The original apostolic reformation began as a reformation within Judaism, heralded by a Jewish prophet, Yohannan (John), who in preparing for this reformation preached repentance and baptised crowds of Israelites in the Jordan River. This reformation was lived and taught by a Jewish rabbi (teacher) whom we call the Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Heb. 1:3), Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus the Messiah).
Judaism had always focused on relationships:
1) the relationship between Yahweh and mankind (Yahweh is the personal Hebrew name for God, used 6,828 times in the Old Testament, usually written as LORD in English Bibles)
2) the relationship between people;
3) the relationship between Yahweh and the Jewish people;
3) the relationship between the Jewish people and the land of Israel.
Both the prophet and the rabbi declared that these relationships had gone astray and that the religious establishment of their time were as much part of the problem as part of the solution. Religious traditions had developed that were often not reflective of the kingdom of God. Their thinking and their ways had been seduced off track by the ways of the world. The Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ interpretation and practice of the law had deviated from Yahweh’s intent of a loving relationship between Himself and people, and between human beings. “The kingdom of heaven operates very differently to how you’re living and running things here” was the heart of the message of reformation. It was a popular message among the masses but deeply unpopular with those in power. It cost both the prophet and the rabbi their lives, as they not only taught but also lived this message of God’s love. The rabbi, however, was more than just a rabbi, more even than just the anointed one (Messiah) – He was the Son of God. Resurrection power took this reformation through Jewish society and out to the peoples of the nations.
Travelling the world over the last fourteen years, serving with the body of Christ in different nations, has propelled me into the research that led to this blog. I have heard from many, of the desperate need for more pastoral training in their nations where the gospel is being embraced by increasing numbers of people. I have seen the blessings, and the unintended negative consequences, of western missionary endeavours and generous giving. I have witnessed the impact of culture and cultural supremacy on the spread of the gospel and the health of the church. I have been challenged by requests for “apostolic covering”.
In all this the overriding concern is:
‘how do we faithfully serve in Christ’s mission on earth’.
The Need for Sustainable and Reproducible Training of Church Leaders
While the church is declining in Europe, in other parts of the world we are experiencing unprecedented growth that necessitates a like growth in discipling by trained leaders.
- In his plenary at the June 2014 Lausanne Consultation on Theological Education, Thomas Schirrmacher presented the view of the World Evangelical Alliance and its Theological Commission that about 50,000 people (that do not come from a Christian background and do not have any basic Bible knowledge) are baptized each day in evangelical churches worldwide.
- If a pastoral leader can provide discipling for a group of 50 believers initially, then 1,000 new pastors/church leaders/elders are needed every day.
- More than 2.2 million pastoral leaders (and as many as 3.4 million by some estimates) presently serve, while only 5% are trained for pastoral ministry according to the Centre for the Study of Global Christianity. They have noted that roughly 70% of the world’s pastors are in independent congregations and such often have little theological training, even in the West.
- The Global Alliance of Church Multiplication raised a serious concern in October 2013 that while they envisioned the planting of 5 million churches by 2020, they surmised a disturbing fail-rate of up to 70% within the first year.
- Dr. Ramesh Richard has urged: “I commend pastoral training as a necessary complement to, and the highest priority for, implementing all ministry initiatives globally and locally… It helps correct creedal and cultural misperceptions of Christianity when local believers permeate their social spheres.”
We see all around the world the devastating consequences of a lack of effective discipling of church leaders – ministers whose sins and false teachings make a mockery of the gospel and a shipwreck of their lives, their ministries, and the lives of their followers; and a church that all too often just stands by and lets it happen. On the other extreme we have the heresy hunters who create confusion, discouragement and division by denouncing everyone and everything that is different to themselves, appearing to consider their own opinions to be the fulness of all the truth of God.
From October 2011 through to June 2013, a Global Survey on Theological Education was conducted to gather data and perspectives on all forms of theological education from every Christian tradition in every part of the world. (1) Four of their main findings were:
- There are not enough theological schools in the regions of the world where Christianity is growing rapidly (Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia).
- Theological education is financially unstable in many parts of the world.
- Cross-cultural communication and practical skills related to ministry are the subjects respondents would most like to see added or strengthened in theological education.
- Issues of theological education are seen as having strategic significance and are “most important” for the future of Christianity around the world.
Thus, the conclusion that the greatest need of the global church is training that is biblical, practical, sustainable and reproducible within each people group. In other words, training that is like how Jesus taught and equipped His disciples.
The Need for Understanding Cultural Context
Jesus established the church within a cultural context – that of first century Jewish society under Roman occupation. As He did so Yeshua kept contrasting the culture of the Kingdom of God with both that of the Jewish religious leaders and that of Roman society. We read throughout the gospels how difficult the disciples found it to shift their thinking and acting from the ways of this world to the ways of the kingdom. Only after the cross and the baptism in the Holy Spirit at Shavuot (Pentecost) did the apostles demonstrate a grasp of how radically different Yeshua’s ways were as they began to really live and minister as He had.
