FAQ

"Pastoral health affects church health; Church health affects societal health"
Ramesh Richard
GENERAL

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The purpose of the Global Proclamation Congress for Trainers of Pastors II (GProCongress II) is to build on the momentum of GProCongress I (Bangkok 2016) by propelling the faster delivery of better training for more pastors at lower costs, especially where Christ's Church is growing . This unique and historic GProCongress II is a major part of a human capital campaign towards faster delivery of better training for more pastors at lower cost worldwide. The Congress is built on the belief that pastoral health is systemically enhanced by better delivery of more pastor training with coordinated follow-up. Healthy pastors lead healthier churches, and healthier churches are more able to reach their communities for Christ. GProCongress II shifts the focus from increasing the number of pastoral leaders better trained to multiplying the quantity and quality of trainers of pastors. This specialized gathering will fulfill its purpose by providing opportunities to Build Community, Explore Opportunity, Discover Resources and Exchange Encouragement. For more information, please click here. 

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 November 12-17, 2023, D.V.

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 The GProCongress II will take place at The Westin Playa Bonita Panama Hotel outside of Panama City, Panama. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Playa Bonita Panama is a picturesque location offering room views of the sea or the jungle. It boasts 67,000-plus square feet of meeting space conveniently located on the lobby and mezzanine levels. For more information, click here.

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 Hospitality and centrality are two hallmarks of Panama City. The country of Panama is located in the heart of Latin America and the Caribbean, making it easily accessible thanks to its international airport, Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen Panamá/Tocumen Panama International (PTY). Panama offers affordable conference facilities with all the necessary technological amenities and a history of successfully hosting international events.

HOST, CONVENER AND PARTICIPANTS

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 The host and organizer of the GProCongress II is RREACH (Ramesh Richard Evangelism and Church Health). For the history of RREACH’s pastor training efforts, click here. 

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 The convener is Dr. Ramesh Richard, founder and president of RREACH. He is a theologian-evangelist, philosopher-expositor and educator-author. Dr. Richard holds a ThD (in Systematic Theology) from Dallas Theological Seminary and PhD (in Philosophy) from the University of Delhi. He serves as Professor of Global Theological Engagement and Pastoral Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. For a complete bio, click here .

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 RREACH envisions up to 1,000 trainers of pastors attending the Global Proclamation Congress II. This historic event hopes to gather the most effective trainers of pastors ministering from all over the world.

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 Nonformal pastor trainers, formal theological educators, and informal personal mentors will be connected, united, and strengthened within and across training streams, emphases, and geographies.

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 Please follow updates on our website at www.GProCongress.org

REGISTRATION

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 To register, visit here.

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 All registrants must be 18 years of age by January 1, 2022. Therefore, no one born after January 1, 2004, is eligible to attend the GProCongress II as a participant. While the goal is for one half of participants to be under 50 years of age, there is no upper-age restriction to attend the GProCongress II.

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 Online registration is available in Spanish, English, French and Portuguese. 

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 It is possible your secure session timed out. To ensure maximum efficiency for your registration, please complete the process as quickly as is reasonable so that your session does not “time out.” Once you complete your registration, you will receive an email confirmation from GProCongress II.

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 Please send an email to us here describing the problem. If possible, also include a screenshot or screen capture of any error messages to help us pinpoint the cause and provide a solution. Be sure to include your name, the date you applied, and any other information that might be helpful.

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To see a list of prices per country, please click here. The registration fee includes:


a. 6-day admission to all programs and events 

b. Twin-sharing accommodation (you will be assigned a room with a fellow GProCongress II delegate)

c. Transportation between airport PTY and hotel/venue

d. GProCongress II materials

e. All meals

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 Please contact us here for more information. 

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Group Leaders can qualify for the below discounts if they bring fully paid delegates:

25% off the registration fee for bringing 5-9 fully paid delegates
50% off the registration fee for bringing 10-19 fully paid delegates
100% off the registration fee for bringing 20 or more fully paid delegates

PLEASE NOTE:  The discount will be applied based on the date that the Group Leader pays his registration fee. (For example, if the Group Leader pays in June, then the discount will be applied to the reduced fee for June ($100 off). If the Group Leader pays between 7/1/23-- 8/31/23, then the discount will be applied to the Regular Registration fee. If the Group Leader pays between 9/1/23--10/13/23, then the discount will be applied to the Late Registration fee.)


REGISTRATION PAYMENT

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 Payment may be made via credit card, wire transfer and Western Union. 

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 All registration payments must be made in U.S. dollars.

