Pastor training

I think we are all feeling very out-of-our-depth training church pastors in how to understand the Bible! John has done some excellent training sessions and the rest of us have been leading small group discussions. The sessions have covered the basic skills of observation, interpretation and application, with an additional session on “What is Preaching?”. This has been supplemented by bible studies in 2 Timothy that we have modelled to them, and opportunities for them to practice by working on a part of the book and then giving a short 5 minute talk on it.

The discussion times have been difficult due to literacy problems and the fact that most people here will happily reel off what they know about Jesus etc, but have difficulty in bringing things out that are actually in the text. It seems though that the sessions have been fruitful – many of the pastors have said that it has helped them enormously. But it still is the case that the skills that we think are fundamental in the UK church are alien to most people here.

Please therefore pray for the remaining sessions. We have completed the sessions in Kabala and have two more days of training here in Koidu Town.