February, 2004

“Jazz and IP!” was the title of our February staff training. One of the values of our ministry is teamwork and family relationships within each team and the organization as a whole. Oscar Peterson said, "It's the group sound that's important, even when you're playing a solo. You not only have to know your own instrument, you must know the others and how to back them up at all times. That's jazz."

During the training, we talked a lot about our relationships and discussed the topics “Friends or Colleagues” and “A Pastor or a Hireling”. Various seminars caused us to meditate and look deep into our hearts.

Sveta Kotets from the Kherson team wrote, “I think that God showed His mercy to each of us by giving us the opportunity to consider these topics and evaluate ourselves. God really touched me and I hope others also.”

In keeping with our Jazz topic, we talked about the importance of improvisation in ministry and the search for new approaches. We also discussed a new idea about starting a Business Consulting Institute to reach businessmen for Christ and received some training on how to work with business people.

After the conference, all of the staff went home encouraged and inspired to apply everything they had heard at the training. “Our music is our life”, said Louis Armstrong. We’ll say, “Our ministry is our life!”