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 RREACH is unable to subsidize as the total cost for each delegate exceeds registration costs. 

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 RREACH has already discounted the cost greatly for every delegate who attends.  RREACH’s total cost per delegate is up to $1,750 USD.  RREACH has provided a scholarship and/or discount ranging from $775-$1,500 USD per delegate, depending on where they live.  RREACH is unable to provide any additional discounts for you to attend the Congress.

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There will be no refund for any registration fees paid, except in the following cases:

(1)       A registered participant may request a refund of their paid registration fees if they are unable to attend because their visa request is denied by the government of Panama.

(2)       In the event that 2023 GProCongress is cancelled or postponed for any reason, participants will be entitled to a refund of their paid registration fees only.

 

If you fail to pay all fees by the stated deadlines, you will NOT receive a refund of your partial payments. Instead, your partial payments will be kept as a gift to support GProCongress II.

 

RREACH reserves the right to withhold, from its repayment of any registration fees, the cost of issuing wire transfers, or any other processing fees incurred in making such repayment.

 

RREACH is not liable for any losses, claims, demands, causes of action, damages, penalties, fines, liabilities, judgments, costs, or expenses of any nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, any transportation or accommodation costs expended by any participants in connection with GProCongress II. All participants, by their participation in GProCongress II, agree to indemnify RREACH and hold RREACH harmless against any and all losses, claims, demands, causes of action, damages, penalties, fines, liabilities, judgments, costs, or expenses of any nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, any transportation or accommodation costs expended in connection with GProCongress II.

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Spouses may participate as delegates if they are actively involved in pastor training or are pastor training aspirants.

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All attendees will document proven pastor training experience and connections to their respective organizations or denominations. Therefore, no attendee may bring guests, including family members, who do not meet the critical criteria. 

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All GProCongress II materials will be provided on the first day of the Congress. 

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Please contact us here for more information.  

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RREACH has already helped by subsidizing the cost for every delegate who attends.  RREACH’s total cost per delegate is up to $1,750 USD.  RREACH has provided a scholarship and/or discount ranging from $775-$1,500 USD per delegate, depending on where they live.  RREACH is unable to provide any additional assistance for you to attend the Congress.

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Delegates are strongly encouraged to participate in the whole Congress. If that is not possible, you may come for a daily rate of $50 USD. The daily rate includes:

a. 1-day admission to all programs and events  


b. Copies of GProCongress II materials 


c. Lunch and dinner for one day at the Congress

LODGING

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No, all registered delegates of the GProCongress II will have lodging provided for them. 

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GProCongress II organizers will do their best to honor roommate requests. The best way to ensure you are placed with your requested roommate is for that delegate to also request you as his/her roommate.

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Room assignment is on a first come, first served basis. Delegates will be assigned a roommate of the same gender by GProCongress II administrators.

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 Yes. Once accepted, a delegate may indicate in their registration that they would prefer to pay the additional cost for a single room. You can find the cost for a single room here (link). Single rooms are subject to availability.

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 Free private parking is possible for those staying at the hotel for the Congress. Please call the hotel in advance to make arrangements (+507 304-6600).

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The voltage in Panama is 110.

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Please contact us here for more information.

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 Yes, but at your own expense.  All delegates are expected to arrive on Sunday, November 12, 2023, and check out on Friday, November 17, 2023. If you wish to arrive before November 12, 2023, or depart after November 17, 2023, you will be required to pay for your room and other related expenses. The discounted rate for GProCongress II guests will be available from the hotel for an additional 3 nights before or after the event. Delegates wishing to arrive early or leave late will need to reserve and pay for any additional nights directly with the hotel.

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 Delegates must ensure that they do not damage their hotel room in any way. Any damage or loss to the room will be the responsibility of the delegate causing such damage, and the delegate will have to reimburse the hotel for the cost of the damage. RREACH will not be responsible for any such losses

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The Westin Playa Bonita Panama Hotel (link) is the designated host for both accommodations and all GProCongress II related events. In addition, the Dreams Playa Bonita Hotel (link) in Panama City is also available for delegates to stay at during the Congress.

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It is not mandatory to stay at the arranged GProCongress II hotels. However, because lodging is provided by the GProCongress II organizers, opting not to stay in GProCongress II hotel will not lower your registration fee. Also, you will be responsible for your own transportation to and from the Westin Playa Bonita Panama Hotel for all Congress events. Please alert GProCongress II organizers of your plans to stay elsewhere by contacting us here (link).