Just like the first disciples we can easily allow the ways of this world and the culture we grow up in to shape how we view the body of Christ and our place in Him. The dominant Western mindset and ways of training and accrediting are very different to that of Yeshua and the first apostles. We can miss much of what Yeshua was saying and doing when we fail to understand the culture in which he was operating and the beliefs and practices that he was addressing.
The following blogs are built on the faithful labours of others before me who have likewise sort to uncover the meaning that Jesus and the gospel writers attached to His words and deeds. Jewish names are often used in the forthcoming text as a repeated reminder that we are looking at the lives of 1st Century Jews, not 21st Century Westerners. There is a cultural context and language in the scriptures that is very different to our own. Jesus was a Jew – Yeshua – and lived among Jews, most of whom had Jewish names, primarily spoke either Hebrew or Aramaic (depending on which historian you believe – they are closely related languages and very different to the Greek that we usually associate with this period and the writing of the New Testament), and whose lives were governed by their community’s understanding of Torah.
Searching the Scriptures
Like the Jewish religious leaders of Yeshua’s day our concepts of what God wants for His people can be governed more by our own religious traditions than by God’s word. It is easier to receive teachings and practices handed down by others than to diligently search the scriptures for ourselves. Questions like “do you provide apostolic covering?” and the need for sustainable, reproducible training of church leaders in all the different people groups of our world sent me back to the scriptures to seek God’s answers for how He set up the church and how He wants us to function as the body of Christ. How did Jesus train His disciples? What were His methods? What was the scope and sequence of His curriculum for them? How was the New Testament church governed and did that change with the different cultures that it was established in? What were the ministries, offices and functions established by the Holy Spirit in the early church? How did they relate to one another? What I found as I wrote out page after page of scriptures on every aspect of church ministry and governance was that much of what I’d been taught and believed, with the classic ‘proof scriptures’, is not supported by the weight of evidence of the whole counsel of God. There is, however, one aspect of what I had been taught that is not only supported, but re-enforced, magnified and emphasised continually throughout all of the New Testament – there is no place in the body of Christ or the kingdom of God for lording it over others, each and every one of us is called and anointed to serve. We are a Servant Church, commissioned to demonstrate the love of Christ, for such is the reign of His kingdom.
Come with me on a journey through scripture and history to see
how the stage was set for the Son of God to be born to a Jewish mother &
how Yeshua began the establishment of the Kingdom of God through the early church.
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- The Global Survey on Theological Education was conducted as a joint research project by the Institute for Cross-Cultural Theological Education, McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago; the Ecumenical Theological Education Programme (ETE), World Council of Churches, Geneva; and the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston. https://www.globethics.net/web/gtl/research/global-survey.
Growth of Christianity in China – set to become the nation with the most Christians
Fenggang Yang, a professor of sociology at Purdue University and author of Religion in China: Survival and Revival under Communist Rule predicts that China, which had over 58 million Protestants in 2010 according to the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life, will have around 160 million by 2025. This would mean China will likely be ahead even of the United States, which had about 159 million Protestants in 2010. Yang went on to say that China’s total Christian population, including Catholics, would be over 247 million by 2030 and thus become the largest Christian congregation in the world.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/china-to-have-worlds-largest-christian-population-by-2025-religion-expert-says.html
The following tables were developed from information in the book Spirit and Power: The Growth and Global Impact of Pentecostalism, Edited by Donald E. Miller, Kimon H. Sargeant & Richard Flory, Oxford University Press 2013
“We do not start our Christian lives by working out our faith for ourselves; it is mediated to us by Christian tradition, in the form of sermons, books, and established patterns of Church life and fellowship. We read our Bibles in the light of what we have learned from these sources; we approach Scripture with minds already formed by the mass of accepted opinions and viewpoints with which we have come into contact, in both the Church and the world…. It is easy to be unaware that it has happened; it is hard even to begin to realize how profoundly tradition in this sense has moulded us. But we are forbidden to become enslaved to human tradition, either secular or Christian, whether it be “catholic” tradition, or “critical” tradition, or “ecumenical” tradition. We may never assume the complete rightness of our own established ways of thought and practice and excuse ourselves the duty of testing and reforming them by Scriptures.“
Fundamentalism and the Word of God, by J.I. Packer. [Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1958.] pp. 69-70
In the comments below share your thoughts on some of these questions:
* What nation do you live in?
* Is the gospel spreading in your nation?
* How healthy is the church in your nation?
* What is the biggest need of the church in your nation?
* Do those who claim to be Christians live like Jesus or are things like greed, selfishness, pride, sexual immorality and corruption common?
* Is everyone in the church loving their neighbour and sharing the gospel with others?
* Do your pastors, teachers, evangelists, apostles, prophets, priests, reverends and bishops know the Bible, live like Jesus and preach sound doctrine?
* Do the people in your congregations know the Bible and live like Jesus?
* Do you have enough Bibles for everyone who wants to read one?
* Is your church caring for the poor?
