On May 8, 10 emerging leaders from the Holy Land District met on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel for three days of training and mentoring in the Eurasia Region’s Leadership Development Initiative (LDI).
Five mentors from the district, along with presenters John Haines, Eurasia Regional Leadership Development coordinator; Lindell Browning, Eastern Mediterranean Field Strategy coordinator; Nizar Touma, district superintendent; and Tim Evans, pastor of Jerusalem church, joined these young adults to foster strong mentoring relationships that will facilitate the development of a new generation of leaders in the Church of the Nazarene.
Sessions focused on Christlike leadership, with special attention given to spiritual disciplines and integrity in leadership; taking the lead and preparing others for leadership; biblical models of leadership and the outcomes of good and competent leadership, and the unintended consequences of incompetent leadership.
Discussions were lively. Lindell Browning commented, "the highlight of the Initiative was when the mentors actually choose one or two of the leaders and committed themselves to a two-year commitment of meeting together regularly discussing application of the lessons that were learned together."
Dates were set and calendars created to ensure creative and intentional engagement of the mentors and their protégés.
The Leadership Development Initiative is in its fourth year on the Eurasia Region. To date, nearly 600 emerging leaders and mentors have been prepared through the LDI for next generation leadership. Many districts are beginning to move into the second phase of LDI, which involves more local ownership, local presenters, and local platforms of ministry and development for those involved in the Initiative. The goal is to prepare 1,000 Christlike leaders for the Eurasia Region.
