International Leadership Institute in Venezuela

The Seminario Wesleyano de Venezuela will host the first historic International Leadership Institute in Venezuela. This wonderful ministry was started by Drs. Wes and Joy Griffin after they had already founded the Theological Seminary in Estonia. The International Leadership Institute has trained local Christian leaders all across the world.

This session is being made possible by the sponsorship of the McEachern United Methodist Church. One of their senior staff members, Alan Richburg, will be one of the primary resource persons sent by ILI to make this a significant experience in the life of the Church in Venezuela.

Our Seminary Dean will host the event at the Assembly of God Bible Institute in Barquisimeto. This is the facility where we have had seminary for the last 5 years. While the space is inadequate for both the students and the team, it is adequate for the students and the class sessions. The team will be required to stay at a nearby hotel. This is unfortunate as the students will miss the interaction with the faculty during the down time each night. However, until the Seminario Wesleyano de Venezuela gets its own home, we will have to continue with this kind of situation.

This ILI event is a follow up to the two pastors we sponsored to the ILI Leaders Training event in July in Paraguay. Rev. Jose Gomez and Rev. Carlos Perona pictured here with Rev. Victor Ramirez (center) greatly benefited from the training and will be instrumental in the training event in Venezuela. (Unfortunately Victor was not able to attend the seminar in Paraguay due to some family responsibilities.) All three of these pastors serve very faithfully and take advantage of every training event we are able to sponsor as well as attending every session of the seminary. These are remarkable men and indicative of the leadership God is raising up for the United Methodist Church and other Protestant churches in Venezuela through Seminario Wesleyano de Venezuela.

• Please keep the seminar in your prayers for the week of November 12 -16.

• Pray for the Leaders to be fully dependent on the Holy Spirit as they teach.

• Pray for the students/pastors to be fully focused and open to the move of the Holy Spirit.

• Pray for the safety of all as the situation in Venezuela continues to be a challenge.
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• Pray for McEachern UMC in Marietta to be extremely blessed for their mission heart.

• Pray for a home for the Seminary.