* Do those in your church with more money help those in your church with less?
* What is the biggest hinderance to the spread of the gospel in your nation?
Christian greetings from Kenya Church. I can’t stop studying God’s word here because it is new every day. Bible College fees in Kenya and Africa is high beyond the reach of many Pastors. Therefore, I recommend everyone to visit this site and access free Bible learning. My prayer is with you from Kenya. God bless you.
Thanks much.
I live in Uganda,where freedom of religion is allowed.The gospel is being preached in every where in Uganda,in cities as well as Cities.
As Satan is not happy with the preaching of the Bible, some Churches are not preaching health Doctrine,while others are trying by the Grace of God. Therefore there is a need to preach sound Doctrine. This is because,greed, selfish nes,pride,sexual immorality,and corruption is sweeping through the Church.The life of Christ ,the standard by which the church should live, is not properly lived.Many Church members are oblivious of each other,self conceited,and don’t share the gospel to each other. They say sharing the gospel is done by Pastors alone.However,these Pastor apart from the few know the Bible, because they lack training in theology.So many congregations as a result of un trained Pastors,do not know the Bible and cannot live like Christ.Not only that but also few Christians have Bibles.Also in Uganda illiteracy is high,where by even Christians do not know how to read and write.Since the nature and character of God is not part of their lives,the poor do suffer alot from their want.The rich are not at all giving a hand to the poor ,except to help in the minimum.
The lack of training for church workers in Theology is the greatest hinderance to the spread of the gospel in Uganda
My beloved sister Anita,
I appreciate your effort to help us go through this study. I am from Kenya and the gospel is being received well just like in any other East and Central African countries I have visited to share Jesus.
The biggest need of the church in Kenya is trained and effective ministers to ground the flock in the unadulterated message of God so that they are able to stand against the destructive heresies of the wolves. Many do not know how to interpret the bible well so instead of doing proper exegesis in their sermons they do the opposite (Eisegesis).
Many Christians are hidden in their denominations and church doctrines something that is a hindrance to the furtherance of God’s word to the world. It is not uncommon to see Christians from a one denomination refusing to team up with Christians from a different denomination from theirs simply because they do not ascribe to their doctrine. It is through training and proper discipleship such like things will be dealt with. 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” We need to pass on what we learn from the bible to those who will also teach others. In short by training leaders will have a crop of ministers who understand what is God’s will for His people and the world.
I am trying as much as possible to equip the ministers of the 24 churches I have planted in Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo so that they become effective ministers of the word. God said in Jeremiah 3:15, “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding”.
My church has handful of Swahili bibles that people read in groups. As you know Swahili language is the lingua franca of East and Central Africa and members need the bibles in this language to help them be grounded in the word.
My church is caring for the poor including the 28 total orphans under my care. Right now we’re busy helping the flood victims in my Budalang’i, Busia county by building them makeshift houses etc.
The biggest hindrance to the spread of the gospel in my nation is false teachers, semi illiterate ministers who appeal to the emotions of people through their ecstasy and lies thus leading many people astray. Another hindrance is lack of trained ministers, and material resources like Swahili bibles and also finances because of poverty.
But all in all we are making progress and by God’s help we shall overcome these hurdles.
The Jewish leaders asked the Rome to come and rule over them so that they would help settle their desputes not knowing the repercussions.
Many times I have seen in our communities leaders who give up their freedom of self rule to try to gain wealth. It is very common in our Churches and in secular leadership.
Rome became different from other empires featured in David’s visions because the y enacted brutal rules, harsh decrees, they were burdensome and increased heavy taxation which was unbearable.
It is out of this that we remember what has always been quoted ” Sin will always take you farther than you ever expected to go, it will keep you longer than you ever intended to say, and it will cost you more than you expected to pay.” Some of the consequences they experienced was murdered of 12,000 Jews who were guarding the Temple and those other acts we have explained.
Herod was not judged for carrying out the execution of the Jews without the permission of the Sanhedrin because they feared that Roman retribution if they executed the procurator’s son.
The consequences of their failure to follow the processes of justice costed them when Herod took revenge on Sanhedrin for attempting to account ten years earlier and murdered all of them.
Zealot was a new radicle Jewish sect thought of being zealous on behalf of God. They were motivated by the Sanherin’s weakness in failing to convict Herod for the murder of his father and Herod’s subsequent appoyas king of Judea. They also were convinced they could help hasten the Messianic hopes and expectations of Davidic descendants to lead the people to a supernatural victory long awaited for over their enemies and rule the whole world from Jerusalem, thus deliverying Jews from Heathen rule.
Sister Anita, I have just realized that you are restoring something that got lost from what Jesus was doing. The training of Jesus to His disciples was not for certification but for approval of how you have understood to implement. He never gave crtificates or diplomas or degrees but the practical knowledge to go and implement. Many of us today we struggle to get papers academically but we can not deliver at the end of the day.
Surely this is what you are doing. We read and understand stand our role and go and put it on the ground so we can see the results. Jesus could send his disciples on practical work and they could come with results and where they failed, he could correct them. I see this is what you want us to do. God bless you. You are a blessing.
