The Timothy Initiative (TTI)

After the medical team departed we had another guest in Kenya. Pastor David Nelms, the senior pastor of our sending church (Grace Fellowship in West Palm Beach), was in Kenya! He came with one of the church leaders, Mark Thorpe, to work on details for The Timothy Initiative (TTI).

TTI was founded by Pastor David and Grace Fellowship around 3 years ago. Since then they have seen over 11,000 churches planted through the training of church planters. TTI is especially effective at training pastors in rural areas that do not have any churches. They started in India, expanded to much of Asia, and now are planting churches in Africa, Latin America and the U.S. as well.

For more information on TTI, check out their website at www.ttionline.org. You can help provide a full years worth of training for a pastor and see a church planted for only $150. TTI’s goal is to plant 1 million churches which would result in an estimated 20 million new believers in Jesus Christ!!!

God is doing amazing things in Kenya through TTI. This year schools were started to equip 150 church planters, many of whom have already planted their first church since starting their training. Now, God is providing the funding and connections to begin training another 500 students in Kenya!

During Pastor David’s time here we met with potential district leaders (leaders in charge of organizing one or more TTI schools) and also visited some of the newly stared churches. We spent time with George who will be assisting the National Director, Emilio, in organizing the schools for 500 new students. We also had time to visit 70 street kids in Kibera Slum that are provided for through One Child, a branch ministry of TTI.

It was refreshing to spend time with such a great leader with God’s vision  for the Kingdom. I learned a lot about focus. TTI has planted so many churches because they focus on church planting. Pastor David has realized that God’s plan for the Kingdom here on earth is through the local church, and that is what he has concentrated on, building the local church.

we hope that as we learn and grow, God will help us to be as intentional in our work for the Kingdom as TTI is, but for right now, Abby and I are experiencing many different aspects of the ministry. One of those aspects is helping TTI plant churches. We will traveling about once a month to visit TTI schools and church plants to see how God is working and be an encouragement to the believers.