Sydney, September 5, 2000 – Speaking at the Annual Fundraising Meeting of
the Haggai Institute in Australia, the International President-elect, Rev.
Reginaldo Kruklis, (45) of Brazil, challenged those present by explaining
that:  “The graduates will not only go back home and evangelise.  They will
go back to build a new nation.”

Haggai Institute trains them to communicate and open their eyes to look at
the ‘larger picture’.  They then go home and change their nation.

Haggai Institute has been recognised for its Advance Studies in Christian
Leadership since 1969. More than 36,000 leaders from 157 nations,
representing 180 denominations,  have passed through the training sessions
in Singapore, Maui in Hawaii and other Haggai Institute strategic national
seminars. Many national seminars have been held in otherwise “closed”
countries.  Although all participants are Christians, they are not
necessarily evangelists or denominational leaders.

“More than 60% of the participants are not pastors, but leaders who can
change a nation,” said Mr Kruklis.

Many are business people, working in countries where no missionaries are
allowed and they go back with a different view on reconciliation, church
planting and using people to do the ministry.

Held in the Northside Community Centre, St Leonards in Sydney, the Haggai
Institute 2000 Annual Fundraising Evening was attended by over 100 people,
many hearing of the ministry for the first time.  The National President in
Australia, Brian Gibbon, welcomed all present, especially nine who had
travelled from Newcastle – a two and a half hour trip.

The facilitator for the evening, the Rev. Graham Agnew,  introduced a video
depicting the work of Haggai graduates at work, showing their acknowledged
leadership in many countries of the world.  One in Honduras, co-ordinated
the relief work following the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch.
Another in Cuba was able to arrange the first National Training Seminar.
Today 350 top level people have been trained in leadership.

A recent graduate of HI Sessions 324/325 in Singapore, Raymond Moti, the
manager of the multicultural Radio SBS in Sydney,  described his time in
Singapore as, “A life changing experience and the most rewarding experience
in my life.”

The Rev. Tony Chi, the Senior Pastor at the Wesley Mission in Sydney,
announced his move from that position after 19 years, to become the Vice
President of Training and Development for the Haggai Institute, based in
Singapore.

Mr Chi has been a member of the Haggai Faculty for 15 years and now, with
his wife, Jenny, is looking forward to “coming into a new Day in the Haggai
Institute.”

In addition to his responsibility for overseeing the training in Singapore,
Mr Chi spoke of searching for suitable premises in Singapore “to develop a
new first class facility for the Haggai training program.

“Next year 1,260 men and women will be trained and we want to be ready for
that.”

Mr Kruklis presented a challenging message and screened a video on the visit
of Dr John Haggai to a church in Brazil where 6,000 worship in a single
service and there are multiple services every Sunday, catering for a wide
variety of ministries.

Mr Kruklis has been preaching since he was 13-years-of-age.  His training
has included a Bachelor of Theology and Sacred Music (1973); Certificate of
Theology at Spurgeon’s College, London (1978); Cambridge Certificate in
Religious Studies (1978); Master in Theology in the Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary in Brazil (1992) and he attended Session 197 of the
Haggai Institute – Advance Studies in Christian Leadership in Maui (1993).

To illustrate something of the calibre of the graduates, Mr Kruklis is the
President-Elect of Haggai Institute only seven years since attending his own
H.I. Session.  He will be the first non-American to hold this prestigious
position.

In speaking of his appointment, the founder Dr John Haggai commented: “We
rejoice that God has brought to us the Reverend Reginaldo Kruklis as
president-elect.  He has served (from 1995-1999) as Haggai Institute
representative in Brazil where he took the national H.I. program to 100
percent self-support.  Our international office does not send one dollar of
support to Brazil.”

Speaking on the work of the Haggai Institute, Mr Kruklis explained, “We do
not build schools, churches or hospitals.  Local graduates can do that with
God’s local resources.  We encourage those in training to rise up and walk.
We want to break the ‘chain of poverty’.  Who said God cannot supply our
need (in poor countries as well as leading nations) ?

“We’re not here raising money. God is raising people – to do His will.  We
are not here to be consumers.  We’re here to give.  We are accountable as to
how we have spent our life for the Lord.”

Martin Kristiaman, a Haggai Institute graduate from Indonesia, led the
appeal for pledges and support.  Mr Gibbon explained that since the last
Annual Fund Raising Meeting, a participant has been sponsored for training
every nine days because of the support raised by Australian donors.  This
year the target is to help sponsor a national leader for Haggai Institute
training, every four days.

The first Australian five day Haggai Institute Interdenominational Advanced
Leadership Retreats will be held in Adelaide, November 13-17 and in Sydney,
November 20-24.  For details of registration and costs, contact the Haggai
Institute,
P.O. Box 231, Concord NSW 2137, tel: (+61-2) 9743-0900; fax: (+61-2)
9743-5977; e-mail haggaiaust@compuserve.com