Small Steps. Big Faith.

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 CN...

In July, God brought a new member to our Agape team for the 2017-2018 school year, intern Alejandro Bo, from Alicante. With Alejandro's arrival, God also gave a new challenge for me.... I had participated in new staff orientatons on various occasons previously, but this was my first time to organize and host an event like this. Since Alejandro lives closer to Barcelona than to Málaga,  where the directors of the LDHR team are, the decision was made to hold the Intern Orientaton in Barcelona. (Of course, since it was just one new member, the responsibility of this orientaton event was lighter than if there had been 20, although 20 new staff is what we are dreaming about and praying for in the upcoming years!) Working side-by-side with me was my fellow LDHR member, Donna Cannella. Donna is gifted as a detail person and a public speaker. Her perspective, clarity and thoroughness brought great balance to this time of welcome, preparation and orientation for Alejandro. At the l...