The fifth Multiply International Leaders Conference was the best yet, with 65 delegates from Europe, Africa and the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia enjoying a packed programme of events in Northampton and London this summer.

The theme of the conference was the humble, servant heart of the leader.

Apostolic leaders from various nations contributed to leading the conference, which had a ‘three-track’ programme for new delegates, those who had been before, and established leaders.

For 40 of the delegates, this was their first experience of dabbling in the Multiply stream. One, Peter Mazumder from Pakistan, said, “This is not just a conference, this is life-changing.”

Corneliu and Diana Medrea, Bethlehem Christian Centre, Hunedoara.

Corneliu WAS just a young man when he felt the call of God to take the gospel to those outside the churches in Romania. This was revolutionary for, under communist rule, the proclamation of Christianity was confined within the church's walls. In 1994 Corneliu and a small team began children's Bible clubs for children in Hunedoara, western Romania.

Today there are 45 volunteers and 10 staff at the Bethlehem Christian Centre and over 600 children and young people are reached weekly through the Bible clubs. Many young people have given their lives to Christ and over 40 per cent of the projects' leaders have found faith too. In 2005 a new church, "Bethlehem," mainly made up of people from the centre, was planted and today has 30-40 visitors.

Today, provision is increasingly being made for adults. The Tabitha Project runs daily sewing classes for young women to assist them to find a job in that field. Three years ago a small transportation business was established, and now there are moves to establish three new social enterprises to support the work of the centre and its ministries: the Joseph Project, whose aim is to train up young men with carpentry skills (hence the couple's interest in the Jesus Fellowship's community businesses such as Good Welding and Good Timber); a charity shop selling clothes and construction materials; and a dental clinic combined with other medical services. A sports field is also planned for use by the various groups as well as renting out to other local organisations.

Once a year the small town of Hunedoara experiences 'Salt and Light' week when the churches of the district all descend upon it to serve the people by cleaning up the rubbish as well as offering free hair-cuts and sewing lessons. "What school are you from?" people ask, thinking it must be some compulsory school project. "We're from the School of Jesus Christ!" Corneliu cheerfully replies. "In post-modern times people do not seem interested in what you say but what you do."

Binny Mathews, Fountain of Life Ministries, Jaigaon.

Growing up in a missionary family, signs and wonders were daily events for Binny, starting with the miraculous healing of a dumb girl when her father, in desperation, called Binny's Pappa to come and pray for her. In 1990, aged 21, Binny whiled away the journey to bible school reading a biography of Amy Carmichael. She had founded Binny's school and he was curious to know more about her. The book included a letter which Amy wrote to her mother in Ireland telling her that she wanted to leave home to be a missionary. On the next page was her mother's reply - gladly giving up her much-loved child to God.

Binny sat with tears pouring down his face: "As the bus bumped along I committed my whole life to serve the poor."

Two years later, one of his professors gave him a word from God: "When you've finished your theological degree you should live by faith and God will use you. Don't join a mission organisation and work under them."

Binny hid the word in his heart, but in his final year it seemed likely he would join a mission going to Bihar, where there was huge need. Right at the last moment, when he had been fasting and praying for a sign from God, the same professor gave a word that some were meant to build on the work of others and Binny knew this was his call to go back to his home town.

Just as God promised, God has used Binny powerfully in many fruitful works over the last three years. "We now have a hundred in the home Jaigoan church and 30 families."

Binny was invited to the conference by Multiply apostolic leader Daniel Grimmer, who said "Come and see the lifestyle of these people."

"It has really blessed me," says Binny. "I gave up a career to work for God and sometimes I get tired. I've found it wonderful that here in prosperous England where there is so much opportunity, people are willing to give up everything for God and for the poor.That has so refreshed my own faith! I don't think I would ever tire to serve the poor after seeing the Jesus Army.

"I am amazed to see a whole church that is all out for Jesus, and to experience the power of sacrifice. Community living is an effective way of fulfilling the High Priestly prayer of Jesus "that we may all be one" - which for many Christians is only a prayer."

Abraham Bangura, Youth With A Vision, Freetown.

Abraham's ministry to reach addicted youth started with a bang - literally. In 1995 he intervened with some guys who were playing with a live grenade. It went off and Abraham lost two fingers. But he was not put off; he simply saw it as the devil trying to stop the work before it started. No chance.

Today there are 600 members of YWAV who work to bring the gospel to young people in ghettos, red-light districts, and amputee camps, where their slogan is "disability is not inability".

"What I want to take back from Multiply," he says, "is that people are of one mind."

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