Special Message from Executive Director
April marks the beginning of my role as Executive Director of LeaDev-Langham in New Zealand. I want to give thanks to God with you, our supporters and prayer partners, for the 24 years of service Tony and Judy and his team have given LeaDev-Langham. Tony has led wonderfully well. He has built a team of staff and supporters that have carried out our mission to support the training, in their own countries, of Bible teachers, preachers, theologians, and lay leaders, who can shape their nations and generations for the years ahead. Tony will continue in a role as Associate Director – Special Projects.
While our way of operating is being shaped by the circumstances, we all find ourselves in, God’s mission to reach the world with the good news of Jesus through the training of key leaders remains as urgent and strategic as ever. In fact, what has been achieved so far through LeaDev-Langham means there are some well-trained local teachers, preachers and evangelists who are well equipped to continue training in their regions. We give praise to God for that, but with the exponential growth of the church in these regions the task is growing ever larger and more urgent.
With the corona virus our partner schools are struggling with unpaid student fees and with growing community needs they need to respond to. Alongside our Easter and Pentecost campaigns we would like to introduce a campaign that over the rest of the year will enable our partners to not only survive, but to thrive. This is essential. These training institutions for Christian leaders must survive. Not for their own sakes, but for the sake of the church which will minister in this crisis.
An Invitation– We invite New Zealand Christians to stand with us, as we stand with our partners. In the face of our own economic uncertainty in New Zealand we ask you to give to this greater need.
I want to thank you in advance for your continued prayer and financial support for the ministry of LeaDev-Langham that enables key local leaders to grow and flourish in their local contexts.
Russell Thorp
Executive Director