By: Christopher J. H. Wright

Publisher: Zondervan

Format: Softcover

RRP: $24.99 (USD)

ISBN-13: 9780310291121

Page Count: 304

Synopsis:

In The Mission of God’s People, part of the Biblical Theology for Life series, author Chris Wright offers a sweeping biblical survey of the holistic mission of the church, providing practical insight for today’s church leaders. Wright gives special emphasis to theological trajectories of the Old Testament that not only illuminate God’s mission but also suggest priorities for Christians engaged in God’s world-changing work.

Description:

Chris Wright’s pioneering 2006 book, The Mission of God, revealed that the typical Christian understanding of “missions” encompasses only a small part of God’s overarching mission for the world. God is relentlessly reclaiming the entire world for himself. In The Mission of God’s People, Wright shows how God’s big-picture plan directs the purpose of God’s people, the church.

Wright emphasizes what the Old Testament teaches Christians about being the people of God. He addresses questions of both ecclesiology and missiology with topics like “called to care for creation,” “called to bless the nations,” “sending and being sent,” and “rejecting false gods.”

As part of the Biblical Theology for Life Series, this book provides pastors, teachers and lay learners with first-rate biblical study while at the same time addressing the practical concerns of contemporary ministry. The Mission of God’s People promises to enliven and refocus the study, teaching, and ministry of those truly committed to joining God’s work in the world.

Series: Hippo

By: Dr. Michael Kyomya

Publisher: Hippo Books / Zondervan

Format: Softcover

RRP: $12.99 (USD)

ISBN-13: 9789966003089

Page Count: 128

Synopsis:

Quoting verses without regard to context can have serious consequences. Dr. Kyomya illustrates what scriptural interpretation is, why it is important, how to do it, and the pitfalls to avoid. Full of ways to enrich your personal study of the Bible, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and instruction you need.

Dr. Michael Kyomya:
Dr. Michael Kyomya is the bishop of the Anglican diocese of Busoga in Uganda. He was previously academic dean at the Nairobi International School of Theology (NIST) in Kenya. In 1995 Michael and his wife, Florence, founded Hesed Ministries, Uganda, which aims to be a catalyst for spiritual renewal and growth in the Anglican Church of Uganda.

Description:

According to Dr. Michael Kyomya, misconceptions about what the Bible actually says can breed confusion and false ideas about God and the Christian life. Therefore, it is critically important that you know how to interpret Scripture carefully.

Dr. Michael Kyomya explains what interpretation is, why it is important, how to do it, and the pitfalls to avoid. He illustrates his points with examples from his own experience and from sermons he has heard in Africa.

Dr. Kyomya makes it clear that interpretation is not just something for scholars, but also is useful when preparing a sermon or a Sunday school lesson, as well as in your own personal study of the Bible. The writing is simple and clear, and the illustrations are both amusing and informative. Full of ways to enrich personal study of the Bible, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and instruction you need.

By: John Stott

Publisher: Inter-Varsity Press

Format: Paperback

RRP: £8.99

ISBN: 9781844744213

Page Count: 144

Description:
So many of us avoid radical discipleship by being selective, choosing rather those areas in which commitment is appealing, and steering well clear of areas where it will be costly.

But because Jesus is Lord, we have no liberty to pick and choose.

John Stott looks at eight characteristics of Christian discipleship, which are commonly neglected yet deserve to be taken seriously.

More Info…

By Jonathan Lamb, international programme director, JSM-Langham Preaching

Rwandan leaders are right at the heart of the preaching training which is now underway in their country. JSM-Langham Preaching held its first event in October 2009, fully supported by a team of pastors and national leaders who are committed to the cause of strengthening biblical teaching in the churches.

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The Promise:

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Collection : Voix Multiculturelles

Auteur : Roland Chia

Éditeur : Editions Farel / Éditions Emmaüs / Langham Partnership

RRP: €12.00 (EUR)

ISBN : 9782863143902

Nombre de pages : 184

Poids : 239 gms

Dimension : 14 x 21 cm

Description détaillée :
Dans cette étude, l’auteur montre comment l’espérance chrétienne dépasse les visions du monde aussi bien laïques que religieuses. Espérer ne nous encourage pas à fuir le présent pour l’avenir, mais… nous permet de faire face au présent. Et que pouvons-nous espérer de l’avenir ? Le retour de Jésus, le ciel, la résurrection des croyants, annoncés dans la Bible… apparaissent parfois comme des réalités bien lointaines. L’auteur s’attache à nous rendre tangibles.

By: Roger Steer

Publisher: Inter-Varsity Press

Format: Hardback

RRP: £12.99 (GBP)

ISBN-10: 1844744043, ISBN-13: 9781844744046

Page Count: 288

Size: 23.6 x 15.6 x 3 cm

Synopsis:
So who is this man, named by Time magazine in 2005 as one of the 100 most influential people in the world?

Roger Steer:
Roger Steer is author of the classic biographies of George Müller and Hudson Taylor. He lives in a 400-year-old cottage in Devon with his wife Sheila.

Description:
His life could have been so different. Born to privilege, John Stott focused instead on service to God and other people. ‘I am going to throw myself body and soul into the struggle for right,’ he wrote to his father as a twenty-year-old. ‘My desire is to see the world a better place, and I will not spare myself’

He didn’t…

He became Rector of All Souls Church, Langham Place, London in 1950 at the age of twenty-nine, and Chaplain to the Queen in 1959. He chaired the National Evangelical Anglican Congress in 1967 and 1977, shaped the Lausanne Covenant, pioneered the London Lectures, and founded both Langham Partnership International and London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. He became known internationally for his writing and preaching, and bird-watching. He led fifty university missions worldwide.

Discover John Stott, the man behind the man, as observed by his friends, former colleagues and biographer.

Series: Hippo

By: Revd. Canon A. C. Chukwuocha

Publisher: Hippo Books / Zondervan

Format: Softcover

RRP: $16.99 (USD)

ISBN: 9966805397, ISBN-13: 9789966805393

Page Count: 144

Weight: 0.445 lb | 201 gms

Size: 6 wide x 9 high x 0.4 deep in. | 152 wide x 229 high x deep 10 mm

Synopsis:
This book is written for Christians who are discouraged because they still endure inner conflict and failure as they try to live the Christian life.

Revd. Canon A. C. Chukwuocha:
Revd. Canon A.C Chukwuocha trained as a surveyor and served as Student National President of the Nigeria Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES). He is now a priest in the Owerri Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

Description:
Those who long to walk close to God are often keenly aware of their shortcomings. This was as true for the apostles as it is for today’s Christian leaders and Christian students. In this book, the author sets out to answer the following questions:

• What lies behind these inner conflicts?
• What are the implications of such conflicts for Christians?
• How does one successfully handle these conflicts?
• How useful is a rational mind to the Holy Spirit?

This book offers deep spiritual insights interlaced with down-to-earth illustrations that make it easily accessible and relevant.

Series: Hippo

By: John Azumah

Publisher: Hippo Books / Zondervan

Format: Softcover

RRP: $14.99 (USD)

ISBN: 9966805028, ISBN-13: 9789966805027

Page Count: 176

Weight: 0.55 lb | 249 gms

Size: 6 wide x 9 high x 0.5 deep in. | 152 wide x 229 high x deep 12 mm

Synopsis:
My Neighbour’s Faith sheds light on the beliefs and teaching of Islam by addressing matters of contemporary importance to Christians and the wider non-Muslim audience.

John Azumah:
John Azumah holds a PhD in Islamics from the University of Birmingham, UK, and is the Director for the Centre of Islamic Studies at the London School of Theology. He has previously served as a Research Fellow with the Akrofi-Christaller Institute in Ghana. Dr. Azumah is the author of The Legacy of Arab-Islam in Africa: A Quest for Inter-Religious Dialogue (Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2001) and has written articles on the subject in various academic journals.

Description:
Nowhere else in the world have both Islam and Christianity been more instrumental in shaping the history of a people and their way of life than in Africa. African Muslims and Christians have a lot in common, including kinship ties, shared languages and citizenship. Yet, despite the centuries of deep historical links and harmonious existence between the two religions, new challenges threaten this harmony. Conflicts involving Christians and Muslims in places like Sudan, Nigeria and Ivory Coast are common. These conflicts are fueled primarily by ignorance, stereotyping and prejudice, which in turn breed fear, suspicion and even hatred, in some cases leading to violence. My Neighbour’s Faith sheds light on the beliefs and teaching of Islam by addressing matters of contemporary importance to Christians and the wider non-Muslim audience. It presents the human face of Islam—the face of a close relative, a neighbour, a teacher and even a head of state—in a balanced and critical way that gives a credible view of Islam.

