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A DNA Movement Gains Momentum in the Caribbean
Reverend Clifton Charles lives on the Caribbean Island of Trinidad where he pastors a local church and teaches courses at a local university. He is also on the Executive Committee of the Evangelical Associationof the Caribbean. He along with his wife Pearl attended the 2009 DNA Forum in Hong Kong where he shared about the impact the DNA has had on his church, and churches throughout the Caribbean.The story begins in early 2007. Prison Fellowship International had invited DNA co-founder Bob Moffitt to address their international leadership meeting in Toronto that year. At a team meeting in Phoenix, our DNA office discussed this potentially strategic opportunity to influence a significant global network. In addition to Bob, they requested one other non-North American speaker. We agreed to invite Luis Sena. A close friend and gifted teacher, Luis is the country director for Food for the Hungry in the Dominican Republic.
Unknown to us at the time, the Reverend Charles Clifton was in the audience in To
ronto, and when he heard Luis speak, he had a flash of inspiration. At that time, he was chair of the committee responsible for selecting speakers for the upcoming Congress of Evangelicals inthe Caribbean or CONECAR. He was so inspired by Luis's presentation in Toronto that he invited him to speak at CONECAR.
ronto, and when he heard Luis speak, he had a flash of inspiration. At that time, he was chair of the committee responsible for selecting speakers for the upcoming Congress of Evangelicals inthe Caribbean or CONECAR. He was so inspired by Luis's presentation in Toronto that he invited him to speak at CONECAR.Luis accepted, and his presentation to the CONECAR delegates focused on the DNA themes of the power of a biblical worldview for transformation, the role of the church in advancing God's Kingdom and wholistic ministry. According to Rev. Charles, Luis's talk was "the most successful and well-attended at the conference."
Following the success of Luis's presentations at CONECAR, Rev. Charles contacted our office to inquire about hosting a Vision Conference in Trinidad and Tobago in January, 2009. Bob Moffitt and Darrow Miller travelled to the island nation to facilitate the conference early this year,which was attended by more than 110 church leaders from several Caribbean nations, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent, Guyana and others. According to Darrow, it was "one of the best Vision Conferences I have ever been to." Bob described it as a conference where "the participants were particularly well-prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive the messages we brought."
Following the conference came two significant developments. First, the Executive Committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Council of Evangelical Churches, which is comprised of some 40 evangelical denominations, held a two-day retreat to develop a new strategic plan. The messages shared at the Vision Conference formed the core of their new vision--the first functional mission statement the council has had for more than sixty years!
Second, twenty of the key leaders who attended the Vision Conference attended a follow-up meeting where they shared how they had applied the teachings. They prayed for each other, and agreed to establish a newsletter and website to inform participants on progress they were making to implement the Vision Conference teaching. They further agreed to share their pulpits with their fellow leaders who attended the conference to help establish the credibility of the Vision Conference messages within their congregations. They are currently planning a follow-up conference where they intend to invite all of the top evangelical leaders in Trinidad and Tobago along with a trainer-of-trainer event where local leaders can be equipped to spread the messages and support the movement.
Several exciting Seed Projects also resulted from the Vision Conference. One of these was an event where senior citizens from the surrounding community were invited to a special church service held in their honor. During the service, a children's group performed dances, a festive meal was served, and portraits were taken of the seniors. The whole church worked together to host the event, which was attended by over forty seniors--many whom had never attended church. The church women's group did a similar event for community women, and it was equally successful.These and other such projects reflect a fresh vision for the unique role that the church can play in bringing Kingdom transformation to local communities with their own resources.
Back in 2007 when the invitation came in to our office from Prison Fellowship, we were thrilled. We saw it as potentially very strategic. But while nothing seemed to come out of the Toronto meeting as far as a relationship between Prison Fellowship and the DNA, God had another plan--a plan to launch a DNA movement in the Caribbean through a very special champion named Reverend Charles Clifton.
God's ways are always best.
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