Christian leaders from three nations in Central Asia came together for a training conference this past week. Sammy Tippit Ministries (STM) and EQUIP were invited by Foothills Bible Church in Denver, Colorado to join them in ministering to these leaders in predominantly Islamic nations.

Sammy Tippit taught the leaders daily on the prayer life of the leader. He challenged them to build their ministries on the foundation of prayer. Steve Pearson, Pastor of Church of the Savior in Lexington, Kentucky taught principles of leadership from EQUIP while Joyce Feil led a team from Foothills Bible Church. The three groups were able to provide motivation, teaching and practical training for those in attendance.

Some of those in attendance were pastors of local churches. Several women who had ministries in the prisons were present, and a several leaders were church planters. Tippit taught these leaders how to develop their private time with God. He said, “The great leaders of the Bible had a meeting place – a place where they met with God. Moses had a tent that he pitched outside the camp. Jesus often went to a lonely place. Paul went outside of Philippi to a river to meet with God. But they all had a place where they sought the face of God.”

The leaders responded well to Tippit’s teachings. Their most enthusiastic response seemed to come during the last session when the Texas based evangelist taught on the subject of Praying for Your Family.  Several leaders told him of the needs in their families. Almost all of them came from non Christian backgrounds.

One young man attending the conference had been kept imprisoned in his family’s home. They attempted to force him to deny Christ. He finally escaped the home and safely returned to the capital city in his country. Another man made a list of 40 non Christian family members that need to believe on Jesus and follow Him.

Pastor Pearson taught the first level of leadership principles for EQUIP ministries. The participants seemed hungry to learn how to be effective leaders. Tippit said, "These were some of the best note takers that I have seen anywhere.” One of the young women who ministers in prisons said, “The women prisoners told us to take very good notes and come back and teach us everything that you learn.”

Tippit said, “It is exciting to know that what Pastor Pearson and I have taught will be multiplied throughout Central Asia.”