Series: Hippo

By: Samuel Waje Kunhiyop

Publisher: Hippo Books / Zondervan

Format: Softcover

RRP: $24.99 (USD)

ISBN-13: 9789966805362

Page Count: 416

Weight: 1.22 lb | 552 gms

Size: 6 wide x 9 high x 1.1 deep in. | 152 wide x 229 high x deep 27 mm

Synopsis:
This is an introduction to African Christian Ethics for Christian colleges and Bible schools.

Samuel Waje Kunhiyop:
Samuel Waje Kunhiyop is Head of the Postgraduate School, South African Theological Seminary. He was previously the Provost and Professor of Theology and Ethics at Jos ECWA Theological Seminary (JETS). He holds a BA (JETS), MAET (Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon), and PhD (Trinity International University, Illinois) He is an ordained minister with the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA).

Description:
This is an introduction to African Christian Ethics for Christian colleges and Bible schools. The book is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the theory of ethics, while the second discusses practical issues. The issues are grouped into the following six sections: Socio-Political Issues, Financial Issues, Marriage Issues, Sexual Issues, Medical Issues, and Religious Issues. Each section begins with a brief general introduction, followed by the chapters dealing with specific issues in that area. Each chapter begins with an introduction, discusses traditional African thinking on the issue, presents an analysis of relevant biblical material, and concludes with some recommendations. There are questions at the end of each chapter for discussion or personal reflection, often asking students to reflect on how the discussion in the chapter applies to their ministry situation.

How can the gospel sink deep roots into a country where a generation of Christian writers, thinkers and leaders and their books were wiped out in five short years? JSM-Langham’s partnership with Fount of Wisdom Publishing House (FoW) in Phnom Penh is already providing the rapidly growing Cambodian church with culturally-relevant resources that will help equip leaders and disciple believers.

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Series: Hippo / Africa Bible Commentary Series

By: Samuel Ngewa

Publisher: Hippo Books / Zondervan

Format: Softcover

RRP: $21.99 (USD)

ISBN: 9966805389, ISBN-13: 9789966805386

Page Count: 496

Weight: 1.46 lb | 661 gms

Size: 6 wide x 9 high x 1.3 deep in. | 152 wide x 229 high x deep 33 mm

Synopsis:
The first of the Hippo preaching commentaries, with endnotes on the Greek text and other issues of academic importance.

Samuel Ngewa:
Dr. Samuel Ngewa (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is professor of New Testament Studies at the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST), Kenya. Formerly he was a faculty member of Scott Theological College

Description:
This commentary, like all the Hippo commentaries, is divided into preaching units that contain detailed exposition of the passage as well as contemporary applications. The unit is not intended to be preached as a sermon, but provides material to be drawn on in sermon preparation. Each unit is followed by two or three questions that could be used for a small group or personal study. Academic issues relating to the Greek text and disputes about interpretation are dealt with in the extensive end notes. The book is thus suitable for use as a teaching resource for theological colleges and Bible schools while also being suited to readers who are looking for ways to preach and apply the Scriptures.

September 2009 marked a big milestone for the Literature program. A new warehouse opened in the United Kingdom that has made distribution of evangelical literature worldwide more efficient, more flexible, and more easily available for partner publishers.

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Langham Preaching and Langham Scholars Work Together in North India

by Paul Windsor, Associate Director, Langham Preaching

The Second North India Consultation was held by JSM-Langham Preaching in Noida (New Delhi) from 14-16 September 2009. Alongside the encouragement of being together and making each other aware of the training which is happening, the purpose of the consultation was to explore the ways in which the Preaching Program can be involved in North India in the future.

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by a Langham Preaching facilitator

Earlier this year in Hong Kong, Langham Preaching partnered with two organizations at work in the China region to offer the Level 1 seminar to 45 pastors, both men and women.

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Reflections on the start of Langham Preaching in the Solomon Islands

by Paul Windsor, Associate Director, Langham Preaching

 In its commitment to nurture biblical preaching movements, Langham Preaching often finds itself ‘convening a table’ around which a broad spectrum of the church gathers.

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In Central America the churches are growing fast. Huge mega-churches are not uncommon, and almost everywhere the number of churches is multiplying. Tiny, persecuted Protestantism is a thing of the past, and the churches now represent a powerful presence in Latin American society.

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By Jenny Brown, Langham Preaching Facilitator

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August 2009 saw the fifth year of preaching seminars in Kenya and a further 32 delegates completed their level 3 training. However, to speak merely of the numbers of delegates who completed training doesn’t fully reflect the encouragement in Kenya. Increasingly the momentum of the conferences is continuing throughout the year as preachers’ groups are meeting around the country, and more and more local level 1 trainings are beginning.

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Langham Preaching in Kenya

by Frank Luvanda, Langham Preaching country coordinator for Tanzania

This was my first visit to the Langham Preaching movement in Kenya, and it was a wonderful experience for me.  I have got many positive things to learn from Kenyan Preaching programme. I really confirm that this cross-pollination thing is very important in strengthening our preaching networks in East Africa!

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JSM-Langham Preaching in Peru

In a small campsite in a dry valley two hours from Lima, a group of 75 pastors from Peru gathered for the third JSM-Langham Preaching training event.  Hosted and organised by Desarrollo Cristiano, an agency supporting the work of pastors in Peru, the weeklong seminar concentrated on preaching from the epistles, with a special focus on the challenges of Christian ministry presented in 2 Corinthians.

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Langham Preaching in Colombia

by Igor Amestegui and Cari Crossley, Langham Preaching

Noted for its cocaine trade, conservative politics and mega-churches, Colombia is a vibrant republic in the north west of South America. Although it is a predominantly Roman Catholic country, the Evangelical Protestant Church now represents a sizeable percentage of the population, being some nine to ten percent. As the present Government seems to have a very close connection with the International Charismatic church in Colombia, the influence of the Protestant minority is steadily growing.

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LABC Team, from left to right sitting down: C. René Padilla (General Editor), Rosalee Velloso Ewell (New Testament Editor) and Milton Acosta (Old Testament Editor). Standing: Ian Darke (Project Coordinator) and Gilbert Montero (Assistant to the Project Coordinator).

Please share a little about yourself.
I was born and I grew up in São Paulo, Brazil in the Southeast. My dad is Brazilian, and my mom is from Northern California. She went down to Brazil 40 years ago for a summer missions trip and here we are! We grew up here in São Paulo, and I have one brother. My dad is a prominent evangelical leader and somewhat well known in Brazil for his expository preaching.

After graduating from high school in Brazil, I went to Westmont College in Santa Barbara for a BA in Religious Studies. From there I went to Fuller Seminary and did the MA in Theology. Then from Fuller I went on to do my PhD at Duke in Biblical Ethics and wrote the dissertation on the identity and mission of the people of God. I wish I had known about Langham back then!

In North Carolina I met Sam, my husband. We now have three children and we’ve been in Londrina, Brazil since 2003. We came down to teach at the South American Theological Seminary (SATS). Sam was on the faculty until 2006 and I taught New Testament, Theology and did administrative work at SATS until 2008. We still live in Londrina but now we’re involved in other projects.

How did you get connected to Langham Partnership and the LABC project?
Langham found me at about the same time I found Langham. The project had been a dream of René Padilla, the General Editor, and others, from a long time ago. Somehow my name came up in discussions about it. Though I had heard of Langham before, I got connected through the LABC. It worked out really well because editing and writing are what I like doing most. And to work on a project that has such an incredible vision, goal for ministry and for impact on the church, then it made it even more wonderful to be involved.

What is the greatest joy and the greatest challenge in this kind of work?
The greatest joy is meeting these Christians from around South America and Central America, and learning about how there are similar struggles, similar blessings, and what God is doing in the continent. Brazil tends to be isolated from Spanish-speaking Latin America. This project has really been instrumental in bringing leaders, theologians, and writers together even though they’re not physically in the same space. We have a web site set up where they can exchange thoughts with one another and prayer requests and that’s been really great.

The greatest challenge: You start working on these things and you just want to say “Why can’t Christians just get along?” Sometimes, but thankfully not often, it’s hard to find people who are willing to put their internal politics, seminary politics, or denominational squabbles aside and really think about what kinds of blessings this project can bring to the church in Latin America. We’ve been really fortunate. There are wonderful people working on the LABC. And there’s the financial challenge of raising funds for the project. In North America or Europe there is a tendency for people to think that Latin America is “doing ok” so they’re not as interested in giving to projects focused here. They don’t know, for example, that Brazil is one of the top 5 countries listed for its gross inequality or that Colombia has one of the highest rates of displaced peoples on the planet, and that violence and racism are rampant in Latin American countries and in our churches. I think it’s also hard for people to give because of the turbulent political and economic ties between the US and Latin American countries. Central and South America are a bit too close to home for many in North America. Related to this challenge is the one of raising funds from within Latin America. There’s a lot of money here but there isn’t a history of Christians giving to the church or to any other Christian project. It’s a challenge in Latin America and it’s a challenge with Christians who are connected to Latin America but who live in the States.

