“We don’t want pastors to give up or throw in the towel.”

Esther Kwan
Special to Spur Ottawa

A group of local immigrant pastors have been spearheading efforts to connect, pray, and train together via the International Pastors and Leaders Forum (IPLF).

“When you’re by yourself, you can’t say anything and become isolated. However, when you’re united, you can speak with one voice,” notes Joseph Kiirya, an executive member of the IPLF and Senior Pastor at River Jordan Ministries.

Kiirya highlights the troubled relationship the black community in Ottawa has with the police. A network like the IPLF, he says, provides black pastors with “a united voice that can speak about things that concern [them] outside the church.”

Immigrant pastors work in a unique context. A native of Uganda, Kiirya explains that black immigrant pastors are not only spiritual leaders, but also community leaders. In the African context, where government services and stable institutions are often lacking, churches provide social services, healthcare, and education. Hence, churches and their leaders are symbols of authority, trust, and safety.

Annual conference

Given the unique challenges immigrant pastors face, the IPLF’s annual conference aims to encourage and empower them for service in their communities. This year’s theme is “Encouragement for the Assignment.” Their vision is to spur pastors to take on not only spiritual, but also community leadership.

“We don’t want pastors to give up or throw in the towel,” Kiirya says.

Bishop Canute Blake of the New Life Covenant Centre, in Mississauga, is the guest speaker. He previously served in Ottawa for more than 20 years. Kiirya says Blake’s message is one of unity.

“He will speak about the hindrances to unity. People have struggles, for instance the ability to forgive. Bishop Canute can share on the benefits of walking together.”

Strength in unity

The conference runs November 4 and 5 at River Jordan Ministries, in Nepean. Although it is only a two-day event, it serves an important function by gathering immigrant pastors together under one roof, fostering new relationships, and renewing old bonds.

The conference is also an ideal platform for sharing new initiatives with the pastoral community and discussing ways to improve access for future events in the broader church.

One example is One Way Ministries’ annual Pastors’ Prayer Retreat. Historically, the event was held at a rural retreat camp. Immigrant pastors often found the harsh weather and poor country roads to be a challenge. This year, One Way Ministries moved the retreat to a center in Cornwall.

Kiirya speaks at the IPLF 2016 revival conference. (Screengrab from www.iplf.ca)

“We’ve done so much to customize it to fit the needs of immigrant pastors,” says Kiirya, adding that he hopes the changes will encourage more immigrant pastors to attend.

Kiirya points to this as one way the IPLF helps build bridges across cultural lines. In fact, he notes the IPLF is not just for ethnic pastors. He says the forum strives to engage with the broader body of Christ.

“When we have conferences, they’re not limited to immigrant pastors,” explains Kiirya, “We really want to see other pastors from all stripes be there to connect with us.”