Capitol Ministries

International | CM 2018 39 A FTER MONTHS OF NETWORKING, PLANNING, AND MEETINGS, CARIBBEAN DIRECTOR JOSEPH PERSAUD IS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF PLANTING THE FIRST DISCIPLE- SHIP MINISTRY TO NATIONAL POLITICAL LEADERS IN GUY- ANA, HIS HOME COUNTRY. Bishop Persaud and Diana, his wife and ministry partner, will meet with the president of Guyana and leading parlia- mentarians to finalize plans for the creation of a discipleship ministry to political leaders in the national capitol in 2019. For Bishop Persaud, the ministry will begin to fulfill his passion and vision to see the Word of God greatly expand in his area of the world. From this exemplar, and working with his network of ministry friends, he plans to launch ministries in the federal capitals in the 24 neighboring Caribbean island nations that are in his geographic area of influence. Twenty-one of those nations were former colonies of the British Empire and they have a Protestant-based culture. Politically astute and well-con- nected in the faith community, Bishop Persaud serves the New Testament Churches in Guyana as the Administrative Bishop. Creating ministries to political leaders is a passion that came late to Bishop Persaud. He grew up attending a church which taught that neither the Church nor Christians should have anything to do with government or political leaders, and he believed that until he studied the Bible to see what God's Word said. "I found that the Bible on politics is contrary to what I was taught," he said. And since then, he's had a passion to reach political leaders for Christ. at desire met opportu- nity when Bishop Persaud met Ralph and Danielle Drollinger, when they were on a mission trip to Caribbean island nations in 2017. Aer learning about Capitol Ministries®, the Persauds completed a CM training conference and Bishop Persaud was named Capitol Ministries®' Caribbean Director. "I see a new and prosperous Caribbean where politicians and legislators are positively influenced by Biblical principles," he said. "I am happy to be a part of Capitol Ministries® because it is the only of its kind that has embraced the Great Commis- sion to engage those who tread the halls of political power. CM has a proven track record of 22 years of ministering to the spiritual needs of those so engaged. I believe that with active CM discipleship ministries in every country, we can change the world for God and for good." Joseph Persaud Caribbean Director Guyana Shoreline of the Dominican Republic CARIBBEAN

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