What kinds of resources are pastors using now?
It really depends on where they are. A lot of pastors are in urban areas…so those pastors, at least theoretically, have access to seminary libraries, bookstores, etc. For those pastors and leaders in rural areas, frankly I have no idea what they use. Most of the tools are old, dating back to the 50s and 60s, like translated Bible dictionaries from English or German. It varies by denomination but they usually don’t have much and pastors are on their own. A related problem is that some of them have never been encouraged to read or study in the first place. Strong biblical training in general isn’t necessarily valued as a tool for preaching.

In that sense the commentary project will be very useful because it will get people engaged again. Part of why there isn’t much interest is because even the seminary professors have so few tools to work with. You couple that with big publicity campaigns for what are generally pretty bad books and then you’re really out of luck. The prosperity gospel is huge, they have a lot of ads, they own TV stations, etc. For a pastor it’s a challenge to preach the truth because in the neighborhood there might be ten churches and nine of them are preaching prosperity gospel sermons, and that’s where people go because they want to hear that. The guy who’s not preaching that could lose his church just for lack of people. That all adds to the culture of not having many tools.

How will a one-volume Bible commentary impact the level of biblical preaching in Latin America and other Spanish or Portuguese speaking nations?
On its own, it will be a one of a kind tool. There is no such resource that is geared to the different contexts within Latin America and that’s written in a way (we’re being really strict with our writers in this sense) that will also help people fall in love with the Bible again. The idea is to get them to want to read, to study more and to see how that study can be incredibly transformative for their ministries. For example, one of the things is unique in the LABC is that we have three or four guiding questions right at the beginning of the commentaries that readers can use for Bible study, discussion groups, etc. They are meant to make people curious and to read on. Giving pastors and leaders a useful study tool that also encourages them to read more is one of the best features of the LABC and shows how it can most impact biblical preaching in Latin America.

Secondly, it will be very important for it to be used alongside things like the Langham Preaching programme because then you’ll have the best of both worlds. We’ll have the best literature and capable instructors that can explain to those small groups how to use the commentary, how to take their preaching to the next level, and how to develop things using this excellent tool.

How did you identify the contributors? Who are they, in broad terms?
They are evangelicals/protestants from all over the continent and their backgrounds vary a lot. But they are all in agreement with the vision for the commentary and with the Lausanne Covenant, our main theological measuring stick. We’ve worked hard at getting denominational and country representation. We will probably have at least one person from every country. They are all scholars but not all have PhDs (that would be impossible and it wouldn’t be a fair representation of the church) and we’ve also tried to represent all the major seminaries. Men, women, younger people, older people. Even the editors are from different countries.

Please share two or three specific prayer requests for the project.
a)    Timeliness. That people will continue to get their work in by the specified deadlines. We don’t want any delays or extra costs. We’re very aware of the need to get this done within the timeframe we’ve set out.

b)    Health and encouragement for the writers. A number of them have family members or who themselves are suffering from various illnesses. Some have cancer and others have lost loved ones recently. They are really excited and they are working hard but these matters weigh heavily on them. Some are stuck out in the middle of nowhere, and one of the reasons why they like this project so much is because all of the sudden they have people elsewhere praying for them. We pray for our writers every week in general and for specific requests regularly.

c)    Financial support from the US, Europe, but also from within Latin America, where a change in mentality is needed. People aren’t trained to ask people for money and people aren’t used to being asked for money. The prosperity gospel movement has dominated the financial ethos of church giving; and there’s already not much of a tendency to give. There is a lot of suspicion. It’s a big wall. But it’s important to raise more money from within Latin America so there’s a sense of ownership of the project by those in the churches that will benefit so much from the commentary. The LABC board is aware of the importance of that.

The East European Literature Advisory Committee (EELAC), now part of Langham Literature, has been assisting with the nurture and development of indigenous publishing houses in 11 Eastern European countries since the fall of communism. In Serbia we have been partnering with Soteria Publishing since the mid-1990s. Soteria has come a long way since its early days. It now employs four people and has a list of more than 80 key titles behind it. Sales have grown by more than 200% in the last three years alone.

Serbia is perhaps the most difficult country in Eastern Europe for evangelical publishing. Protestants are viewed with suspicion and the law is biased against them. It is commonplace for evangelical churches to have ‘spies’ in the congregation on a Sunday morning, watching for ‘subversive or heretical’ teaching. The Serbian Orthodox church forbids the reading of anything heretical, and this includes anything published by a non-Orthodox publisher. Given the strong and open hostility of the Serbian Orthodox church towards evangelicals, it has been a subject of prayer that Soteria should be protected and its ministry extended amongst Orthodox readers, who need to know what God says through the Bible. Thanks to God, we have seen at least three specific answers to that prayer:

1) CEO of Soteria Dane Vidovic noticed a recurring name on his mail order list that he did not know. The orders were normally for multiple copies of his Bible commentaries and theological resources. He was naturally suspicious that he was being monitored by the authorities. Then he received a phone call from the man asking if he could visit. Dane’s suspicions and fears grew, especially since he has been tracked down to his home phone. A few days later there was a knock at the door and when he opened it he was faced by three fully robed Orthodox priests, looking very official and complete with long black beards. One of them said, ‘I am the one who has been buying your Bible books. My friends and I have found this way of studying the Bible very helpful. Would you help us further by leading us in Bible studies?’ Dane has been doing exactly that. One of those priests was a trainee iconographer, about to devote his life to making icons for Orthodox worship. After a while he said, ‘Now I don’t want to spend my life doing this when the Bible makes it clear we have direct access to God through Christ who is alive.’ He and his friends are now preaching sermons to their congregations, using the commentaries published by Soteria. One of the others has told Dane that people have commented on how his preaching is ‘more real.’ One elderly woman asked him where he had found this new improved way of thinking and was amazed when he replied, ‘from the books of the evangelist Billy Graham.’ Surely God’s Word has an amazing impact when it is faithfully opened up and understood! We pray with renewed vigour that the Gospel of the Bible will be preached in churches of all types in Serbia and God’s kingdom extended by this unforeseen channel.

2) Shortly after the publication of John Stott’s Why I Am A Christian and a commentary on Genesis in the Bible Speaks Today Series, the fax machine at Soteria clicked into action with a completely unexpected letter of request. It came from the Monks of the Serbian Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos in Greece. Mount Athos is on a remote and inaccessible peninsula, populated only by monks in a string of monasteries, shut off from the outside world. The Serbian monks had somehow managed to get hold of these titles. They would normally be regarded as heretical writings by Serbian Orthodox people, but the monks were delighted to hear of new commentaries from Soteria. Indeed, they asked for copies of everything that was available because they found the books were making the Bible exciting!

3) As Soteria’s reputation for high quality and reliability has been established and grown, it has attracted the opposition of many Orthodox church leaders, but it has also attracted the respect of some. One in particular contacted Dane recently to say that he had taken on a new role as a publisher for the Orthodox Church. He has asked Dane if he is willing to mentor him in good title selection. They are now planning a joint publishing project which is a tremendous opportunity for Soteria as it will give this title, as well as others, significant credibility and approval.

Here are some comments about the impact of Why Don’t We Read the Book That Christ Read?:

Letter received from a North African academic:

‘I was invited to teach a course in systematic theology in a Bible school in North Africa. I received your book on the Old Testament during a conference in Malta, and I was so excited about it so I decided to complete reading it in the plane on my way to present the course. I had prepared very well for the course and was ready to share it. When I arrived at the airport, I was told that the course has been already being taught. I was asked to teach another course starting tomorrow. I was totally devastated. How was I going to prepare for another course in such a short time? I had no materials and resources to use in preparation. Then an inspirational idea came to my mind: Why do not have a course based on Dr Kassis’ book? This I did! The outcome of my teaching time was great and very exciting. The chapters on wine, Song of Songs, and violence in the OT were so helpful to my students. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for such a helpful and beneficial book.’

An encounter in the Middle East:

Riad was recently at a conference center where “Mona” (not her real name), a qualified teacher in high school, approached him with her husband, who is a well-known physician. She greeted him warmly and both thanked him for the book. She added:

‘My two brothers are well educated but both had great difficulties accepting the Old Testament. One day we were all together in our summer house and I was reading your book. When my brother knew what I was reading, he commented satirically: “Are you still interested in the Old Testament?” I told him that this book will answer all your questions. You should read it! “No way,” he responded. After the vacation I went back to the city but left the book at the summer house. To my surprise my brother visited me after several weeks to say: “I read the whole book that you left at the summer house. As soon as I started reading it I could not stop. It has really changed my perspective on the Old Testament.”

Mona concluded:

‘I am fascinated with your book and I keep on buying copies from the Bible Society House to give it to my Muslim and Christian friends.’

