/W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> Welcome to Clear Vision Ministries

 

 

 

 

 

India

Once again, CVM had the opportunity to work with our friends in India. As the word spreads about the effectiveness of our conferences, more and more leaders in more and more places want us to come and teach them.

We traveled to three different locations for conferences to help leaders and pastors. In one place, there was an older man with a lot of questions or "doubts." There is always an interesting translation that happens when my friend, Jonathan, translates and someone has a question. Asking a question is presented as sharing a doubt. The person isn't really doubting but has questions and is trying to understand something. This gentleman tried hard to compare the new lessons with the way he had understood things and led people for many years. (This is a common occurrence as people struggle with new concepts.) Jimmy thought the man would leave and not return by the time afternoon tea was done. Instead, the pastor stayed for all three days and by the last afternoon had learned a lot and answered questions using his new knowledge and understanding.

In two locations, we spent the day teaching people how to minister to children. We all know children are different than adults but in most places, people try to teach children in the same way they teach adults. Of course, the children react and act like children, much to the chagrin of the teachers. After a few hours of learning and practice, we help the teachers gain a new understanding and new skills to effectively teach children.

On a Friday, we shared during a Friday Fasting service. Many churches in India practice a time of fasting each week, usually having lunch together after fasting and praying through the morning hours. A hindu lady came up to us, carrying her little boy. She explained the boy could hardly walk. We prayed for the boy and felt led to have the boy walk. Next thing we know, the boy is walking back and forth across the room, going faster and faster.

After church on a Sunday, Jimmy was informed of the baptismal service taking place. Of course, there was no warning and no preparation for baptisms. So, off came the shoes and wallet and phone were removed from the pockets before Jimmy climbed into the baptismal tank behind the church. Jimmy assisted Pastor Joel in baptizing recent converts, including several Hindu people and a man leaving behind his Islamic faith in pursuit of a life with Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your prayers, support and help as together we continue to make a difference in the lives of people in India.

Jimmy, Pastor Jonathan and Pastor Joel in India.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Romania

We were invited to return to Romania this year to help with several camps. Because of facility limitations, Kidz Romania runs multiple weeks of camp back to back (without a break). So, after the English Camp in China, Jimmy made a quick trip to catch the last day of a youth camp, a 2-day ABQ camp and a 4-day kids camp. The days were busy from 8:00am until about 10:30pm.

Jimmy had two main jobs during this camp: Leading games and Speaking in the services at night. Each morning, different teams would play games, work on crafts and create a music video. So, we played games for about three hours each morning. In the afternoon, we played bigger games with about two hours of time. Then, the kids had free time and most of them played more games for another hour to an hour and a half with Jimmy playing along and making sure things went well. He introduced a popular game using a ball and some boards.

Each evening we crammed the meeting room full of people for a service lasting around two hours or more. There were skits, puppets, fun songs, worship songs and speaking to the groups. At the end of the service, we spent time praying and worshipping together. While summer camp is common in the USA, it is very rare in Romania with many never having thr opportunity to attend before. Kidz Romania has a great staff and a great team of people helping with the camps. It was a pleasure to join Romanians and Americans as we worked together to minister to children from across the country.

A couple of years ago, we worked with Pastor Aline and his church at a Youth service and a day of Leadership Training. Pastor Aline spoke about all of the positive comments received from the training and the impact it made in the lives of the attendees. He was very happy with the results of our previous work together.

Thank you for your prayers, support and help as together we make a difference in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

China

We returned to China again for another week of English Camp. This is such a great opportunity and honor to be able to work with a local team and to serve children of the community. Each year is different from the previous one and we continually work to improve the camp experience for all involved.

This year, Taylor traveled to China to help with the camp. He was a great help in leading games and lessons. The attendees did a great job learning English songs. As usually happens, there was one song the campers enjoyed the most, sang the loudest and requested to sing more.

We had another change this year with the addition of a professional chef overseeing the lunches. Because of traffic and the distance he lives from the facility, he decided to stay at the facility for the entire week. Instead of going home to see his wife and family each night, he sacrificed his time and offered his culinary talents to help make the camp successful. As always, the kids ran to get to the food and had all they could eat of the tasty treats. The most popular dish served during week was an American favorite: French Fries (with lots of ketchup).

We plan to return in July next year. We need some help. Please give, pray and/or go with us as we take a small team of people to help with the camp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenya

One of the attendees in our training in Nairobi, Kenya last year invited us to return to this wonderful city to train more leaders. We went to a new area in the Nairobi Slum. This “neighborhood” is made up of sheet metal buildings and is home to thousands of the poorest people in Nairobi. People move to the city with no money and the hopes to find a good paying job in the big city. Many of these people end up living in the slum until they can find jobs or give up and return to their homes.

After three days of training, the 40 or so attendees were very thankful for new knowledge, skills and abilities they developed. On Saturday, we had some people attending for the only day they had available away from work. It was interesting to see how those who attended the entire time were correcting and speaking with the newcomers. It is always amazing to see people when they experience intense realizations about their own leadership, the people dynamics involved in church and how we can improve to better fulfill what God called us to do.

