This trip has felt fast-paced for the first three weeks. I arrived on August 6th at 12:05 PM. The Equip the Next Generation group resumed their study of Luke on Monday morning. The next day, Tim Turner and Winfred Felton, preachers from Greenville, NC arrived. This was Winfred's first trip, so we introduced him to Rwanda and two genocide memorials. On Saturday, we shared in a trip to Akagera National Park.
After team-teaching on Sunday (a great message), Tim and Winfred began teaching the church leaders the letter of Titus on Monday morning. Lessons had been prepared and translated along with the Africa Bible Commentary on Titus. When they finished on Thursday, the church leaders were excited about their new resources and understanding of this Pastoral Epistle. At 2:00 AM the next morning, Tim and Winfred departed for Togo to teach more African church leaders. This allowed me to resume Lessons on James which the church leaders had begun on the May trip.
Here is the idea. We had been studying with most of these church leaders since 2011. They have grown in their ability to interpret the Bible with the aid of their resources. So, in May we began an experiment; we divided the leaders into groups, and using their resources, they prepared lessons on sections of James. Then they presented the lesson to the whole group and I made comments (and a few corrections). Next, the entire group prepared a final lesson on that section. Stephen, my interpreter, and I then entered that lesson into the computer. Finally, after a week in May and six days in August, these church leaders went home with their copy of "Lessons on James," prepared by church leaders of Harvest Christian Church.
After team-teaching on Sunday (a great message), Tim and Winfred began teaching the church leaders the letter of Titus on Monday morning. Lessons had been prepared and translated along with the Africa Bible Commentary on Titus. When they finished on Thursday, the church leaders were excited about their new resources and understanding of this Pastoral Epistle. At 2:00 AM the next morning, Tim and Winfred departed for Togo to teach more African church leaders. This allowed me to resume Lessons on James which the church leaders had begun on the May trip.
Here is the idea. We had been studying with most of these church leaders since 2011. They have grown in their ability to interpret the Bible with the aid of their resources. So, in May we began an experiment; we divided the leaders into groups, and using their resources, they prepared lessons on sections of James. Then they presented the lesson to the whole group and I made comments (and a few corrections). Next, the entire group prepared a final lesson on that section. Stephen, my interpreter, and I then entered that lesson into the computer. Finally, after a week in May and six days in August, these church leaders went home with their copy of "Lessons on James," prepared by church leaders of Harvest Christian Church.
Theophile and his father-in-law, Elijah, display Lessons on James, prepared by the Equip a Church Leader group
Elijah will turn 80 on January 1, 2018. He was baptized in 1952 in the DRC and has been preaching for 54 years. When it is time to study, he is one of the few students who is always in his seat, ready, and never falls asleep in class after lunch. After staying in the same home with him for two weeks, I can verify that he can still read without glasses at night, in low light.
As we have studied together for several years now, one of his early comments will always stick with me.
In response to the teaching and the Bible resources, he asked, "Where were you when I was a young man?"
My prayer: "Father, help us to eliminate that question for today's Church leaders around the world."
As we have studied together for several years now, one of his early comments will always stick with me.
In response to the teaching and the Bible resources, he asked, "Where were you when I was a young man?"
My prayer: "Father, help us to eliminate that question for today's Church leaders around the world."
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