Riad reports on his book’s impact on seminaries:

‘I am glad to inform you that my book is one of the required readings for Old Testament courses at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary, Beirut and the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Cairo, Egypt. These are the two most strategic seminaries in the region. I am really humbled and grateful to God and Langham Writers Program for making it available for these future leaders as most of them read only Arabic. I was recently teaching an intensive course on biblical wisdom and Arabic proverbs at the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Cairo, Egypt. More than 65 students expressed their desire to have personal copies of my book, not just to read it themselves but to lend it to their friends to read it.

‘I am humbled as I hear comments from many of these students praising how much the book has helped them in their understanding of the Old Testament in a Middle Eastern context. A student commented: “This book is God’s gift to the Middle East. Please do write more books of this kind!”

‘In fact, my book is the only serious book in Arabic on Old Testament issues written by an evangelical. In my heart I have said: Thank you, Lord, for Langham Writers program! I do highly appreciate what you are doing.’

Read more about Riad Kassis and his book, Why Don’t We Read the Book That Christ Read?

Learn more about Langham Literature’s Langham Writers Programme.

These men and women had returned for the level 2 Preaching Programme with wonderful testimonies of God’s enabling during the past year as they had sought to teach faithfully, relevantly and clearly from His Word. Many of them had not only been a part of preachers clubs formed regionally from last year, but had invited others to join with them, passing on the training they had been given.

The participants greatly appreciated the input of Ma’afu Palu and Paul Barker for their gracious and wise teaching and leading — grasping the Bible’s big picture, with a focus on Preaching from the Old Testament.

You can view the 4 min presentation of last year’s level 1 programme “Eager to preach”. We are at present editing some of the wonderful testimonies recorded at this year’s level 2 seminar in Vanuatu. Please contact the LPA office if you would like copies of either of these DVDs to share with others (Eager to preach DVD or Vanuatu 2009 testimonies DVD) [sent to addresses in Australia].

As some of you know, I am married to Elizabeth and we have three boys, Tevita (9), Freddie (4) and Albert born this April. We’ve been here in Sydney four years now, studying for a PhD – thanks to the generosity of Langham Partnership Australia and the Sydney Anglican Diocese.

I praise God that the thesis has now been officially submitted! I am grateful for the insights and encouragements of my supervisors, Dr Brian Rosner of Moore College and Dr Chris Fleming of University of Western Sydney. Awaiting the results can be a nail-biting experience; nevertheless, it feels as if a load has been lifted off my shoulders. In hindsight undergoing a PhD had always been a stepping stone, a means to an end. I believe that I will always be first and foremost a servant of Christ, burdened with love for the Tongans and feel that I can do nothing else but preach and teach them the love of Christ, the love that he had shown me whilst I was still a sinner. Therefore, the PhD had always been a means to qualify myself in worldly terms so that I can not only better equip myself for ministering to the Tongans but also to proclaim the gospel in any possible way that I can, whether it be in preaching or writing (as is Langham’s vision). I am forever grateful for the part that Langham has played in enabling me to reach this point.

Now as my family and I approach the end of our stay here in Sydney we are saddened and encouraged at the same time. Saddened to leave behind true friends, but encouraged that we will be putting into good use the newly acquired knowledge that we have gained here in Sydney.

At times it can be daunting to not be so sure of where we will be posted upon our return to Tonga but at the same time it is comforting to know that God is sovereign and He is in control of our future and wherever we will be placed he will use us to further his Kingdom. As an ordained minister of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, I will be told what the Bishop wants me to do in June this year, during the Annual Synod of the Methodist church.

Before we came to Sydney for the PhD, we worked in the Tongan Methodist Church Bible College for four years. That was quite a tough experience for us. A lot of opposition was encountered simply for teaching students that the Bible is true and that Jesus is still relevant for us today. However, with the PhD, we hope that things will be somewhat better for us. There are only three other ministers with PhDs in the Methodist Church of Tonga at the time being – all of whom occupy positions of leadership in the church. We don’t expect a position of leadership in the more immediate future but must be ready to convince our church leaders of our progress in the faith. Please pray that we will trust in God’s sovereignty at all times especially when things are tough for us.

Paul and Barby Windsor

Paul Windsor, for over 10 years the Principal of Carey Baptist College in New Zealand, has joined the global team of Langham Partnership International.

At a service in Auckland on Sunday April 19, Paul Windsor was commissioned for his new work as Associate Director of Langham Preaching. Sharing responsibility for the development of the global programme, Paul will take a special interest in the development of training initiatives in Asia and the Pacific. Langham Preaching, one of three international programmes of LPI founded by John Stott, works with national leaders in over 50 countries to nurture indigenous preaching movements for pastors and lay preachers all around the world.

Paul and his wife Barby were brought up in India, children of missionary families with a long history of service in the sub-continent.  Paul pursued an MDiv at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in the USA, and is presently completing his DMin with the Australian College of Theology.  First serving as a pastor in Invercargill, New Zealand, Paul subsequently joined the teaching staff at the Bible College of New Zealand, where he taught Preaching to degree level as well as modules at Masters level. In 1998 he was appointed Principal of Carey Baptist College, during which time he has also taught at the University of Auckland, the Baptist Theological College of Western Australia (where he taught an MA module on Contemporary Biblical Preaching), and at the Bible College of Victoria, teaching the theory and practice of Expository Preaching as an MA/DMin module.

Paul Windsor at Marsden Cross, New Zealand

He is widely respected as a preacher and teacher, not only through his regular work with local churches but also at pastors conferences in Africa, Bible Conventions at Katoomba and Belgrave Heights in Australia, Preachers conferences and mission events. His wide mission interests are reflected in his involvement with many agencies, including Interserve, the Evangelical Fellowship of New Zealand (Vision Network New Zealand), the Asia Theological Association, and the Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship (IFES). But his real love is helping others in the work of preaching – something he has done both in the academic environment and amongst pastors and lay preachers in local churches.  Barby and their five children share Paul’s warm enthusiasm for this new opportunity of service around the world.

In a message of greeting read at the commissioning service, John Stott (founder), and Chris Wright (International Director) stated: ‘We are delighted that Paul will bring his exceptional gifts, experience and humble wisdom into the senior programme team.  It has been a particular encouragement to see the way in which Langham Preaching has grown, impacting so many countries in each of the continents of the world. It is a joy to hear reports of the warm response from so many pastors and lay preachers, often in places where the work of ministry is very tough and sometimes dangerous, and where resources and training facilities are almost non-existent.  Since the programme has been growing so fast under God’s clear blessing, it is a strategic moment for Paul to come alongside Jonathan Lamb to share the responsibilities of leadership. We are so grateful to God for Paul’s commitments to Biblical preaching, to the training of a new generation, and to the call to serve the churches in the Majority World. This mixture of vision, gifts and calling, already proven in New Zealand, will strengthen the work of Langham Preaching in the wider international arena.’

Pastors receive copies of the ABC from Flying Mission. (Read more on the Flying Mission web site)

Margaret Russell, volunteer with Flying Mission, writes, ‘We at Flying Mission were delighted that [Langham Literature] was able to supply us with ABCs. We have gradually presented them to pastors…we never forgot about the huge contribution you made to the lives of pastors (and congregations)…The pastors are from a variety of denominations, but all passionate about preaching and discipleship! So a HUGE thank you to you all for all that you have made possible in Zambia and Botswana!’

Flying Mission reports that after one presentation of the ABC, one pastor, visibly moved, said, ‘Thank you so much! I’m thinking of John 13:1, and I’m feeling the extent of God’s love for me!’ Another pastor added, ‘Thanks to the Lord for his provision for me. I’m looking forward to researching the teaching on prayer!’

Langham Literature is thankful to partner with such ministries as Flying Mission to maximize the efforts to equp grassroots Bible teachers with much needed Christian resources. For more information on how you can support the Langham Literature program, visit http://www.langhampartnership.org/get-involved.

Josephine was fascinated by the problems faced by the Boni women of Kenya, whose society had swung from matriarchal to patriarchal in one generation. Emily had been a witness of the riots in Kenya in 2008. Lubungu had witnessed the devastation wrought by conflict in the Great Lakes region. David had dealt with grief as a theoretical construct, and then had to face it in his own family. Others were wrestling with issues affecting the young: How does the church help teenagers enter adulthood if it forbids traditional initiation? Should Christian parents ask a bride price, and should their children pay it? Still others were dealing with academic problems: What is the relationship between Christianity and politics in Africa? How does the Christian understanding of God relate to the traditional African understandings of who he is?

Participants of the Langham Literature Writers Workshop in Kenya, January 2009

These issues, and others like them, were close to the hearts of the fifteen academics from Kenya, South Africa, Congo, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Ethiopia who met for a writer’s workshop sponsored by Langham Partnership International (LPI) and the Overseas Council at the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology in January this year.