I am so excited about the content of this curriculum. These to me is very important course that we actually need to change and transform our style of leadership in our churches. It is good to have the history of the where the gospel came from to the time of Jesus Christ then to the time of the Apostles update. Many pastors do not have this, and that is why they take it so simply thus mixing with their worldly perception. When we talk about the Pharisees and Saduccees and Scribes our local pastors, evangelists, Apostles and prophets or even Priests can not understand because they either are half baked or are unbaked. Thank you so much sister Anita for God using you to come up with this very important Idea of training. Those who can’t afford training,now here we are ready to go and train them. Many of the Pentecostal Charismatic pastors where I belonged have no idea of their origin at all. Now we are going to put them on track as we challenge what and how they behave. I believe as I continue reading the blog there is a lot I am getting which I never had before. Thanks.
Edward Amwayi.
Sister Anita, let me talk about Christianity in my country Kenya now. The gospel is spreading in Kenya very fast, but on the other hand we find many false teachers and prophets who use their wealth to lure many to their churches. Most of those who truly preach Jesus have financial constraints. But those who teach wrong doctrine their churches are full. This shows how poverty can be a hindrance to the spread of the gospel. There is real need of prayers, and caring for the poor who really yearn for Jesus.
Among those who claim to be Christians, few are true Christians and can share the life of Christ but the majority are not, why because we see them deny Christ in their actions. We see greed, selfishness,pride, complacency, alot of sexual immorality and corruption of the highest order in them.
Yes, we find those who truly are born again share the gospel with others, but most of those who are well off don’t have time for sharing the gospel out of the church because they are busy making money with their businesses. Many pastors in this country are not trained. Many are those who break away from their pastors to start their own churches. They go with no experience, training or leadership skills. Meaning they don’t have sound doctrine. Secondly, some may really need training but it is so expensive to train pastors in this country.
The people in my congratulations understand what we preach and teach them, the only challenge is living like Christ lived. I can not guarantee that. The Bible’s in this country are expensive for this very low class members of the congregation, so most of them can’t access Bible’s and so keeping them on track to be reading the Bible in impossible especially in the rural villages where we operate. As a church, I can say yes we care for the poor interms of leading them to Christ and showing them to live expecting from God, otherwise we don’t have resources to be able to reach the poor with clothing or food or money.
It is difficult to know who in our congratulations with more money because they don’t come out in the open to help. I can say that poverty is a big hindrance to the spread of the gospel in my Nation.
Thank you so much sister Anita for your great initiative of this important training course. Training is what enhances productivity.
I live in Ghana and I am of the hope that many would welcome your dream of making exceptional pastors,teachers, evangelists,bishops and prophets of the Gospel in order to expand the kingdom of Christ which is the church.
There is lack of sound theological teachings in my country which is not helping and had paved way for many so called pastors and other so called men of God who are throwing dus into the eyes of the innocent souls. These are spreading false gospel among the populace which is very well sad indeed.
These people are to set the paces for followers are doing worse.
Their life styles are not reflecting what they believe themselves to be.
Love in the church is not like the one existed in the first century in Acts 2.
On the part of church members spreading the Gospel, it is not going as it should be because many Christians nowadays fill lazy to study the Bible. The love of worldly things are paramount in today’s Christianity as against 1 John 2:15.
Very few gospel preachers are preaching salvation, the rest prosperity and miracles only.
wedo not have enough bibles in our local languages for our members and those outside who are in need. wedo not have members who have more money but those with good heart share what they have with those in need.
The biggest challenge in spreading the gosple is getting committed people as well as funds.
I live in Ghana. Thank you so much dear Sister Anita for this great needed course. Training itself was my dream and was cry for. So this online training is very important for everyone to welcome it. Because lacking of good training has given room for chaff pastors with chaff gospel. I believe that, this training will lead us to go back to trace the real truth from the Bible…which I called the old path.
In Ghana, the spreading the gospel is moving but it is questionable. The type of gospel ministers are spreading is the issue. Prosperity gospel and social gospel is moving very fast here. With this, most of the Churches are not spiritual healthy.
False teachings and false preaching are growing in Ghana and this has produced immoral life and bad practices. Now, the biggest need of the Church in my nation is to give pastors, teachers, evangelists, prophets, apostles, reverends, and others better training. Training more leaders with solid information to stop the chaff information. It is very necessary to establish well training theological studies to educate ministers of God to carry their task.
Very sad to see people who claim to be Christians but their lives are very opposite. No wonder, because they are not receiving the Good News. Comparing love within the Church and spread the gospel with others is not moving forward. Practicing the love of Christ should cross boundaries.
Few of pastors, teachers, evangelists, prophets, apostles, bishops, and reverends know Bible. Preaching sound doctrine and live life Christ is where much is expected. Today in our churches, most of the members or people are lazy to learn the Bible. People in Church today are not like those in Berea in Acts 17:11. Because people in the church do not search the Scriptures, they do not know. Live like Christ is not up to standard. Not enough Bible for them.
