West Men’s Leadership Conference

A Message from Minister Heatman Nickleford

Welcome to the first West Family of Churches Leadership Conference. I desire that this leadership conference will transform you from within by impacting your community and society for the kingdom of Christ.

The Christ-driven leadership doesn’t seek status or fulfilment of his desire, but rather, reconciling those who are out of relationship with Christ back to him. This conference is to remind leaders despite which category they serve in, the sober reality is that the health and life of a church or a business depends on the quality of its leaders. When the governing leadership of a church or a business is unqualified, then the notion of governing is irrelevant.

The truth is that God is looking for holy, spiritual, committed, and responsible leaders who honour Christ above themselves. Such a leader wants others to follow Christ and tries to lead them in that direction, seeking to please God, not man. Therefore, it is my prayer that this leadership conference will transform you from within as we reconcile the world to Christ, through our dynamic leadership abilities.

By Heatman Nickleford

Commentary on the Conference

Congratulations is extended to Minister Heatman Nickleford, his team and the West Family of Churches for the spirit filled, informative and challenging Men’s Leadership Conference. The following churches from the West Region participated: Hamilton COGOP, Gospel Life Worship Center (Brantford), Liberty Worship Centre (Kitchener), and Niagara Region COGOP.

This conference venue was held at the Gospel Life Community Center church in Brantford, and we are grateful to the host Lead Pastor Jennifer Nelson, and former Lead Pastor Dudley Francis for the use of this facility.

We were honour with special attending and invited guests Mayor of Brantford Kevin Davis, Councillor Richard Carpenter, and Chief of Police of Brantford Robert A. Davis. We were also blessed with the presence, support and attendance of our National Bishop Shelton Beneby and his wife First Lady Shelly Beneby.

Our speakers included Minister Israel Harriott (National Men’s Director of Eastern Canada), who spoke on the topic “A Master Class in Identity: Gideon the Great? An Exploration of True Identity” (Click here for the message notes).

Pastor Dwain Wellington Rattray ministered powerfully reminding us of our COGOP theme (and tweaking it in a more personal and profound manner) “Reconciling the World in Christ in our Community”.

Minister Heatman Nickleford completed our time together with a spirit filled, sober and effective challenge in regards to our duty and responsibility of leadership in our homes, churches and communities.

We congratulate our Assistant Regional Leaders of the West Garnett Manning who moderated for the day and Steve Thames who gave the opening prayer and thanks. Also worth noting was the informative and enlightening panel discussion titled “Masculinity, are our young men loosing their identity?”

The panel included Israel Harriott, Kenold Knight, Alex Sharpe, Jerome Casey, and Jaylan Marshall.

Reported by Israel Harriott