LPI and the Overseas Council recognized the needs of these and other Christian writers and students and combined forces to offer a writers’ workshop in Africa. Interest was high, but the numbers were kept down to ensure maximum effectiveness. The writers met at the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology in January this year. Each of the fifteen was under pressure to write, for they had signed a contract committing themselves to produce a book in two years.

Pieter Kwant and Isobel Stevenson of LPI helped the writers to sharpen their focus with questions like, Who are writing for? What do you want to tell them?  How are you going to catch their attention? (and, not least, How are you going to catch a publisher’s attention?). Tim Stafford, the author of more than 20 books and the vice-chair of the board for John Stott Ministries (U.S. office of LPI), discussed the practical details of living as a writer – and stressed the need to spend time at one’s desk, writing! Accordingly several hours each day were set aside for sitting and writing. Then the participants had to expose what they had written to their small groups for critique and encouragement. Some of these groups will continue to meet via the Internet until their books are finished.

The result? By the end of the week most of the participants had honed their ideas, produced an outline of the contents of their books, and drafted and redrafted their introductions. Now we can look forward to seeing their textbooks for seminaries, their manuals for pastors, their guidance for ordinary Christians. By training these authors, LPI is helping to magnify their effectiveness as pastors and teachers, and is giving them access to a far wider readership than they could have reached before.

They came from 20 different denominations, and travelled from 13 different regions.  In February, over 150 pastors took part in the ongoing training work of Langham Preaching – called LP-MVIMUTA (a network of expository preachers clubs in Tanzania).  It’s been growing for the past five years, and now there are many hundreds of pastors involved, many preachers’ clubs, and an expanding vision to reach the towns and villages across this vast country.

‘I wish I had known this many years before’

The two training events were held in Mwanza and Mbeya, deliberately targeting groups of pastors in regions which have previously been unreached by the LP-MVIMUTA programme.  Rev Samuel Makocebe spoke for many when he said: ‘I have worked with the Church for more than 18 years, but I have never seen such direct Bible-centred preaching methods and content. I wish I had known this many years before. I am now well equipped to handle the Bible properly.’

Explaining the impact of the programme as it reaches across the churches, country coordinator Frank Luvanda has sent this encouraging report:

‘By God’s grace we managed to have pastors from 20 denominations. It is continuing to help us by building a new generation of preachers and teachers who are not pre-occupied by their denominational backgrounds. This year, the training team included Julius Twongyeirwe, LP country coordinator in Uganda. As well as giving basic training in preaching, he addressed many difficult issues that face the Church in East Africa, such as misunderstanding between church leaders and between Christians of different denominations. Through his training, many church ministers understood their mistakes in ministry and told Frank that “Mchungaji Julius ametusaidia na kutufungua pale tulipokuwa tunakosea katika kuhubiri” (Pastor Julius has helped and opened our mind to know where we were making mistakes in preaching). Here in Tanzania we value so much this cross-pollination in our Preaching Movement.’

A further encouragement was the use of the Tanzanian team as main facilitators. Frank served the seminar programme in Mwanza in the north, the second time he has helped as a local facilitator in the national preaching movement, and Elkana Gonda helped in Mbeya, each working alongside fellow trainers Rodney Wood and Tony Swanson.

Growing preachers clubs

Tanzania has also re-structured the preaching clubs, retaining the five zones established in 2006 and establishing two new zones for local preaching movements, making the ministry of LP-MVIMUTA more effective. ‘We appointed new local representatives for five zones and we will keep on looking to identify other potential local leaders. We also appointed a convenor for each preachers club. God has helped us much in Tanzania because preachers clubs are flourishing and continue to multiply. We continue to encourage preachers clubs all over Tanzania. At the moment we have 42 clubs scattered across the country, but this is not enough. We are not aiming at increasing the number only, but we also aim at having active and effective preachers clubs. We look forward to having more local preaching movements all over Tanzania mainland at our own cost. When we have completed level one, we will then conduct a local level 2 preaching movement. This will help in reducing the costs of running national seminars for level 2.’

Spreading the news

‘To expand the work we plan to invite all bishops and other church leaders in their respective areas to introduce them the ministry of LP-MVIMUTA and its importance for the well being of the Church. We plan to meet church leaders in Morogoro, Mwanza, Mbeya, Kigoma, Arusha and Kagera.  We also look forward to introducing the ministry of LP-MVIMUTA in various theological colleges and Bible schools so that the training methods and values should be incorporated amongst in the curriculum, much as it is conducted at Morogoro Bible College. Knowing the importance of emerging leaders in secondary school and University colleges, we look forward to inviting young Christian leaders to attend LP-MVIMUTA preaching movements, so that they may be able to preach faithfully according to the Bible. This would be a special LP-MVIMUTA local preaching movement for leaders and preachers of students’ Christian associations.’

‘I am working hard in building a strong committed local team. I thank God that we have now managed to build a strong team of 14 local leaders, and we have already spotted a few other promising local leaders. Our aim is to do what Jethro advised Moses in Exodus 18:13-26.

Nurturing local support

‘It is true that most church ministers in rural Tanzania live below 1 dollar a day. The current global economic crisis has contributed much to economic instability for many church ministers in the country. Despite all these challenges we have determined to raise the local contribution. If we start early in the year we can then find ourselves with something to bring to LP-MVIMUTA national at the end of the year. Most Tanzanian church ministers serve the Lord as Paul did, with a ‘tent-making theology’, since the majority are under-paid in their normal work. But most Tanzanian church ministers have no additional skills, so we look forward to run life skills to help church ministers create small projects of their own.

‘In order to make the ministry become sustainable, we are developing ‘Friends of MVIMUTA’, who will be able to provide what they have for the ministry in the country. ‘Friends of MVIMUTA’ will help various churches to set a day for MVIMUTA, when there would be an extra collection for the work.’

Please pray for Frank and his team, for the growing network of preachers, and for effective preaching and teaching to shape the churches and communities of Tanzania.

They came from 20 different denominations, and travelled from 13 different regions.  In February, over 150 pastors took part in the ongoing training work of Langham Preaching – called LP-MVIMUTA (a network of expository preachers clubs in Tanzania).  It’s been growing for the past five years, and now there are many hundreds of pastors involved, many preachers’ clubs, and an expanding vision to reach the towns and villages across this vast country.

‘I wish I had known this many years before’
The two training events were held in Mwanza and Mbeya, deliberately targeting groups of pastors in regions which have previously been unreached by the LP-MVIMUTA programme.  Rev Samuel Makocebe spoke for many when he said: ‘I have worked with the Church for more than 18 years, but I have never seen such direct Bible-centred preaching methods and content. I wish I had known this many years before. I am now well equipped to handle the Bible properly.’

Explaining the impact of the programme as it reaches across the churches, country coordinator Frank Luvanda has sent this encouraging report:

‘By God’s grace we managed to have pastors from 20 denominations. It is continuing to help us by building a new generation of preachers and teachers who are not pre-occupied by their denominational backgrounds. This year, the training team included Julius Twongyeirwe, LP country coordinator in Uganda. As well as giving basic training in preaching, he addressed many difficult issues that face the Church in East Africa, such as misunderstanding between church leaders and between Christians of different denominations. Through his training, many church ministers understood their mistakes in ministry and told Frank that “Mchungaji Julius ametusaidia na kutufungua pale tulipokuwa tunakosea katika kuhubiri” (Pastor Julius has helped and opened our mind to know where we were making mistakes in preaching). Here in Tanzania we value so much this cross-pollination in our Preaching Movement.’

A further encouragement was the use of the Tanzanian team as main facilitators. Frank served the seminar programme in Mwanza in the north, the second time he has helped as a local facilitator in the national preaching movement, and Elkana Gonda helped in Mbeya, each working alongside fellow trainers Rodney Wood and Tony Swanson.

Growing preachers clubs
Tanzania has also re-structured the preaching clubs, retaining the five zones established in 2006 and establishing two new zones for local preaching movements, making the ministry of LP-MVIMUTA more effective. ‘We appointed new local representatives for five zones and we will keep on looking to identify other potential local leaders. We also appointed a convenor for each preachers club. God has helped us much in Tanzania because preachers clubs are flourishing and continue to multiply. We continue to encourage preachers clubs all over Tanzania. At the moment we have 42 clubs scattered across the country, but this is not enough. We are not aiming at increasing the number only, but we also aim at having active and effective preachers clubs. We look forward to having more local preaching movements all over Tanzania mainland at our own cost. When we have completed level one, we will then conduct a local level 2 preaching movement. This will help in reducing the costs of running national seminars for level 2.’

Spreading the news
‘To expand the work we plan to invite all bishops and other church leaders in their respective areas to introduce them the ministry of LP-MVIMUTA and its importance for the well being of the Church. We plan to meet church leaders in Morogoro, Mwanza, Mbeya, Kigoma, Arusha and Kagera.  We also look forward to introducing the ministry of LP-MVIMUTA in various theological colleges and Bible schools so that the training methods and values should be incorporated amongst in the curriculum, much as it is conducted at Morogoro Bible College. Knowing the importance of emerging leaders in secondary school and University colleges, we look forward to inviting young Christian leaders to attend LP-MVIMUTA preaching movements, so that they may be able to preach faithfully according to the Bible. This would be a special LP-MVIMUTA local preaching movement for leaders and preachers of students’ Christian associations.’

