The full-time staff leaders of our congregations and ministries here in East Africa are gathering in Nairobi for the second leadership conference of 2005. To get the ball rolling, the entire Nairobi Christian Church congregation met together on Sunday July 3rd, for a celebration of fellowship and a message entitled "Guard Your Hearts", with most of the ministry leaders from around East Africa present.

The leadership conference comes at a time of both triumph and transition - triumph as we witness the church growing as God has done many great and inspiring things through the disciples in East Africa this year. And transition too as a number of those who were at the January conference are no longer in the full-time ministry, due to the financial constraints that the church is facing, and a full-time-ministry leader is sought for the Kigali church.

For Charles and Josephine, it will be their first conference as marrieds and as leaders of the Addis Ababa church.

For all in East Africa it will be an opportunity for our leaders to put their heads and hearts together and continue to give us excellent direction while providing an example of great unity and family. May God bless the conference, and may we all rally behind the full-time ministers and administrators, who "keep watch over us," as we continue to support and assist them "so that their work will be a joy." (Hebrews 13:17)