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TechnoratiNearly 2,000 attendants representing every state and from over 20 countries soaked up the wisdom and insights from key leaders at an event meant to train pastors to plant five million new churches and convert one billion new souls to Christ over the next ten years.
The Billion Soul Pastors Conference convened nearly 2,000 pastors in Orlando, Fla., for leadership training and the visionary goal to reach train five million new leaders and lead one billion souls to Christ over the next ten years. (Photo: Paul Wharton &
The Billion Soul Pastors Conference is hosting a sold-out crowd at Faith Assembly Church in Orlando, Fla., from Jan. 25-27. Its vision to complete the Great Commission has generated much excitement around the nation since 2002, when the first pastors’ conference drew more than 5,000 pastors.
James O. Davis, co-founder, president and CEO of sponsoring ministry, the Global Pastors Network (GPN), said Thursday evening that this is the greatest concerted effort of evangelism in history. He said that with laser-like vision, the Great Commission can and will be fulfilled.
“It starts with a mandate from the Master. God puts vision in our hearts,” said Davis. “When God gives vision, when God puts something in your heart, you’re not chasing every rabbit any more. When He puts it in your heart, your light will be clear, [and] your direction will be crisp. We need to go where God wants us to go – to finish the Great Commission for the glory of God.”
Robert Barringer, leader of the strongest church in Lima, Peru, said Wednesday that “to plant five million churches is the greatest mission of the church.”
“We must be focused and ready for Christ!” exclaimed Barringer, who has brought political reform to his nation. His topic was, “How to Win the Hearts of Political Leaders.”
Surprise guest and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said he depended on his faith in God and people in the 9/11 tragedy.
“Strong beliefs guide countries – and churches,” he said.
“I know many of the men who died on 9/11 came from religious homes where they were taught there is no greater principle than to lay down your life for another,” Giuliani later added.
“He shared from his heart the principles of leadership universal that apply to the public and private sector as well as the church,” said Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, pastor of Faithful Central Bible Church in Los Angeles. “The value of teamwork that brought him through 9/11 is the same principle of discipleship that can lead the Church for God’s Kingdom.”
According to Davis, pastors are the heartbeat to the fulfillment because the task is too large for any one group. “That's the heartbeat – to train enough pastors and to do it exponentially,” the GPN head stated.
“The greatest need on the earth today is to train pastors because if we're going to multiply we're going to need leaders to multiply,” he said. “If we’re going to have one billion conversions, we need five million leaders.”
Davis said that leaders must be trained as they go along, and leaders cannot wait to finish seminary after eight years in order to lead others to Christ. Thus, GPN is developing leadership resources, and preaching materials for pastors.
The Global Pastors Network began four years ago in 2002 as a resource for the Church to train and equip pastors. Dr. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ and Dr. James O. Davis, co-founders, wanted to provide ministry leaders around the world with the best Christian leadership training available. Though Bright died in July 2003, his vision and legacy live on through the leaders he inspired.Continue »