‘I am working hard in building a strong committed local team. I thank God that we have now managed to build a strong team of 14 local leaders, and we have already spotted a few other promising local leaders. Our aim is to do what Jethro advised Moses in Exodus 18:13-26.

Nurturing local support
‘It is true that most church ministers in rural Tanzania live below 1 dollar a day. The current global economic crisis has contributed much to economic instability for many church ministers in the country. Despite all these challenges we have determined to raise the local contribution. If we start early in the year we can then find ourselves with something to bring to LP-MVIMUTA national at the end of the year. Most Tanzanian church ministers serve the Lord as Paul did, with a ‘tent-making theology’, since the majority are under-paid in their normal work. But most Tanzanian church ministers have no additional skills, so we look forward to run life skills to help church ministers create small projects of their own.

‘In order to make the ministry become sustainable, we are developing ‘Friends of MVIMUTA’, who will be able to provide what they have for the ministry in the country. ‘Friends of MVIMUTA’ will help various churches to set a day for MVIMUTA, when there would be an extra collection for the work.’

Please pray for Frank and his team, for the growing network of preachers, and for effective preaching and teaching to shape the churches and communities of Tanzania.

Last fall, I spent a significant amount of time in Latin America. For most of this time, I was part of a teaching team, working under the umbrella of the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE) and its Latin American partner AETAL (Associação Evangélica de Educação Teológica na América Latina). ICETE offers a series of weeklong professional training seminars for academic deans. It has been my experience that many of those who are asked to give leadership to Bible schools and seminaries have minimal practical experience or training in areas of academic administration.

I was working with Dr. Fritz Deininger, the former dean of the Bangkok Bible College and Seminary, Dr. Pablo Sywulka, the former director of the Seminário Teológico Centro-Americano in Guatemala and Dr. Orbelina Equizabel, now a professor at Biola University, but the former academic dean at SETECA. We met from November 10-13 in João Pessoa, the most easterly point in Brazil with just over 20 leaders from 12 different training institutions, and then from November 17-21 at SETECA in Guatemala with another 22 people for 13 training institutions Almost all of the participants were academic deans, though we also had several school directors. We looked at the nature of a dean’s role, focusing specifically on issues of administrating, time-usage, and team-development. We also spent time examining the personal qualities needed for this position. The plan is to hold these training workshops over a period of three years. In 2009 we will look at the role of the dean in curriculum development and in creating a learning community. In 2010, we will then look at the role of the dean in human resource development, i.e. knowing how to select, encourage, manage and train both teachers and staff. It struck me that this was time well spent, and I’m wondering the extent to which these professional training workshops could serve many of our former Langham scholars.

LPRC FOR SPANISH-SPEAKING LATIN AMERICA – QUITO, ECUADOR (15-17 November 2009)
In between the two academic dean’s training workshops, I enjoyed being able to be a part of this gathering of key people (under the joint leadership of Milton Acosta and Ruth Padilla De Borst) who enthusiastically share their time and wisdom to help Langham be more effective in what it tries to do at the Langham Partnership Regional Council. Representatives came from all corners of the continent, from Mexico to Argentina, and built upon the work of previous meetings. Although my greatest joy was simply to be with some incredibly good people, I was also encouraged by enthusiastic reports on the many Langham-related ministries going on throughout the region. One of those includes the speedy development of a Latin American Bible Commentary.

Langham Partnership Regional Council attendees in Quito, Ecuador

When people mention partnership with the Majority World, they most often think of this in light of the West providing funding for programs happening overseas. Langham Partnership International believes that true partnership is a two-way street and while the West may provide funding, the West should also receive the benefits that come from the Majority World.

This was very evident in the Langham Partnership International Regional Council meeting for Latin America held in Quito, Ecuador, this past November. The gathering brought 14 top Latin American leaders together to share how JSM is working in their countries and discuss how JSM can be of the most help in the future. Jorge Atiencia, from Colombia, said it best when he described the relationship between JSM and Latin America as “como anillo al dedo,” which means “like a ring fits on a finger.”

The most moving aspect of this gathering was when these 14 Latin American leaders gathered around the leadership of LPI to pray for the organization. This was truly inspiring. While LPI received wonderful encouragement and information, there were also offers to help with fundraising, as these leaders wanted to provide introductions to individuals and churches who they believe have an interest in the work of LPI.

LPRC participants Marcelo Vargas, Igor Amestegui, Carlos Pinto, and Nelsa Zolezzi

This council gathered at the Nazarene Seminary in Quito from November  15-17, 2008, with the following members present: Langham Scholar Daniel Salinas-Paraguay; Nelsa Zolezzi-Peru; Miguel Rivas-El Salvador; Igor Amestegui-Bolivia; David Bahena-Mexico; Langham Scholar Victor Morales-Mexico; Jorge Atiencia-Colombia; Carlos Pinto-Peru, (living in Ecuador); Humberto Fernando Bullon-Costa Rica; Langham Scholar Marcelo Vargas-Bolivia; Willfredo Weigandt-Argentina; Sadrac Meza-Costa Rica; Milton Acosta-teaches at seminary in Colombia; Ruth Padilla de Boorst-CRC World Mission on loan to FTLA, IFES Costa Rica and Ian Darke-with Letra Viva in Costa Rica.  The program directors for Langham Partnership International were also present along with several LPI staff members.

While there was much to discuss regarding the implementation and expansion of the preaching program, the beginning of the Latin America Bible Commentary project, Literature distribution, scholar selection and the Fellowship of Langham Scholars, the highlights were the reports from each country to update the work of Langham.   The following is a synopsis of these reports.

Langham Partnership Regional Council as they work through projects

Colombia
Milton Accosta reported that they would like to see younger students learn English and prepare for their PhDs.  They do have a few students in sight. On the Langham Literature program, Pieter Kwant reported that he was recently in Colombia and has set up the literature program in Colombia with CLC. Langham Preaching escuelitas are doing very well with the growth and lessons learned presented and discussed later.

Mexico
David Ruiz reported that There are several Langham Scholars in Mexico, but the Literature and Preaching programs still need to get underway.  There is hope to see the preaching program set up as entry program for all of the other Langham programs in Mexico. Pieter Kwant and Ian Darke will look into some options for the literature program.

Fernando Bullon reviews the Langham Literature catalog

Costa Rica
Fernando Bullon reported that there are two people supported as scholars, but that we have not promoted the program as we should. We need more coordination with seminaries.  The preaching program has some good possibilities to launch before too long.

Brazil
Daniel Santos reported that the scholars program has seen four scholars (Rodrico de Sousa, Hebert Campos, Daniel Santos, Cesar Lopez) working together at the same place with 40,000 students at the University in Sao Paulo. The idea of working together is very helpful. Perhaps we can be of help in future with preaching seminars. Chris Wright is putting plans in place for Langham Regional Council for the Portuguese world and it would be helpful to have Brazil represented. Langham Literature is beginning work on a commentary that includes authors from the whole of Latin America.  Brazil will be taking part in this project.

Bolivia

LPRC attendees Daniel Santos and Ken Perez

Marcelo Vargas reported that five years of preaching seminar have impacted church. Each year we have distributed two books to each attendee. On the scholars program, Marcelo is almost at point of finishing a doctorate and thinks he is the only Bolivian who has done this. There are a couple of candidates close to being granted scholarship.  Igor Amestegui reported that a group of preachers have been formed in La Paz and they meet each month. They have been given study books and to use as they prepare their sermons. We have started escuelitas in Cochabamba and several churches have started their own versions of the escuelitas. One of these is in a prison ministry. We have also started groups with university students as well.

Ecuador

Carlos Pinto reported that he sees ISEDET as an ideal place for Latin Americans to study and that this is a helpful example for  Ecuadorians. He encourage Langham to continue to pursue other locations in Latin America for doctoral studies, as language and family are an issue for many potential scholars. ISEDET opens its doors to Cuba as well.  In the literature he would like to see an Ecuadorian group embrace the program as CLC works through Colombia. The first preaching seminar will be offered next week.  We hope to expand to three locations in coming years.

LPRC participant Nelsa Zolezzi

Argentina
Willfredo Weigandt reported that there are three students studying at ISEDET in Buenos Aires.  One is Argentian, one Chilean and one Peruvian.  The preaching program has been growing since 2002 when John Stott came there, andthere has since been at least one workshop every year and two workshops in the last  two years.  In each of these workshops, we give away two books through Certeza or Editiones Kairos. The strength of the workshops on preaching is in being able to serve the pastors in the interior of Argentina. When John Stott came, there were 15 participants, but in the interior of Argentina we never have less than 60.  This is because of the surplus of resources in Buenos Aires, in contrast to the interior. Pentecostal and neo-Pentecostal, Baptist, and Nazarene participants are growing.

