![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/sitenews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/images_Jackson-NEC.jpg\" "\\"Pastor")
<\/a>The meeting, held on Tuesday, 17 January, at the Windsor Street Adventist church, was at the invitation of NEC President, Pastor Richard Jackson and aimed to help ministers develop the vision of working synergistically within their own ranks, within churches and within church departments. TED staff equally benefited from mixing and listening to pastors from what is the second largest Conference within the TED territory.<\/p>\nPastor Raafat Kamal, TED President, shared the opening worship in which he reminded staff that the real work of God happens at the local level by individuals working together. That fact was illustrated as Conference sponsors and directors outlined their plans for the next four years.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Lungani Sibanda, the new Communication director, stated that his job was to \u201cdemystify the NEC for our members,\u201d including the vision and values held by the leadership and directors. He believes that good communication is the key to facilitate great team work between Conference, pastor and each church member.<\/p>\n Such an event is not just about understanding the vision of working together. Old friends met for the first time in years and shared joys and sadnesses. Audrey Andersson, TED Executive Secretary, greeted Peter Jeynes from Newcastle with the words, \u201cI hear about good things happening in your church,\u201d signalling the idea that our Division administrators know what is going on in the far-flung parts of our Conference and also care about what happens in the NEC. Happy words of God\u2019s continuing care were shared between Pastor and Executive Secretary.<\/p>\n The networking continued as the following words were heard, \u201cThe last time I saw you …\u201d, \u201cAre you available to preach in my church?\u201d and \u201cWhen is the next Pastor\u2019s meeting across the Division, the last event was so beneficial?\u201d Most significantly, TED directors and their counterparts could be seen in active discussions as they shared lunch together.<\/p>\n Synergy requires a two-way transfer. Resources and ideas were shared from the Division, new resources were shared from the Conference for the Division Officers to use and pass on, to aid in performing God\u2019s work.<\/p>\n Thus Torben Bergland, TED Health director, highlighted that teams of Pastors working together was not just an efficient way to work, but also helped foster better mental health for the Pastoral team.<\/p>\n Rose Gomez, a Bible Worker, working in Manchester pointed out what she claimed was an excellent discipleship resource that she and others have been using. She recommended that the Division evaluate it as a Discipleship tool which could well be promoted at future Division training events.<\/p>\n Pastor Adam Ramdin, Conference Youth director, showed a trailer for a new video series (see below) designed to teach members about the Reformation in 52 weekly episodes. Resources, both from TED and NEC were shared, encouraging ministers to be actively involved in witness connected to the 26 January release of the Desmond Doss film, \u2018Hacksaw Ridge\u2019.<\/p>\n In his closing remarks Kamal pointed out that questions, remarks and resource ideas would be taken back to St. Albans to help improve methods and communication between Conference and Division. In a faint echo of President John F. Kennedy\u2019s words, the gathering was encouraged by the words, \u201cIt\u2019s not what the TED can do for you, it\u2019s also what you as pastors can do with us to God\u2019s glory.\u201d [ted<\/em>NEWS]<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>For Kamal, the day highlighted the importance of teams working together for mission across organisational levels and departments, and especially \u201cthe important emphasis that we are pursuing, to focus on the local church and the needs of our 1350 communities within our Division.<\/p>\n