{"id":32116,"date":"2023-12-12T02:43:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T02:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=prayerline&p=32116"},"modified":"2023-12-12T09:31:59","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T09:31:59","slug":"leadership-training-yields-fruit","status":"publish","type":"prayerline","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/leadership-training-yields-fruit\/","title":{"rendered":"Leadership training yields fruit \u202f"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ez\u00e9chiel is passionate about student ministry \u2013 he likens the student training offered through IFES in Francophone Africa to \u201ca workshop that transforms lives\u201d.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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He should know. Ez\u00e9chiel sees the difference it\u2019s making in his native Chad and he\u2019s experienced its life-changing impact for himself. Once a student leader in a polytechnic small group, Ez\u00e9chiel is now the General Secretary of his national movement, Union des Jeunes Chr\u00e9tiens<\/em><\/a> (UJC). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In IFES, we sometimes express the importance of developing leaders as \u201cinvesting today to impact tomorrow\u201d. Ez\u00e9chiel\u2019s story is a compelling testimony to that. Over the course of 15 years, he received investment that is today bearing a fruitful return. This is how he describes that journey: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Through the student groups \u2018Groupes Bibliques Universitaires\u2019 (GBU), God opened my eyes to life in Christ. I was born and raised in a Christian family, yet led a life without regard for God. But, thanks to a missions conference held by GBUAF (the <\/em>IFES movements in French-speaking Africa<\/em><\/a>) and the Bible teaching given there, I came to realize my need to let the Holy Spirit take the lead in my life! I repented and started a new adventure with the Lord. Even though there have been some struggles along the way, I\u2019m seeking to live God\u2019s way and remain committed and determined to serve him. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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While studying at the Universit\u00e9 Polytechnique in the Eastern Central part of my country, Chad, I restarted a UJC small group. Today, with various groups on campus and among graduates, we can speak of the UJC in Mongo \u2013 it\u2019s no longer just one small group. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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When I returned to the capital city, N\u2019Djam\u00e9na, I was asked to be a staff worker. This enabled me to benefit from training at different levels: with our national movements, sub-regional gatherings (missions conference of Central Africa), regional gatherings (<\/em>IFES Francophone Africa<\/em><\/a>), and international gatherings (IFES). The training initiative that has perhaps had the greatest impact is the <\/em>African Centre for Contemporary Christianity<\/em><\/a> (CACC). The guidance and teaching helped me personally \u2013 and have been a great blessing to the movement because, since April 2023, I have been its General Secretary. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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At the CACC, I realized my potential and developed many skills, including: communicating effectively, developing a ministry plan, equipping students, implementing creative thinking, working in a team, using the Bible to teach, adopting efficient working methods, mobilizing resources, and learning independently. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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I thank God for GBU student ministry \u2013 not only as a setting for studying the Word of God, evangelism, mission, and prayer, but also as a place for training and transformation. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Ez\u00e9chiel Baroum Kongdi, General Secretary of UJC Chad<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Throughout December, IFES is raising support for three regional leadership development initiatives, including a training program in Francophone Africa. We all want to see more stories like Ez\u00e9chiel\u2019s. Find out more here.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Let\u2019s pray for Ez\u00e9chiel, UJC, and a good response to the leadership development appeal: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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