When it comes to caring for poor in my Church is above average. My Church is not having enough money but caring for the poor is much better. I urge leaders, pastors to show example of caring for the poor. “I am poor and I care for the poor”, should be our motto or slogan when it comes to charity matters.
Prophet Hosea says; the lack of knowledge My people perish. People are lacking Biblical knowledge, and they are afraid to spread the truth gospel message. Though idolatry, occultism, and all kinds of strange beliefs are going on but if majority of Christians are well trained, well educated, having true knowledge of God, and qualified to spread the Gospel, nothing can stop it. Well Training will sharpen the Body of Christ.
Hello brothers and sisters in Christ,
My name is Derek Hume, I live in Australia and God has led me to Renewal Ministries. Anita, thank you for this online training, it is a wonderful resource to help me understand my life in God’s kingdom. Your questions give me much to think about and write about.
The number of people identifying as Christians is declining as a percentage of the population in Australia, however, without any statistical evidence to back my next statement up, I believe as a percentage of the population the number of people who understand and are committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, is increasing.
The Combined Churches of Gympie, a group of 13 Churches of different denominations, work together to support Christian outreach into the town and districts of Gympie. This pro-active group of Pastors gives God the glory in these outreach activities. If this was replicated through-out Australia the Church would be growing in this country.
Outreach, into the community is the biggest need of the Church in our nation. God’s love for us can be seen in so many different ways and in all of those ways there are people hungry for God’s love. Outreach to people who do not experience God’s love in the area they hunger for the most is where Outreach with Christ’s love can fill that need.
In the congregation I am a part of, I see people committed to living like Jesus. These people do not lead perfect lives, however, I see humility, kindness, generosity, goodness, graciousness, selflessness and other fruits of the spirit being lived out at the times that I see and interact with these people. I am not present all the time in their lives and there may be times that greed, selfishness, pride, sexual immorality and corrupted values enter into their behavior, however, I see an honesty among these people that leads me to believe that the fruits of the spirit are ever present in the lives of most of these people.
I believe the people in the congregation I am a part of, love their neighbor’s but do not extend that love to sharing the gospel. The question arises as to whether people who profess to be Christian are selective in their reading and understanding of scripture and the message of the “Great Commission” is not part of living their faith.
Matthew 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
I believe the pastors, teachers, evangelists, apostles, prophets, reverends and bishops (I am guessing at bishops as we don’t have a bishop in our district) have a sound knowledge of scripture. “Sound doctrine” I am unsure of.
Unfortunately, I do not see evidence of our Church congregation in Gympie involved in caring for the poor although on occasions when people in our congregation have needed financial help there has been some help extended. I have not seen this very much.
Speaking Jesus name is the biggest hinderance to the Church expanding in our community. In Australia faith is seen by many as private and not to be spoken about to others. This is a hindrance to spreading the good news we know and understand. I believe in our western culture, people don’t want to be labeled different, to be mocked and ridiculed for their faith, where the fear of rejection is greater than the faithfulness of living and speaking God’s word.
Greetings to you our dear mama Anita and the beloved servants of God around the Globe fellowshipping on this forum! Am Roberts from Uganda. I appreciate the Lord for this learning opportunity. In my introductory comment on this first blog, I have summarized my responses to about six interactive questions out of the twelve provided.
The positive advancement of the gospel in Uganda is exciting! But the bold questions to be asked are: who will shepherd God’s rapidly growing flock? With false teachings and cults mushrooming, who will plant the churches, and teach, lead and care for God’s people? In a country with limited educational resources, where will Uganda’s future pastors receive the training they need? I have a conviction that God’s flock, young and old, deserve godly shepherds who teach the truth of His Word faithfully. Our nation Uganda suffers from poor leadership and needs strong Disciples of Christ who will teach the truth of God’s word and lead the flock by example.
In Uganda, people have a lot of hunger and are very open and receptive to the gospel. But the majority of pastors and leaders have had no opportunity for training. Like many parts of Africa, the negative consequences of a lack of effective discipleship for ministers and pastors has introduced a breed of some ministers whose false doctrine and lifestyle has become a mockery to the gospel in the face of those who should receive it. The rise of several false prophets and the deception of the prosperity gospel in Uganda can be attributed to a lack of proper leadership preparation.
Some years ago, there was this story of a lady who attended a lunch-hour fellowship in Kampala. It was said that at that time, her husband who was abroad, was sending her money to build their matrimonial home. In that fellowship, the weekly preachers would squeeze every last currency out of believers, with assurances of one hundredfold instant miraculous return. Through their coercive preaching and spiritual manipulation, the woman “sowed” all the millions she had received from the husband expecting it to double in one week. It never happened. She went back to the lunch hour fellowship asking them to refund the money, but they could not. Out of fear and panic, it was said that she committed suicide because she did not know how and what to tell her hardworking husband that she had lost the money at the hands of false preachers in a lunch-hour fellowship.
