Local Leaders, Lasting Impact

When an ITEC training ends, the work is just beginning.

New skills take root through encouragement, accountability, and relationships that continue in the months that follow. One of the ways ITEC multiplies that ongoing impact is through indigenous leaders like Dr. Edith.

A Ugandan dentist living in Kenya, Edith first connected with ITEC years ago and now serves as a trusted member of the team, helping trainees apply and build on what they learned.

Several months after a training event, Edith often returns to visit trainees. She spends time hearing their stories, reviewing material, answering questions, and observing how new skills are being used. These follow-up visits provide encouragement, reinforce training, and help identify opportunities for continued growth.

Edith also brings a local perspective that international teams cannot. She understands the daily realities of the communities where trainees serve. In her words:

“Indigenous trainers understand the mindset of their trainees because of a shared or closely related cultural background and similar educational experiences.”

She goes on to explain that even when training is conducted in English, trainees are often processing information through their native languages. Shared language and cultural understanding help bridge communication gaps and reinforce learning.

Her influence reaches beyond follow-up visits. As emerging leaders gain experience, Edith helps mentor and encourage them as they step into greater responsibility. Leaders who were once receiving training are now helping train and support others, extending the reach of ministry into new areas.

By investing in and partnering with indigenous trainers like Edith, ITEC is multiplying its impact through leaders who continue training, mentoring, and serving others in their own communities. Looking ahead, Edith says she is passionate about "raising up a team of local and indigenous trainers who can carry the ITEC model forward and multiply the work far beyond what any one person or visiting team could achieve." That vision reflects an important part of ITEC's mission: building relationships and creating opportunities to share the Gospel.

As Edith’s story demonstrates, when local leaders are equipped and empowered, the work extends far beyond a single trip. To learn more about how your church can multiply its impact by helping equip indigenous Christ followers around the world through short-term training trips, contact us at [email protected].