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The Mission Society hosted two cross-cultural training conferences this past August. International Mobilization Conferences were held in Nakuru, Kenya August 21-24 and in Maseru, Lesotho August 28-31.

Mission Society staff members who provided leadership for the events included the Rev. Dick McClain, president and CEO of The Mission Society, Dr. Darrell Whiteman, vice president for mobilization and training and resident missiologist, and the Rev. Michael Mozley, senior director of international mobilization.

Kenyan ministry leaders the Rev. David Mutai, the Rev. Simon Mwaura, and the Rev. Duncan Olumbe also led sessions during the conference in Nakuru, Kenya.

Basotho ministry leaders who also taught sessions at the Lesotho conference included Nathan Keisler, the Rev. Vernon Vera, the Rev. Dolphin Monese, and Professor L. Moeti.

In Kenya, Mission Society board member Ed Bell also attended the training event, as well as Mission Society supporters Ken Magee and Michael Moore. Newly appointed missionaries Denny and Cindy Heiberg attended both conferences and led sessions.

More than 100 people attended the two conferences, representing more than 20 different denominations and non-denominational movements and numerous tribes. 

Kenya’s more than 43 million people represent a diverse population of ethnic groups and languages. While 45 percent of Kenyans are Protestant, 33 percent are Catholic, 10 percent are Muslim, and 10 percent continue to practice their African traditional religions.

Lesotho’s 1.9 million residents consist of 80 percent claiming Christianity as their religion and 20 percent practice indigenous beliefs.

Pastors and lay leaders from Kenya and Lesotho attended the conferences to learn more about cross-cultural ministry. Sessions were taught on topics including;
- The Mission of God
- The World God Loves
- Crossing Cultural Barriers
- On Mission with God
- Belief Systems
- Developing an Acts 1:8 Plan
- Building Kingdom Partnerships
- Grounding Ministry in Prayer
- Intentional Disciple-making

Each morning the conference began with devotions, worship, and prayer led by various facilitators. The end of each conference closed with a prayer and communion service.

President Dick McClain wrote an update from the conference, saying, “The opening day of the Kenya Mission Mobilization Conference was marked by a powerful and growing sense of God's gracious presence. Participants expressed a passion to see the Kenyan church embrace the challenge and responsibility of reaching the least reached people groups in Kenya and the surrounding nations to Christ.”

A retreat for Mission Society missionaries in East Africa took place between the two conferences in Nakuru, Kenya. Mission Society staff and missionaries leading the conference, as well as Kenyan ministry leaders, attended the retreat as well to encourage the missionaries in this region and offer guidance.

Additional International Mobilization Conferences are being planned for 2013.