instructors introduce new material, they encourage participants to research and uncover it themselves. They share their combined research and knowledge in an interactive climate.
Thirdly, the workshop follows a carefully planned and formatted structure, based on Biblical principles. Participants are first helped to recognize their own worth and gifting in God's eyes. Then an understanding of God's concern for them to be loving and caring for others is developed.
Fourthly, after these are in their rightful place, focus is turned toward the practical and personal issues of ministry and business that they, as leaders, need to address.
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- Why have you personally become so enthusiastic about this sort of training, to the degree that you are now one of the trainers yourself?
Marc Kretzschmar says: "I’m motivated to see this training given because of its focus on developing skills and building character through changed attitudes. I've seen benefits in my own life and also in many of the others who have attended this course. This has been specifically in the areas of public speaking, building relationships and life direction."
Joop Strietman says: "While doing the course in 1995, l realized how little input of this kind I had received from experienced leaders when I was asked to pioneer the work of OM in Holland twenty years earlier. I then had this dream in 1995 to have this sort of practical, down to earth, skill developing training available for upcoming and existing leaders within OM."
John King says: “I have been really blessed to put this kind of practical, scripture based training to personal use and to also share it with hundreds of leaders who confess that they have never received anything like it in any of their seminary or university studies.”
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- What sort of people benefit from attending this training? Have you had people that have not benefited at all?
This happens in all training. Some benefit more than others. Those who take the time and effort to apply what they have learned have benefited the most. Some of these people are in key leadership roles in business and churches right now, while others have used what they learned to help in their partnership development with churches and friends. Like every training it is absolutely crucial that participants come with an attitude of being willing and eager to learn. Is that willingness to learn not one of the most important characteristics of a leader?
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- What has been some of the feedback from participants in the past?
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
P.V. Kurian, one of the OM leaders in India put it this way. "You will be able to broaden your thinking and have a different perspective on life as a whole."
Another commented: "This course is absolutely essential for anyone wanting to excel in the area of communication, management and godly character."
Hans Strom from Sweden said: "If you want to take a course that will be a highlight in your life, to build you up ... go to this one."
From the MV Doulos someone said: "For the first time l feel prepared for what I know l will have to do."
Toos Janse with Interserve said: "What a privilege to attend these two weeks. It fitted so well the past experiences on the field and the probable new jobs in the future. I was in awe."
Robert Bryan, a Baptist missionary in France said: “I don't remember ever having had two weeks of more intensive training, and I don't believe I've ever had two weeks of training that excited me more.”
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- Who are the trainers in this Leadership Matters Course and what people are qualified to become trainers?
First of all, the trainers have extensive personal experience in the subject areas in which they do the training. They must also have done the course themselves. Then they must participate at least once or twice as an assistant and be committed to the unique philosophy of training which is outlined in question four.
Some of the trainers are people like David Cummings, who has been a translator, a National Director in Australia and the International President of Wycliffe. Others are people like Joop Strietman, who has been responsible for OM in Holland for 20 years. Peter Nicoll was a leader in South Africa, Director on the ship Logos II and then Director of OM in the UK. Marc Kretschmar has served with OM for over 30 years in people ministries in Eastern Europe, and in the leadership of OM in the USA and UK. All of them have a wealth of experience in the subject areas covered in the workshop.
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- Who pays for the course?
This is a very important question, as training of this sort and quality in the commercial world is extremely expensive. We keep the cost down as much as possible by doing the following:
- None of the trainers involved in the course receive any form of salary. They do this as a part of their ministry and see it as one of the main aspects of it, since it is aimed at developing new leadership in God's work.
- We look for quality facilities for the best price, often ending up in Christian places. In all cases we look for accommodation and catered meals, so that extra energy is not spent on non-course essentials.
- Some of the partnered organizations have scholarships available for their members, please check with your organization for possible subsidies.
- Some organizations who are recipients of the training are helping financially, especially to help cover the travel expenses for the trainers. This help is essential!
- Other types of donations help in funding too, although this is happening only to a small degree as yet.
- The participants themselves cover the remaining cost for the workshops. Most of the time this comes to about $500 US for people who can afford it and less for those who otherwise could not participate. Included is the complete course training, Participants Manual, local course related transport, full accommodations, meals, breaks and many other extras. Each location can differ in cost so please contact us for details.
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- What does it take, time-wise, to participate in a Leadership Matters Course?
The course is very intensive! All participants need two weeks, including evenings and weekends, of uninterrupted and undivided attention. Following the course, it is also ideal to set aside some extra days to think through the material and apply it to individual life and ministry. The two weeks of the workshop are very intensive while at the same time enjoyable because of the highly interactive nature of the training.
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- How many courses have been given and how many more are planned for the future?
Since 1995 ITA has effectively completed many courses. They have been held in Belgium, Turkey England,USA, South Africa, India, Hong Kong, Holland, Thailand and in the Philippines. More than 600 participants have benefited. Among them were area co-coordinators, field-leaders, upcoming leaders, administrative and ministry personnel, OM ship captains, officers, Bible translators and many others with key responsibilities.
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- What organizations are involved in the ITA partnership, making these courses possible?
This is a growing network, which started with Wycliffe Bible Translators, Operation Mobilisation, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Tentmakers and Caleb. The full list can be found here.
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