TRAVEL

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 Please use our visa wizard (link) to determine whether you need a visa to enter Panama for the Congress in November. Answer the questions asked, and the wizard will tell you what you need. Please start your visa process at the earliest as it can take over three months. PLEASE NOTE: The visa wizard is only a guide based on information available to RREACH at the time it was prepared. You should consult your own embassy to confirm that the information given by the wizard is correct.

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 Please consult your local embassy to determine if you need to be vaccinated before attending the Congress.

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RREACH is unable to offer financial assistance for travel.

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Please contact us here for more information. 

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 For any Delegates who arrive before 1:00 pm on November 12, 2023, a boxed meal will be provided. Delegates will be responsible to pay for any additional items not found in the boxed meal.

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 No. All delegates are required to bring their own medications and prescriptions. RREACH will not provide any medications at the Congress. PLEASE NOTE: You should bring copies of any prescriptions with you to insure that you will be allowed to bring your medications through customs.

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 GProCongress II is providing pickup and dropoff between PTY airport and the Westin Playa Bonita Panama Hotel. All other travel-related expenses must be arranged and paid for by the delegates themselves. If you choose not to use the airport-to-hotel transportation provided by the host, you will not be reimbursed if you use other transportation options.

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Please see the list of documents needed here (link).

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 GProCongress II is providing pickup and dropoff between PTY airport and the Westin Playa Bonita Panama Hotel. All other travel-related expenses must be arranged and paid for by the delegates themselves. If you choose not to use the airport-to-hotel transportation provided by the host, you will not be reimbursed if you use other transportation options.

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The registration table opens at 12:00 noon on Saturday, November 11 until 10:00 p.m. Registration will resume at 8:00 am on November 12 and the opening session of the Congress will begin at 7:30 p.m. that evening. The Congress concludes at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, November 17. GProCongress II is providing pickup and dropoff between PTY airport and the Westin Playa Bonita Panama Hotel. Buses will begin picking up delegates at PTY airport on Saturday, November 11, at 6:00 a.m., and will continue through Sunday, November 12. Buses will take delegates back to PTY airport beginning on Friday, November 17, at 1:00 p.m., and the last bus will leave the hotel for the airport on Saturday, November 18, at 3:00 p.m. PLEASE NOTE: In planning your flight schedule, you should plan for the trip between the arrival at the airport and the hotel to take up to 3 hours.

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You should plan for the trip between PTY airport and the Westin Playa Bonita Panama Hotel to take up to 3 hours.

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Yes. Copa Airlines is offering a 10% discount on airfares to PTY airport in Panama City for all GProCongress delegates. Beginning on 7 July 2023, you can book your flight on Copa using the “tour code” B9243. This 10% discount applies to the airfare rate only, and does not include taxes. Travel must be completed between 7 November 2023, and 22 November 2023. If you wish to purchase your airfare tickets using this discount, you may book your flight online at https://www.copaair.com/, or you can go to their Call Center, or to any Copa Airlines offices. 

AT THE GPROCONGRESS II

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We recommend formal attire for the opening and closing ceremonies and smart casual for the rest of the program sessions. While most of the convention center is air-conditioned, Panama City is warm and humid year round with a rainy season that runs May through November. Please pack accordingly.

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Unfortunately, Congress organizers can’t guarantee an alternative will be available for you. We encourage you to contact the hotel (+507 304-6600) prior to your arrival to make individual arrangements at your own cost. Those with severe food allergies should plan to bring their own food. 

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The local currency is the U.S. dollar. It is recommended to carry U.S. currency with you. 

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No. Only registered delegates with badges will be allowed into GProCongress II-related activities and venues.

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 GProCongress II will be held in English. Morning and evening plenary sessions at the Congress will be translated into French, Spanish, and Portuguese. At this time, the plan is for afternoon sessions to be translated only into Spanish.

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Delegates will be responsible to take care of their own belongings such as their passports, cash, laptops, phones, or any other valuable items. RREACH will not be responsible for any such loss. We recommend that delegates always keep their passports on their person. 

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 You are responsible for all personal and incidental expenses (e.g., laundry, room service) incurred during the Congress. You must pay the hotel directly for any additional charges incurred beyond the standard room rate. RREACH will not be responsible for any such expenses. 

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Yes. Lunch and dinner are provided daily for all delegates at the Westin Playa Bonita Panama Hotel. Breakfast will be provided at both the Westin Playa Bonita Panama Hotel, and at the Dreams Playa Bonita Hotel, for delegates staying at those hotels.

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No. You should plan to bring US dollars with you to Panama.

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Please email info@gprocongress.org for more information.

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Please email info@gprocongress.org for more information.