2024 September Newsletter

We are overjoyed to welcome our Mission Team back from their recent trip. We praise God for the transformed lives and inspired leaders they have encountered. It is truly a blessing to follow the call and witness firsthand God’s mighty work in the communities with which we partner. As it says in John 20:21 (NKJV), “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”

PASTOR PAUL’S MISSION TRIP REPORT

Teaching Session Focus: Our 2024 mission trip was a tremendous success, and we are excited to share the highlights with you. With guidance, our wonderful team (David, Ed, Christine, Dianne and Matt) could train the local pastors on the following important aspects:

Incarnational Ministries: Led interactive sessions on embodying Christ in everyday life, encouraging pastors to live out their faith authentically and visibly within their communities.

Empowering Leadership: Focused on equipping pastors with the skills to empower their congregations, fostering a culture of shared leadership and mutual support.

Servant-Hearted Leadership/Ministry: Emphasised the importance of servant leadership, teaching pastors to lead with humility and a heart for service, following Jesus’ example.

Healing from Pain & Hurt: Provided guidance on pastoral care, helping pastors address and heal emotional and spiritual wounds within their congregations.

Role of a Leader: Discussed the biblical principles of leadership, helping pastors understand their roles and responsibilities in guiding their churches.

Teamwork in Ministry: Facilitated sessions on the importance of teamwork, encouraging pastors to work collaboratively and support one another in ministry.

Evangelism Jesus’ Way: Shared strategies for effective evangelism, focusing on building genuine relationships and sharing the gospel with love and compassion.

Overcoming Strongholds: Led sessions on spiritual warfare, equipping pastors with the tools to overcome challenges and obstacles in their ministries.

Table Banking & LC’s New 5-Year Vision: We introduced the concept of table banking and shared Live Connection’s new 5-year partnership vision, inspiring pastors to adopt sustainable financial practices and long-term planning.

Workshops: After each teaching session, we facilitated workshops to integrate the lessons into the participants’ lives. We often broke into small groups, with each group reporting their conclusions to the larger assembly.

Zambia: Our time with James and the pastors was exceptional. We had ample opportunities for mentoring and strengthening the ministry vision. Moses from Isoko, KK, and Kamililie from Lusaka joined our activities. We connected deeply through conversations, a rural church service, a visit to Victoria Falls, and a river cruise. Matt joined us for the Leadership Training event on Saturday afternoon. We identified the need for more time for the Leadership Training Day.

Zimbabwe: The highlight of our trip was our time with Wessie. All teaching areas were covered and extensively workshopped. The gathering place for the 34+ pastors was perfect, and they embraced the Table Banking vision wholeheartedly. Mathew facilitated the workshops, and David led a leadership session, sharing his teachings via MP3. Despite the whirlwind visit, the soccer shirts were a huge boost to the pastors. We had only 3 hours for an outing before heading to the airport for Malawi. At the airport, I received news of my father’s passing.

Malawi/Mozambique: Our time with Paul Green was action-packed. We arrived on Friday afternoon, spent the afternoon exchanging money and arranging transport, and reached Nsange by evening. Saturday was a full day of leadership training, and we did our best to workshop the teachings with a group of 200. Paul Green did an amazing job managing the logistics. On Sunday, the team split into four churches for preaching, teaching, and sharing testimonies. In the afternoon, we held another leadership training event for Live Connection pastors, introducing the table banking concept and the 5-year journey, which was received with excitement. The soccer shirts were warmly appreciated.

South Africa: Our time with Gary allowed us to breathe and recover. We spent the first two days in the Drakensburg, taking a break after our whirlwind travels through Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique. We focused on:

Leadership Training Day with township pastors

Speaking at a Youth event

Preaching on Sunday morning (with three congregations coming together)

Speaking at a HOP leadership event

Meeting with Mike Zondi to recast the LC vision

Overall, the 2024 Mission Trip was a resounding success, and the team loved every moment!

HOUSEKEEPING

Notice of Live Connection Australia Inc Annual General Meeting

The AGM for Live Connection Australia Inc will be held

on Sunday,27 October 2024

from 2:00 – 4:00 pm

at 9 Laurie Place Belrose

Please let our Administrator Anne know if you would like to attend.

We are reminded of Jesus’ words in John 15:16 (NKJV), “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” Let us also ask God for His provision and mighty works through our Pastor network across Africa, Malaysia, and the Philippines!

Blessings,

The Live Connection Team