March 6-9, 2023 - New Staff Training Orientation

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This spring has brought numerous opportunities to interact with our new staff. On this occasion, Donna Cannella (pictured front row, 2nd from right) and I invited 5 new staff, 2 interns and their trainers from a variety of Agape ministries to join us near Barcelona to cast vision for them about the value and purpose of ministry training.


In our organization, Ágape prioritizes faith, growth and lasting fruit. The "Capacitación de nuevos coordinadores" (CNC) (or "New Staff Training" (NST)) exists to create a space to develop life change and ministry effectiveness. Our aim is to equip our staff not only in skills (hands), but also with knowledge (head) and attitude (heart). 

At the CNC Orientation, we begin this 2-year training process by tackling together the first 3 of 39 topics. Another important component to the training includes an intentional relationship between the trainer (the director or some other senior staff) and trainee (new staff member). During the CNC Orientation, significant time is provided to help establish this relationship.

Pictured below are new staff Alex Dodrill with his director and trainer, Miqui Forster 
from the Global Aid Network (GAiN), Agape's humanitarian aid ministry.


"The coaching moments helped me take action steps that I had been putting off for a long time. It helped me to remember and relearn the need to spend time with God, to set aside time to be with Him intentionally and also organically in daily tasks, times of reflection and connection. And obviously, the time we had together with staff from other ministries, seeing colleagues that I don't see every day reminds me that we are a bigger team. I hope to have more coaching moments often!" 
--New staff person commenting about the one-on-one coaching times

Pictured below: Benji, Mia, Dziu and Mariona discuss how best to carry out their roles as trainers.


Many of the 39 topics are not necessarily new, but are vitally important to remember and revisit continually. Pictured below: I am facilitating a lesson about Walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit. 


Pictured below: We took time to think about roles and characteristics of the Holy Spirit.


Pictured below: Dziu, Andrea , Pame and Zuleika discussing the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives and how to walk in His power on a moment-by-moment basis. 


"I am happy with what I have gained from this time. I am more aware and now have more information about the other Agape ministries and being sensitive to it. One practical take away is to practice spiritual breathing and the importance of the Holy Spirit in my life, the lives of others, and the world." --New staff person reflecting on her take aways from the CNC Orientation

Please pray for Pame, Mireia, Zuleika, Andrea, Marcelo and Alex that God would use these first two years of their staff careers 
  • to lay a solid foundation of walking closely with Him and in His power and 
  • to encourage and equip them for a lifetime of ministry as they devote time to the training topics together with their trainers.







 

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