Peru
Nelsa Zolezzi reported that there are two Langham Scholars in Peru including the one currently studying at ISEDET.  Dario Lopez has graduated and is about to have his 10th book published and is invited to speak in many places. We have worked very hard so that the literature ministry could be born. Langham came at a crucial moment. Forty percent of seminaries are in the interior of Peru, and we have been able to provide good literature.  In the preaching program, approximately 100 pastors have participated in the Level 1 program, representing most the denominations and cities. We are seeking ways to help this program become an annual event. Currently there are 200 pastors in small groups (escuelitas) and each group has a tutor to motivate and guide them.  They meet at least monthly.  Other conferences have been held in between annual Langham Preaching seminar.  There are two pastors very committed to the program, they teach in different seminaries and provide direction and travel in interior. There are also several testimonies of well-prepared pastors, for example: one pastor mentioned he must ask Lord for forgiveness for the number of times he has gone into the pulpit without proper preparation, and now he gives 1-2 days retreat to prepare.

El Salvador
Miguel Rivas reported that the preaching program was born when Chris Wright came to El Salvador with approximately 150 participants and the idea of the ministry was developed from there. Escuelas de Expositorios Biblicas have been formed.  These were inspired by Colombia but contextualized for El Salvador. Every module lasts for three months. Modules are: 1) How to Understand Bible, 2) Hermeneutics, 3) Exegesis and the Practice of Exegesis [using the book, Word of God for the People of God]—also Textual Criticism, 4) Homiletics, 5) Liturgy.  So far 22 have graduated and 30 are in the process.  In the literature program, we are working with five editorial houses including Certeza, Kairos, and a Catholic house. We have distributed all the books of John Stott.  One popular pastor said that he had been too busy to do what we taught, but after the seminar he began to prepare his sermons in an expository way. His congregation then asked him to tape his sermons. Now he is a tutor for the program.

Langham Preaching "escuelita" participants prepare an outline in class in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

What educational support would you want if you had to preach your first sermon?
For most of us, formal preaching training prior to a first sermon is expected. But for some
young leaders in Majority World countries, that training is unavailable or too expensive.
So when young church leader Miroslava Riffarrachi of Cochabamba, Bolivia, prepared to
preach to a congregation for the first time on Dec. 6, 2008, the training supported by JSM
was invaluable. In preparation, Miroslava had been studying a book on Bible exposition
she received during JSM-Langham preaching training (known as an “escuelita”) for young
leaders six months ago. And now the time had approached for her to put her training into
practice.

Miroslava came to the preaching seminar in La Paz along with her mentor and several
other members of her preacher’s school to better prepare herself for this opportunity. “I have
two passages I am working on,” said Miroslava. “An Old Testament prophetic passage and
one from the New Testament. This is why I was attracted to the workshop this week.” This
seminar focused on preaching from Jeremiah, enabling Miroslava to create several sermon
outlines that were reviewed by her small group and then by the workshop attendees.

“I am very grateful for people who support JSM and make it possible for people like us
who want to share the Word well, as it comes from God. This workshop helps us to study
it and to work on it, and encourages us to think that it is not impossible,” Miroslava says.

Miroslava Riffarachi at one of her first public preaching events following her training with Langham Preaching.

On December 6, 2008 Miroslava preached her first sermon. She preached on the text from Mark 8:31-38. To all of those praying for her she says, “Thank you for your prayers, I have felt so blessed the day of the preaching and they asked me return, preaching my biblical text again on December 28.”

Here is the full interview with Miroslava as she attending the Langham Preaching Seminiar in La Paz, Bolivia.

Interview with Miroslava Riffarachi
Nov 13, 2008
La Paz, Bolivia

DH: First can you tell me your name and where you are from?

MR: My name is Mirslava Riffarachi and I am from Cochabamba Bolivia. I am in La Paz to study from Chris Wright at the Langham Preaching seminar.

DH: What do you do in Cochabamba?

MR: I study business administration and I am working for Food for the Hungry at the moment in the area of child sponsorship.

Langham Preaching students with Chris Wright in Cochabamba, Bolivia

DH: What made you want to come to this seminar?

MR: I am part of the preaching school in Cochabamba, and they encouraged us to come to the seminar to learn about studying prophetic books. I have been in the preaching school for six months, and at the beginning of December, I will be giving my first sermon. I’ve chosen a prophetic passage, and I see now that it’s a bit difficult, but it helps me for the following ones.

DH: Tell me a bit about the escuelitas. How many people are involved and how often do you meet?

MR: OK, the school started with 15-17 people and all young people cause it’s a young peoples group. There are 10 that are going on with it. We are from different churches and institutions. We are learning together, and the majority are university students, with some of us graduating already. Each one is working with either with the young people in their church or in young peoples’ ministry.

DH: When you preach, will it be to the young people in your church, or the whole church, or is there another group that you preach to?

MR: Most of them are young peoples’ leaders, and they preach in the young peoples’ groups. Some of them are invited by other youth ministries. One of them has already preached in a Sunday service. And the rest are being considered by our pastors to preach to the entire congregation at some point. After my first one in December.

DH: When will you be preaching your first sermon?

MR: Dec 6. The preaching club meets every Saturday early at 7:00 a.m.

DH: Do you then talk about what you will be preaching on and help each other?

MR: Until last Saturday, we have been going through the book, The Seven Steps to a Good Bible Exposition. From now until the 6th of December, we are preparing a sermon based on what we have learned from the book and from this seminar.

DH: Will you be preparing your Bible passage on the prophetic verse you will be preaching on?

MR: But I have two passages. An old prophetic passage and a New Testament one. This is why I was attracted to the workshop this week. I am not going leave the prophetic passage and will continue to work on it, but I will be using New Testament passage for my exposition. Then I will finish the other one.

DH: When you leave here, will you share what you have learned with your escuelitas?

MR: Clara [of course]. I am taking recordings for those who are working and could not be here. Then we will have a mutual experience.

DH: What would you like to say to the Langham supporters?

MR: I am very grateful for people like you who make it possible for people like us who want to share the Word well, as it comes from God. It helps us to study it, to work on it and encourages us to think that it is not impossible. Thank you very much!

DH: How can we pray for you?

MR: I would like for you to pray for me that God is in my life so that I when I come to the Word, I am able to share with people what God puts in my heart. It’s easy to share what’s happening to someone, what God’s done in your life. But it’s more difficult when you are doing an exposition from the Bible and what it actually says.

DH: How can we pray for the youth of Cochabamba?

MR: Pray that the heart of the young people really seek God and that they look at the Word. Because, our youth are like the youth in all the world, in that they only look at superficial things and they should seek the Word, and not just what it seems to be or what they feel. That is so common in our postmodern age. Pray that they do not push that aside because that is what young people are doing. Pray that the Word should be their foundation.

For more information on how to support Langham Preaching, visit LPI’s Get Involved section.

Langham Scholar Yuzo Adhinarta Preaches on the Holy Spirit in Indonesia

What does a Langham scholar do over summer break? But many scholars take advantage of field research grants from John Stott Ministries so they can return home, help the local church, and find that they are also able to stay connected with their home regions while at the same time enriching their studies. JSM Vice President Dave Hoffman, in a recent interview, found out that is exactly what Langham scholar Yuzo Adhinarta did last summer as he returned to Indonesia.

Yuzo has been featured in JSM’s Winter 2009 In the Gap.

Dave: You were in Indonesia for how long?

Yuzo: Two months or so, but I went to Australia for 12 days.

Dave: In your report you said you made 56 different presentations – is that right and if so tell me a bit about them.

Yuzo: I delivered 19 preaching sermons and I also did 39 teaching sessions including seminars, public lectures and then a course that I taught in my seminary in Jakarta. At the Reformed Evangelical Seminary at Indonesia. It was kind of a summer course, we call it “Intensive Course” because it’s summer all the time in Indonesia, and we don’t really have summer so we just call it “Intensive Course” because it’s all packed in seven days. The course was on the History of Theology.

Dave: In the teaching seminars you did, can you explain what a typical seminar would be like?

Langham Scholar Yuzo Adhinarta Preaches in Indonesia

Yuzo: Well, this year I picked the topic about the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The theme of the seminar was the “Holy Spirit Most Adored, Yet Neglected.” In that seminar I talk about how the doctrine of the Holy Spirit has been most debated in church with the rise of the Pentecostalism and the charismatic movement. It seems that the Holy Spirit has been most adored person in the Holy Trinity. But then in that seminar, I presented that we have an unbalanced presentation of the doctrine. Because some people think that we can see the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the extraordinary works of the Holy Spirit. But what the Scripture teaches is that the Holy Spirit’s work is comprehensive and encompasses all aspects of our lives. It covers all the creation and providence and then in Christian spiritual life, as well as in society and in the church. So, I presented the biblical foundation of the teaching and then the confessional documents that teach about the doctrine and from there, I draw out what points of teachings we need to be aware of and how we apply this truth in our daily life. So that’s basically my seminar.

