A number of Church of God leaders gathered last week in Brussels, Belgium for the International Leadership Advance (ILA) Conference from August 12-15.
“Equip 09: The Missional, Relational and Incarnational Leader” was held at the New Jerusalem Church of God in Brussels where Rev. Martin Mutyebele is senior pastor and also serves as administrative bishop for the Church of God in Belgium. Coordinator of the conference was Rev. Daniel J. Vassell, cross cultural and single adult ministries coordinator for the Church of God international Department of Youth and Christian Education.
Keynote and general session speakers for the conference included Rev. Arlene Hall, Church of God pastor in Boston, Massachusetts, Bishop Eric Brown, administrative bishop for the Church of God in England and Wales, Dr. Fred Garmon, director People for Care and Learning, Dr. Clive Porter, pastor in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Jean Tshiteya, youth director of Belgium and Vassell. Special keynote speaker for the conference who spoke in two sessions was Pastor Abosede Adelaja, minister and wife of Sunday Adelaja, senior pastor of the Embassy of God Church in Kiev, Ukraine, one of the largest congregations in Europe.
In between general sessions and worship services the hundreds of delegates who attended the ILA conference participated in leadership seminar workshops which focused on several ministry leadership topics. Sessions offered included youth, children, discipleship, women’s, men’s, stewardship, music and media ministries, as well as sessions for emerging leaders and pastors. There was also a “dance camp” for children attending the conference.
At the end of the conference, participants were presented with certificates from the areas of the workshops in which they participated.
“We were excited that so many came to invest in leadership development,” Vassell stated. “Our desire was for delegates to receive from His heart the words and revelations that will enable them to become world changing leaders and that the Holy Spirit will equip them to be missional, relational and incarnational leaders that the post-Christian world needs.”