Just recently on the night of 16th March 2020, a devastated young man in Kampala city in Uganda torched three churches. After the arrest the suspect confessed to have torched the churches because of anger arising from the fact that they preach the prosperity gospel yet he is stuck in the misery of poverty. He had been severally coerced to “sow seeds” but never got any returns. He had watched his misery increase while the “pastors” of those churches testified from time to time about their prosperity.
I believe that when people come to Christ, they need to be taught in the true ways of God. This means that the real key to effective discipleship is training pastors and leaders who can then disciple new Christians and those under their care. It is important to equip untrained church leaders in Uganda in order to deepen the church and to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ through healthy churches. In order to match the above need, it requires those leaders who have received proper equipping, and whose hearts the Lord will touch to come alongside these untrained national pastors to help equip them to be more effective in ministry. It is widely accepted that national workers if well trained are especially crucial in outreaching and discipling their communities for Christ.
Dear Sister Anita,
I am so delighted to receive this blog. This for sure are the materials a minister called by God should have. I am getting educated so much and I thank God for you. To serve God one must be knowlegable and this is it. Thank you so much. I have read through and now expect more.
Yours in His service,
The Most Rev. Dr. Edward Abraham Amwayi
Worldwide Anglican Church of Kenya.
Mom Anita I really thank God for you.
Am pastor Ben from africa kenya.The gospel is spreading in my nation including the false gospel also as some people have printed some manuscripts with false information as people don’t have bibles to read by themselves and refer so they believe on whatever they read thus unhealthy church that needs atraining school with tools to equip people with the true gospel.those with powers to help others don’t help as they are selfish they need to be praised to help one may be have a copy of a bible in the local language which they can read and understand .poverty and lack of materials have been a thread to the great commission also lack of knowledge .if we can have training centers around will enlighten our people for sure .do you allow translation of these training to our local language and share with others?
Very much blessed with your revelation from God to have this training.
Any faithful translation and sharing is allowed.
I have nothing ,but to thank GOD for all your kind love and all the preparations for the event to tae place. Wishing you all GODS Blessings in Ministry.
Greeting to you Mama and the team over there,
i am glad that we can have this online, training program , this can enable us to train ourself for ministries and mission for the Lord.
i WANT TO KNOW IF WE CAN COPY THE TRAINING MATERIALS OFF ONLI NE SO THAT OTHER GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE COMPUTER OR PHONE THAT THEY CAN USE FOR ONLINE TRAINING.
But i am very glad
Yes, dear brother, please feel free to copy and share anything here 🙂
Yes, dear brother. You are welcome to copy any of the training materials to share with other groups who do not have computer or phone.
Hello to all. What a wonderful and needed intro. The Church today is plagued by Minister’s who want to invent Christianity instead of following the footsteps of Jesus. Tracing back the truth from the Bible is very necessary.
I remember from Exodus 20:25, Deut 27:5-6, Josh 8:31 (all talking about building an altar with stones not touched by man); Exod 25: 9-40, Num 8:4, Heb 8:8 ( all talking about Moses’ building of the Tabernacle according to God’s design) and 1 Chron 28:1-21 ( David giving instructions on how God wants the Temple to look like). All three aspects as an image of the Church which we are now. Nothing in the Church should be according to man’s desire, tradition or anything carnal. All should be done in line with the leadership of Holy Spirit.
It is so important to know what God has in mind when He instituted His Church, not the empire of any man. The Church is God’s and must have Him as Leader and Master. It is very sad that human traditions have invaded the church today.
That is evident in the difference between the churches and the Bible, the different hunt for titles and attire to attract attention to the minister and not unto God. Jesus, God in the flesh, lived a simple and servant life but when compared to the clergy today, the difference is glaring. The Church has become a market place where everything is sold from anointing oil to anointing water, even to the blood of Jesus and sin washing soap… What a shame.
With the fightings and unholy competition between Minister’s, the Gospel is hindered. Minister’s are more concerned with building buildings instead of building the people, Minister’s live as Kings while the sheep live like beggars. Comparing the early Church and what we have now is like comparing night and day.
It is very necessary for us to go back and see what God’s Church looks like and then compare with what we have. May Holy Spirit touch our hearts and cause us to follow His leadership, these lessons of going back to the Truth to know God’s mind about His Church will bring light and life to the Body of Christ.
Sister Pastor Anita in Christ,
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord bless his servant and may great grace of our Lord continue to rest upon your ministries in Jesus’ name. I have read your blog, and I am happy for the good work that you are doing for Christ and for the powerful and encouraging teachings that you provide, which are very helpful to me, my family, and the Sunday school association Sheikhupura district Punjab Pakistan. May the Lord God bless you and bless your ministry as well.
it is fact I was do not know before about the Jews history, as i am serving Evangelism in Children, So these are very important information to me. the aim of my life is to first learn, and then teach to others, I am delighted with the material in this blog, and hope that many readers will be encouraged and spurred on to bring the Gospel to the people in their neighbourhood.