George, one of the attendees at the meetings last year, returned to attend some of the days once again. He came to refresh, spend time together again and share what God has been doing through his life. One afternoon, George stood to encourage the class that the things they are learning really do work in the real world. Since last year, George went to Western Kenya to live among nomadic muslims for several months. Using the skills and abilities developed in our training, he was able to quickly form relationships with the nomads. Then, he was free to share Christ with the muslim nomads and teach them from the Bible. Many muslims gave their lives to the one true God and became believers in Jesus Christ. The new believers even wanted to start a church. George applied his new skills in other aspects of his ministry and has seen many positive changes and growth opportunities.

Brother Francis, who coordinated the meetings, wants to create a new school in the Nairobi Slum area to train pastors and church leaders. When he reviewed samples of the CVM School of Ministry and Leadership curriculum, he was amazed at how well our curriculum works together as compared to his formal training in Bible school and Seminary where he currently works toward a Master’s degree. Brother Francis noticed how well the courses flow from one to the next because the courses were written by the same people working on the same goals with the curriculum. He also noted the same interactive teaching style being used throughout the courses that he was enjoying and learning from during the training times during the day. Brother Francis mentioned how surprised he was at how all of the people were learning during our training. Even those he did not think could learn were learning a lot and were able to communicate what they were learning with others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malawi

We had the privilege of returning to Malawi, Africa to take further steps in creating Schools of Ministry and Leadership based in Blantyre and Lilongwe with future branches being created in various rural area to be closer to prospective students. After clearing customs, a process far more complicated than just three years ago, a small group was at the door with welcoming smiles and a couple of hugs.

We set off into the parking lot to find the car, and there it was, the same car from last year! The same car that seemed to have a flat tire every day. The same car that needed so much work done we had brought the mechanic along with us to work on the car for days.

So, Jimmy had no choice but to get out the camera and take a few pictures of the Toyota Beast. The adventure started afresh and anew in the airport parking lot. The car was locked up tight (to keep it from being stolen?). And, we could not get in the car. The key was not working to open the rear door or the driver’s door or the passenger’s door. Jimmy began to wonder if we would take a taxi from the airport at some point. After more than half an hour of trying, somehow the key was finally put in just the right position to open the passenger door. After a silent prayer, the key even started the car. As it turns out, keys in Malawi are so cheaply made that the teeth will wear away with a year or two of using the keys. As we drove along, Bishop Frank said he had found good tires to put on the car (since, he now owns the car) and he was confident we could drive all the way to South Africa on the current set of tires.

Our main goal in Malawi this time: train teachers in using the Clear Vision Ministries School of Ministry and Leadership curriculum. We spent a rushed week in Blantyre and another week in Lilongwe going through teaching methods, the philosophy behind the materials, the nuances of using our curriculum and each course. Each day, we spent about 11 hours pouring through lessons and teaching important sections for the prospective teachers to fully grasp.

On the last day, the attendees got the opportunity to share all they learned. Each person taught a 45 minute session, making for a very full day. We evaluated each person, giving encouragement and tips for better teaching in the future. We certified 10 teachers to use the curriculum in schools to be developed in Malawi and Mozambique in the near future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Philippines

When you see the Jeepneys on the road, there is no doubt you have made it to the Philippines. After World War II, the USA left behind many Jeeps in the Philippines. Locals converted these war tested Jeeps to haul around large numbers of people as a big taxi and the Jeepney was born. Today, some of these Jeepneys are still on the roads, hauling people around various major cities for very little money per person. If you look closely at the front, you will see the remnant of a WWII Jeep. Of course, you will also notice how each Jeepney has a style and personality all its own based on the owner. The Jeepney is a great symbol of the creativity, personality and innovations of Filipinos.

During this time in Mindanao, we had the opportunity to speak in a local church, to train a small group leaders and to continue coaching and training with Bill and LaVonne Boyer. On Sunday, we ventured off to a local movie theater in a mall. Not to watch a movie but to attend a new church started by a man from South Korea. The makeshift stage was nicely set up with the sound system volume turned up to 10, as always. Being in a movie theater, church must be done precisely on time to allow for ticket sales and customers to find their seats. The running joke is to let church go long and allow the movie goers to join in, especially when there is a big movie opening. The service went well and the speaker (JImmy) actually finished a little early, allowing for more time to pray together.

Since our last time of training, LaVonne Boyer has been using the policy and procedure manual often as she makes many decisions. The Mindanao Training Center (MTC) is being transformed into a more usable and user-friendly property (after over four years of not being used) and has been used to host some events, including weekly training of a group of leaders. Additional help has been hired in the kitchen and in the office to progress toward hosting groups of people on property. It is amazing to see the difference in the Boyers and their newfound confidence in what God is doing at MTC and what the future holds. We also got to spend some training time with a handful of other leaders.

One day, Jimmy asked the simple question: How many books on leadership have you read? One man said 10 books and another said 20. After our time together, the man who has read 20 books on leadership was amazed at how his understanding of leadership had changed. The 20 books promoted various theories and philosophies of leadership but didn't really help the man to understand how to actually lead and work with people. After our time together, he shared how our time together unlocked the potential and abilities of actually leading people as compared to theorizing about the possibilities of leading people. An important aspect of all Clear Vision Ministries training involves moving the learning from the classroom and into the real world with real people working real jobs in real life situations. Many people attending our training meetings notices and comments about how practical the learning is.

Thank you for your continued help as we reach, teach and serve the people in Mindanao and other parts of the world.