13 Reasons I've Not Been Blogging Much in April (AGAIN)

For those of you who follow this site a bit more closely, you've likely noticed I've not been posting much in April.  The reasons?  There's about 13 of them, actually, and they're pictured above - the pastors I had the privilege of being with again as part of the Hope Center Pastor Training School in Serenje, Zambia.  (Don't worry, I'm hoping to being posting regularly again soon!)

The intentionality of this Training School is impressive, and I'm excited to be a small part of what God is doing to raise up godly, equipped leaders in Zambia.  Here's a glimpse of what the Pastor Training School involves:

The pastors involved come to the Hope Center 4x a year (each time they come they stay for about a week) for 3 years, and over the course of this time they lay a strong foundation of classes that cover biblical and theological topics, along with issues important for practical church ministry.  This year at the Hope Center Pastor Training School, we walked through (1) The Gospel of Matthew and (2) 1-2 Timothy & Titus, with Special Emphasis on the Doctrine of the Church.   For each class we teach, a "student guide" is developed that facilitates learning, that provides structure, and that can facilitate continuing learning.  The week consists of classes from 8:30am-4pm, Mon-Thurs.  Time is spent in lecture and group exercises (large group and small group), and culminates in an exam on Thurs afternoon that helps the pastors articulate what they've been learning and gauges progress.  

In addition to the class time, the pastors are also gifted with a few resources each time we go - resources designed as study aids that will serve their ministry.  By the time they're finished with the program, they'll have a small shelf of resources that can be of great use to them!  This year, in addition to the student guides created for each course, we brought each of the pastors an NIV Concordance, Samuel Ngewa's commentary on the 1-2 Timothy and Titus in the Africa Bible Commentary series, and a pocket NIV Bible (the size will be useful as the pastors travel and do ministry).

These men are eager learners, faithful servants, and partners in the gospel.  Their work inspires me and challenges me, and continually reminds me of the big, global God we serve together.  

The pastors I was with this last April are in the final year of their program; I'm encouraged by the growth I've seen in them, and at the men God is raising up to serve His church there!  Join me in praying that God continues to work in these men and through their local churches, for the good of His church in Zambia.

Interested in finding out a bit more about what the Brookside Institute (and Brookside Church) is doing in Zambia?  Follow any of the trails below:

• A short video explaining Pastor Training in Zambia
• Why I Train Pastors in Zambia
• An Overview of What Brookside is Doing in Zambia