I was real touched and blessed for what the Lord is doing through you in your ministry. So I was spiritually thrilled to write you, and I am so exciting about your ministry efforts and am keep praying for you and your ministry. I therefore please request your prayers for our sunday schools here in Sheikhupura District Punjab Pakistan, as well as we request for more teachings to us since we are a Junior, growing sunday school association spiritually. Be very much blessed as we pray and hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks for the blot
It is very interesting, a good way of equipment of church leaders .
I am somehow limited to give comments, for sure i am a french speeker from DR Congo but living in RWANDA, specialy in kigali where i am working, a part that i am servent of GOD, in Apostolic Mission Church in Rwanda,
After passing throug the blogs ,the purpuse is returning back to the good fondation,i means JESUS fondation, apostolic teachings, follwing Jesus or apostolic model.
It means training of leaders of churches ,it is very difficult to lead a church without equipment, sometime we are limited,that why this online training is very important for us and welcome.
An issue is that for french speeker servants ,not fluent in english everytime we have to consult the dictionnary to undestand well the blogs.
If possible ,translating of blogs in french will help us to understand well and to be interactive.
thanks
Thank you for the feedback, dear brother. I know someone who may be able to do the translation into French, I will ask them and see if we can get this done for you and the other French speakers.
Very Dear Pastor Anita. Blessings from Pakistan. I m so thankful to God our Lord for this unique, precious, important n wonderful training going to start soon. It is actually burden not research that God has given you n team, a line for the growth n progress of Church going to decline from the past as future is also not so bright.
When I have a glance at church in Pakistan, the condition is alarming. That’s why God Has Selected His Chosen Servents to Unite n pay their role to cure the decline deasise. My prayer n support is with you.
So for the required under standing of Bible, with the soul n spirit of God, Literature, atmosphere, art n cultural sense of The age of Jesus is key which is missing in this age. Thus this training ll be vital n need to the hour. May The Most High grant you wisdom, resources n pure students for the said purpose. Amen. In His Service ,
Pa Zeerick Azeem from Lahore Pakistan
Dear Mama,
Greetings to you in the loving name of Jesus Christ.
I am blessed having read all above said phrases. It is very practical. It is matching to my vision and passion.
I know, I am connected with you with divine purposes. because you are an example in ministry. I have learnt that ministry=sacrifice.
I am from India , I have been observing the churches since 1993 being in the evangelical ministry travelling to every area that, every church require revival, purification and understanding of Biblical truth. Church has much work to lead every member in spiritual relationship.
I have started giving Bibles to many isolated people group who live out of city.
I believe, this teaching is required to every one to get rectified and revived to expand spiritual ministry.
I attended one program and I found one thing, my country had christian population 35% in 1947. But now it has come down to 4%.
every one can understand my statement.
Thanks
yours in His vineyard
Raj
Dear servant of God Anita,
I am so encouraged that you have began a process of revitalizing the Church so that the Church can retrace the missionaries purpose of the Church and take necessary steps to engage meaningfully in the great Kingdom task of disciple making in the nations. The introduction is thought provoking and presents basic problem statement that opens the curtain for an in depth look at if the Church is on course in the gospel endeavors. If the introduction is anything to go by, it looks an ordinary preacher with no basic secondary school education with no reasonable Bible background may struggle to grasp your discourse. I enjoy it and I want to be part of it in any and every way possible. The Church must rise up to the occasion and fulfil the highncall of making disciples in the nations without further excuse before the world makes the Church worldly. God bless you.
Pastor Tom Opiyo
Kenya
Praise the Lord,
This is Pastor Pradeep Kumar, from Vizianagaram , India. Thank you for this online learning course.
And has given opportunity to learn and equip for the Lord’s word.
This Blog has helped to know new things and has given the new insights about the Judaism – The Original plan of God has differ from Traditional pattern of Judaism. And the Original apostolic reformation began from Jewish prophet Yohannan. This is very new thing for me.
And same way, at present Church in our Indian context (as far concerning our place and the things we have seen in our community) of course they are some areas work is growing in number not in sound doctrine, far from the Biblical fundamental by giving Traditional Patterns way of service, teachings, and dressing sense, and sadly few Churches are separated according CASTE. The reasons are many – among lack of Biblical Knowledge, and culturally effected, and personal motives.
Unfortunately Many of the Churches are not having mission minded at present. The mainline Churches and some strong (in number and economically) holding their positions. The relationships had gone astray. So needs Pentecostal touch as in ACTS.
Please explain meaning or differentiation- “Christians & Christian Renewalists.”
would like to know more in days to come.Thank you
“Christian Renewalists” in that book refers to those who you would say have “Pentecostal touch”. “Christians” in those graphs refers to all Christians from all different churches and traditions. I hope that answers your question.
Thank you so much for giving reply. This is very best word for those who touched by the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for including me in this blog.
