The School of Leadership 2 was held at the Union Church as last year but as a result of difficulties with water supply, food for the delegates was prepared off site and brought in.

The School was again ably administered by Rajesh Nayak, a YWAM worker in the city, who is keen to bring church leaders together for prayer and training events. 74 delegates registered for the School, though heavy rain and other commitments resulted in a number of delegates missing some sessions. The delegates were drawn from 35 church denominations and organisations, and reflected a wide age range. We were well received and the teaching greatly appreciated.

On the Sunday morning one of the pastors who served as a translator for the School asked us to attend his Fellowship in a poor area of the city. The School moved to the Carey Retreat House rather than Pastor D K Nayak’s home church because of ongoing tensions following the persecution against Christians in that area of Orissa that had erupted during the Christmas period of 2007. 76 church leaders attended the School, two thirds of which were known personally to DK from the network of churches he overseas across the State. 9 of these pastors had lost everything in the violent outbreak, their homes being looted and then burned out along with their vehicles and church premises. Christmas services were also broken up by violent gangs. They had left their families in tents in government make shift camps. The government has provided only minimal food relief. One pastor could not attend because having gone to the police on 27/12 to report homes being burnt, he himself was arrested and has been in jail ever since. Their perseverance, joy and faith in the face of adversity was humbling and inspirational.

The teaching of the School was well received with many expressing the value to themselves of having the opportunity for their own development when they are giving out to others month by month. It was particularly impressive that many of the pastors were from remote tribal regions of the area.

Location: Bhubaneshwar
Date: April 2008
Team: Basil D’Souza & Yashwant Wagle CBC, Thane, and Mark Churchward, SCF, UK