45 church leaders seek to weave more into society |07 July 2018

Forty-five leaders from different evangelical churches have schemed how to better integrate into society for greater impact in business, politics, civil society and church ministry activities.

They did so in an Orion Mall summit organisedby Nairobi-based Centre for Biblical Leadership (CBT).

They also looked for ways to equip church leaders “for significant involvement in government, politics and nation-building”, said the organisers.

Their meeting was dubbed the ‘2nd Seychelles Transformational Leadership Summit’ and was aimed to build on the gains of an earlier one which took place in Seychelles in 2016.

“The summit sought to strengthen the vision of a transformed Africa from a national perspective and to help individuals to lead change through their circles of influence towards the critical sectors of the Seychellois society and economy,” they said in a statement.

The two days were packed back-to-back with plenary sessions focused on leadership and training and also involved break-away sessions which dealt with the delegates’ specific areas of interests, each day’s sessions ending with prayers.

The delegates shared what they had learnt over the two days with the fellow leaders.

“We have learnt quite a lot. The Lord has appointed all of us as leaders. We tend to look at one’s own domain of operation. We ought to grab on to the principles of God’s Kingdom as we are in the business of establishing it,” a delegate said, adding that the body of Christ in Seychelles should “change the focus from being the church, to establishing God’s Kingdom in the land”.

The CBT lecturers at the event were DrKwesi Atta-krah (CBT board chairman) from Nigeria; Reverend NiyiLadokun (CBT programme lead) from Kenya; Reverend David Olawale (Word of His Grace Christian Mission) from Seychelles; Pastor Robert Moumou (Seychelles Evangelical Alliance); Reverend Jesse Mwai from Kenya; Reverend Judy Anabwani from Nairobi, Jane Kilonzo (CBT from Kenya) and Reverend John Karita Mbagara from Kenya.

The CBT is based in Nairobi and is committed to mentoring, empowering and mobilising leaders of integrity and excellence, and building capacity for the radical transformation of Africa. It is a Pan-African movement that builds disciples of change and transformation in society

“As such, CBT has been active in equipping leaders across the continent with transformation principles and support systems so they can make significant impact in their endeavours and spheres of influence,” said the organisers.

“Seychelles is one of the most strategic of the island nations and therefore occupies a very important place in CBT’s outreach to the isles so they can rise up to fulfil God’s agenda for them.

“Some Seychellois nationals were part of the CBT Topflight Leadership Consultation in Mombasa in April 2014 and they helped the organisation to see the need to reach into Seychelles and train transformational leaders who will make impact nationally and internationally, so the nation can occupy its rightful place in the community of nations.”

In 2016, CBT held its first Seychelles meeting which brought together evangelical church leaders for three days and equipping them for national transformation.

“The consultation had, among its impacts, the rebirth of the Seychelles Evangelical Alliance (SEA), an umbrella body of evangelical and Pentecostal churches.”

The CBT delegates also observed the need to strengthen the churches for national transformation and societal impact. It was thus decided that CBT would return in 2018, giving time for the outcomes and recommendations of the Summit to be adopted and implemented.