Welcome to Advanced Missions Leadership Course (AMLC 2018)
Thank you for registering for the Advanced Missions Leadership Course (AMLC 2018). It is a special privilege to receive you in Jos and a great honor to host you here for the next one week. The program kicks off today, October 1, 2018. As believers in Christ Jesus, we are enjoined to know what will happen many years ahead. Knowing ahead will prepare us for the time we have found ourselves now. As leaders, in particular, we can best prepare our followers for the realities of terrorism based on the understanding we have.
In 2 Timothy 3:1, Apostle Paul urged Timothy to KNOW that in the last days, PERILOUS times shall come. Some other version used the word UNDERSTAND while the New Living Translation stresses that it will be DIFFICULT to be a Christian. The Message Bible begins it with “Don’t be naive.” The Philips Bible says the last days will be “full of danger.” Sadly, many Christian including mission leaders are being caught unaware.
That day is here with us - the day of terrorism. If we have the knowledge Apostle Paul wrote about, it will prepare us for the worst. We will strategize. We will not be caught unaware. Of course, it will still be challenging to remain a Christian and like you may have noticed that providing leadership for mission work is tougher to ever.
A substantial part of the AMLC 2018 will be devoted to understanding/ preparing for the reality of terrorism. Terrorism is as old as the Bible. In fact, the Devil is a terrorist. But the current dimension of terrorism is staggering. We will all serve as a think-tank for the greater body of Christ as we pray and brainstorm on what should be the missions best practices at such a time like these as most of this current realities were not taught in our Bible Schools, Seminaries and even in our School of Missions.
As we prepare for the course, please ponder on the following questions in the context of the intensive terrorism across the globe today:
1. Should we forget about pressing on to closed nations/new frontiers with the current challenges of terrorism?
2. Should we move our missionaries from the field because of threat and impending attacks?
3. Do we have any budget for emergencies and how much will be enough - if the missionaries die or have to be evacuated in the heat of terrorist attack?
4. What can we do to check the increasing rate of missionary attrition in the face of the alarming rate of terrorism?
5. What can we do to address the shortage of challenges of recruiting new missionaries?
6. What are our experiences with Boko Haram, Fulani Militia and related challenges in our locations?
I hope you arrive ready to engage our resource persons. They are all experienced resource persons in their various fields but we are still dependent on the Holy Spirit to lead us through. We are incredibly privileged in this session to have:
1. Professor Samuel Odeh, a MET Alumni and one of the founding faculty member of School of Cross-Cultural Missions, Jos handling Missions in Marketplace
2. Dr. Sam Alaha, also a MET alumni and President of Faithway Ministries speaking at our Crusades.
3. Dr. Samuel Afolabi, a MET Alumni/Faculty addressing Leadership and Marital Challenge Management
4. Brother Ikechukwu Ugwuanyi, Mission leader and Discipler with Hospital Chapel, Abuja teaching Discipleship: Christ Enduring Leadership Strategy
5. Rev. John Olanrewaju, President of Living Word Outreach and Missionary at Zamfara State speaking on Leading Mission Work in Times of Terrorism.
6. Gideon Odoma, President of Fortress Ministry, speaking on Leadership and Apologetics.
7. Rev. Bala Usman, immediate past National Director, NIFES speaking on The Next Generation
8. & Dr. Bitrus Audu, President of Christ Missionary Outreach(CMO)addressing us on Current Trends in Global Missions
Two of the night sessions will be devoted to open-air outreach while the rest will be dedicated to research and assignment. Your laptop and internet devices will be required. We may take time to visit one or two churches involved in the Great Commission and a fraction of a day to visit the museum/zoo for relaxation if the time permits. Other issues in this year's curriculum are:
1. Security Issues & Political Integration
2. Leadership Principles in Missions
3. Leadership and Marital Challenge Management
4. Finances in Ministries & Missions
5. Preparing for Foreign Missions/Exploring Opportunities for Foreign Missions
6. The Next Generation and Remaining Unreached Peoples
I certainly believe that the time we will stay together here will be fruitful. God bless you. You are highly welcome.
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