I expect to return to it again as the explanation of the history is most helpful. I long to be fully conversant of the time frame of the kings and prophets. As God brings history to a close, the eyes of all mankind will be on the nation of Israel and it is important to understand why that is the case. Ĕlōhîm intersects with world history for all to see and wonder at. He does nothing without advising His people. The nature of prophecy verifies the existence of our wondrous God who exists outside of time and space. No other faith exists in this way. No other faith deals with sin, grace, redemption.
From this vantage point of history with Israel again a nation and Jerusalem again a part of it, we are in a unique position to look with awe at our Lord. So many prophecies have been fulfilled that the first century church could not have imagined but that might be in your later blog!
I struggled with all the Hebrew names of the rabbinical laws and wondered at the need to go into quite such detail.
I wondered at ‘renewalists’ (not a term I’m familiar with) and the graphs. I would like explanation of the graphs and their significance.
I’m excited for the next blog. Thank you for your work and for sharing it!
Thank you for your comments dear Deborah. In answer to your questions:
The reason for going into such detail with the rabbinical laws was to begin to build the picture of how incredibly detailed, and confusing, the Jewish laws had become by the time of Christ and how the Pharisees could be accusing Jesus of breaking the Law when He specifically came to fulfil it and did not break any of God’s law.
The term “renewalist” was the one used by the authors of “Spirit and Power: The Growth and Global Impact of Pentecostalism” basically to refer to Pentecostals and Charismatics. The graphs show that this movement within the church has been by far the fastest growing since 1910, and responsible for a lot of the church growth around the world since that time but that growth has been slowing since 2010. We need both sound teaching to ground the new believers and a fresh move of the Holy Spirit to re-invigorate reaching all the people-groups with the gospel.
My comment regarding the effective preaching of the undiluted n uncompressing gospel more preside in my country. Liberia. The gospel that is preached here is what are term as oratorical gospel. The gospel of excitement or itching ears . The church has a huge responsibility to may sure the effective gospel of our Lord and Jesus Christ in preach with out fear or favor. Especially in the rural communities were many pastors who are pastoring local assemblies are not trained to the task. The global church need to return to the original message of a Christ, which is Gospel(The good news) SALVATION n THE LOVE O F CHRIST.
This online training seems to be what I have been seeking for over the years as it is my heartbeat to seeing more pastors been trained to handle the gospel in a way that it will not lead people to eternal domination, therefore in faithfully serve in Christ’s Mission one needs to counts the caused, one should be teachable and willing to forsake all and take up the cross of Jesus and move forward.
As I read through the blog, I could see that there is an actual urgent need for the Church of God to produce sustainable and reproducible training of Church leaders without delay.
As we are expecting unprecedented spiritual growth in our churches, we need to properly trained men and women whom are deserving of see people turn away from their sins and put their total trust in Christ Jesus. In Liberia for example, the false teachings and preachings are so rampant that it is like wildfire that nothing could stopped it rather than to train more leaders to combat it. This is not time to fast and pray about this or conduct mass crusades, it time to train as Jesus took His time to train the twelve disciples and they were able to carry-on the great commission after He them to go back to heaven to His Father.
The biggest need of the Church in my nation is nothing, but well qualified and trained pastors to carry their calling, may be there should well established theological institutions that will train these pastors as almost ninety five percent of these pastors have never had theological education. As even those who claimed to be Christians live, lives which are inline with the gospel of Christ and such the church has become lukewarm.
The biggest hindrances in the church is idolatry, which is been practice through African Tradition and Beliefs.
Praise God!
I am pastor Ben of BETHEL CHRISTIAN CENTER from East Africa Kenya
It has been my prayers for over 12 years now and am now confirmed that what had been praying is coming to be fulfilled ,had been doing this alone , learning and teaching each other in East African countries ,to the republic of Congo and also travelled to USA and done the same with refugees from Congo who were resettled in USA after caring for them here in kenya.I really thank God for you .I am feeling and much convinced that I should not miss this .again I thank God for you am in the front line to March forward together for the great revival and making more disciples .Gods time is the best it has come that God is uniting his people around the world as one people ,one faith , one God one family
Keep in touch and much blessings
Yours In His service
Ben
Am Daniel Male, Amazing Grace of Christ Church, Uganda.
All you’re doing is so great. Thanks for all the Endeavors. For how long is the training in Philipines?
Blessings dear Pastor Daniel Male. We’ll give more info on the training in the Philippines when people are close to finishing the online training.
Am pastor Mark Orige of Born Again ministry church of God from Nairobi Kenya ,I love to attend but the challenge visa and air ticket
You are much welcome to Kenya to do such teaching
May Almighty God bless the work of your hand
Am praying for you and your family and Ministry
Blessings dear Pastor Mark Otieno,
Thank you for your prayers.
You don’t need visa or air ticket to do the online training – read each of the blogs and comment on what God has shown you.
We will be sponsoring the air fares of those who are invited to attend the training in Philippines to equip them to give the training to others in their nation.
For those who do not get to attend in Philippines we will be sending teams from there into each nation to provide the training in your nation.
Yours in His service, Anita