Desmond Mpilo Tutu (87) is a theologian from South Africa. He is also an activist who was widely recognized in the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. Tutu was elected and ordained the first black bishop in the Anglican Church He was ordained in the city of Cape Town, South Africa (Wikipedia Indonesia).

 

Awards he has won: Nobel Peace Prize (1984), Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism (1986), Sydney Peace Prize (1999), Gandhi Peace Prize (2007), J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding (2008), United States Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009), Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales Audie Audiobook of the Year (2015), Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales Audie Award for Original Work (2015).

 

So great is the name of Desmond Tutu and one of them is immortalized into a complex with the name "All Africa Conference of Churches, ArchBishop Desmond Tutu Ecumenical Centre" or known as the Desmond Tutu Conference Center. A conference center, seminar, workshop, meetings, lodging and office complex that can serve hundreds to a thousand people at a time is located at Waiyaki Way, Nairobi, Kenya.

 

The above place is where I and 26 other participants from various Bible Societies in Africa, Asia, and Europe attended the United Bible Societies (UBS) Induction Workshop 2019 program on 25 February & 1 March 2019. The material covered in this 5-day workshop was reinforced with the fighting spirit of Desmond Tutu - the pride of Africa.

 

In a workshop led by 5 highly experienced international instructors, topics covered included Vision, Mission, Values, Leadership, Working with Multi-cultures, Building ministry sustainability, Organizing ministry, Relating to all institutional stakeholders and learning from the case of Kenya Bible Institute's holistic ministry.

 

All 162 UBS member Bible Societies serving in 200 countries nationally, regionally and internationally need to step together. Synergizing them is not easy. Therefore, leaders need to sit together and humbly understand the mandate, history, management development, innovations, leadership, and context of each era and region.

 

The values of sacrifice, generosity and loyalty that are the values of the work culture of the World Communion of Biblical Societies (UBS) became deeply engrained in my heart when discussing these three things in the complex of Desmond Tutu who has become an example through the evidence of his service.

 

I am very grateful to attend this workshop which really recharged my energy to continue moving forward with Him and with all LAI stakeholders.

 

LAI Secretary Elizabeth W. Muriuki quoted a verse to encourage us all from 1 Pet 2:5 “And may you also be used as living stones for the building of a spiritual house, for an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, which through Jesus Christ are acceptable to God.”

 

Praise the Lord.

Bible Greetings For All