As we go to new countries and new areas, our first step in planting churches is to establish pastor training schools in areas we want to start new churches. We began new pastor training schools with the Teso and Tugen tribes in Kenya as well as in Uganda, Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Zambia, and Malawi.
Most of the schools meet one week per month for two years. The students take one class (such as Systematic Theology) for the entire week. When we begin a new school,
we must purchase mattresses for sleeping, pots and pans for prepar- ing meals, and tables and chairs
for teaching. Then we must give a monthly monetary gift that provides meals and a stipend for the teacher.
Many of our students don’t own a Bi- ble. In our new school with the Teso tribe, only 35 of the 50 students owned Bibles. Asking how they did it, the principal of the school said they share Bibles the week they
are in class. These men are being trained to pastor our new church
plants. So, we need to buy Bibles for each student who needs one.
Each school is attached to a semi- nary (usually in the capital city of the country), so these schools are considered satellite campuses. Our students will receive a diploma ac- credited by the national government, giving our church plants legitimacy.
Pray with us as we prepare men to pastor in new areas where God is leading us. Your church or small group may want to adopt a school to provide the needed operating funds.