Dave: Were these typically held at a church or were they sponsored by an organization?

Yuzo: It’s kind of mixed. In Sarabaya, my home church sponsored the meeting and in Bandung, there was a church that sponsored the seminar, but this church also invited other churches to participate and encouraged their congregtions to come to the seminar. But in Melbourne, Australia, there was an organization call the Society for Leadership Learning (www.soll.org.au). This is the organization that invited me to lead the conference as one of the speakers. It’s a leadership conference for Indonesians that is held in Australia.

Dave: Is this primarily church leadership?

Yuzo Adhinarta Lectures at Calvin Seminary

Yuzo: Well actually these are lay people. Most of the attendees are college students and young Indonesian professionals who live in Australia – particularly in Melbourne – and work there as professionals.

Dave: Is it associated with any particular denomination?

Yuzo: No, it’s interdenominational.

Dave: About how many people attend these seminars?

Yuzo: It varies, but in Sarabaya we have 160-170 people to listen, in Bandung we had 60-70, in Melbourne we have 30, and in Perth another 30. So they varied in size.

Dave: But with over 30 seminars, there were over 1500 people – is that right?

Yuzo: Yea well, my seminars consist of two days. In some cities, in two days I did four sessions. But in Melbourne and Perth, they said they don’t have time for four sessions, so could I make it more concise, so I did only two sessions over two days.

Dave: How many places were you at?

Yuzo: I went to five cities: Sarabaya, Bandung, Jakarta, Melbourne and Perth. This was my first time going to Perth, but my second in Melbourne.

Dave: Was your family able to go with you for these two months?

Yuzo: Yes, but with my wife being pregnant, they did not go to Australia with me as they stayed in Jakarta.

Dave: How have your studies here at Calvin helped prepare you for this?

Yuzo: Well of course, since my study is focused on the doctrine in the reformed confession of the catechisms, and I am going to write my dissertation on the doctrine of Holy Spirit in the reformed Catechisms. So the seminar is what’s in my mind now and what I’m preoccupied with these past couple of months.

Dave: So even these conferences and the teaching you’ve been doing will help form many of the things that will be in your dissertation?

Yuzo: That’s right. It’s going to prepare me for writing my dissertation and help to get in touch with what people in the pews think of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. So when I have the Question-and-Answer session, I can learn what they are thinking now and can answer some of their questions in my dissertation. And that will make my dissertation more readable to them.

Dave: Sometimes many dissertations are not very readable to the layperson. So the interaction is always helpful, and it sounds like you were able to get some of this interaction to help make your dissertion more readable.

Yuzo: Yes, and I am so grateful to God for the experience he has given me these past three years. I had a chance to go back to Indonesia to preach and teach so that I can keep in touch with congregations, so that I can keep in touch with how they feel and think about these theological topics. Now when I preach, I always try to look for feedback so that I can monitor as to whether my sermon is too high up there, so they are understanding what I am talking about. Or is there something I need to correct so I can find a way to get to their hearts and their minds and can relate to them more?

Dave: This sounds like something that I would be very interested in reading, are you starting to write it now, or how far along are you?

Yuzo: Well please pray for me so I can finish it in time. I have two years. I am just starting to write my proposal first, and I hope I can get it done in the next few weeks and see where it goes from there.

Dave: With your travels and being able to return home in the summers and stay connected…Is JSM also helping with some of your expenses to maintain this connection?

Yuzo: Yes, this summer I got a support from JSM in the form a field research grant. I am so grateful for that because without it I would not have been able to go back home to teach and to preach. Now I have to go back there with all of my family — it would be impossible for me to go alone and leave my family behind. It’s unthinkable, so I would not be able to go there otherwise, and it’s very significant support I got from JSM to make it happen.

Dave: Can you elaborate a little more on how important it is to go back home and stay in touch with the context of Indonesia and how that will help in your dissertation.

Yuzo: Well I met my colleagues that are teaching in the same seminar where I will teach, and just by sitting there talking with them, we have very meaningful conversations and I can understand what they are struggling with. Then I also met the president of Scripture Union of Indonesia who was a Langham Scholar, too. I had a chance to meet with him and his wife and I was able to listen to him tell me stories of what churches in Indonesia are struggling with — it opened my eyes wide to see that churches in Indonesia nowadays are in deep need of good and sound teaching. Especially teaching that encourages people to read their Bibles by themselves. Not just to read through the inspiration reading, but the Bible as a whole.

Dave: Are there any good resources in Indonesia for pastors that are written by local people or hopefully by you one day?

Yuzo: Well, I don’t think we have commentaries on the Bible written by Indonesians, but we do have study notes and supplements for the Bible readings that are produces by Scripture Union. It’s very inspiration and expository reading.

Dave: What will you be teaching when you graduate and return home?

Yuzo: Because my major is in Systematic Theology, I will be teach Systematic Theology and Hisotorical Theology courses too.

Dave: I would assume that you will continue to teach these seminars at churches and leadership groups?

Yuzo: Yes, some of the church leaders, after they heard my seminar, encouraged me to write my seminars in a book as it would help all of us.

Dave: Are you planning on doing that?

Yuzo: I hope I can do that in the future, but first I need to write my dissertation and I hope I can modify it to be useful for some of these people.

Dave: If there was one issue in Indonesia that you hope your teaching can address, what would it be?

Yuzo: As maybe I have told you, there is an increasing need for teaching that not only talks to people’s brains, but also talks to their hearts, and not only sound, but also compelling teaching. That is why we need more teachers, more theological professors to teach in Indonesia. And I think that when I had a chance to visit some churches, I heard many complaints from congregations that said that their pastor is not teaching sound doctrines and is not teaching in a compelling way. They say, “Why don’t we hear this kind of teaching in our pulpits?” That is why we need these seminars.

Dave: Can you generalize the types of teaching people get in Indonesia– what would that be?

Yuzo: Well in some churches, they are preaching the prosperity gospel of wealthy and healthy theology, but in some mainstream churches now, they have been restless to try and attract people, as people have moved to some of these churches in the charismatic denominations. So they are more concerned with the way they preach than what they are preaching about. It’s more of an entertainment message. They try harder to attract people than to teach people more seriously. They don’t have the courage to start preaching in an expository manner, as they are afraid that people will go to other churches. But I think that if they had the courage, they would find that people do respond and their churches to grow. That is why I told many church leaders that you have to have the guts to preach the gospel. And those who want to grow in Christ will come to your churches. People are looking for food, and once they learn that what you are preaching is the truth and not sugar-coated food, they come to the church. I got a lot of feedback from my seminars that we need more solid “food” like what you are giving us.

They are also aware that not all pastors can preach in this way. Partly because they don’t have the courage, and partly because they don’t have the training.

Do you know that many churches in Indonesia have cafeteria-types of pulpits? They invite preachers to come over every week and their senior pastors maybe only preach once a month, and getting a consistent message is very hard. I asked the elders, why do you keep doing this and they say that the senior pastors don’t have courage enough to preach every week and they are afraid that people will get bored with hearing the same pastor preaching every week.

Dave: I will be praying for you that you will be able to make difference in this when you return home.

Yuzo: Yes – Hope so!

Langham Scholar Juan-Jose Barreda is just about to complete his Ph.D. in Theology from ISEDET University Institute in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His dissertation is on the “Messianic Expectation in the Qumran Writings and a Comparison with the New Testament.” While Juan-Jose’s dissertation is certainly an impressive reflection of his deep, biblical knowledge, it’s in the streets of Argentina where Juan-Jose seeks and discovers a different kind of wisdom.

On my recent trip to South America, I met Juan-Jose at ISEDET; later that evening we visited his church, where he was hosting a movie night for some local street kids. I quickly learned from him that one of his passions is working with the homeless on the streets of Buenos Aires. He feels that he learns a lot about himself and the Bible by getting to know them.

Originally from Lima, Peru, Juan-Jose moved to Argentina some 20 years ago and has been a Baptist pastor there for 15 years.  “I love to teach the Bible,” he says, “and I think that the pastor has to have a deep studies in Bible, because … [teaching] grassroots leaders is difficult when you don’t have the preparation and study of the Bible yourself.” Juan-Jose says that leaders want their teachings to be more biblically sound, but with little or no programs for formal training, it becomes crucial to pass on scholarship as much as possible.

Juan-Jose is also concerned that the homeless in his area live in a culture where receiving help is uncomfortable to people, so he has been working to change the mindset of his church to reach out to them in a spirit of partnership and not in the typical patriarchal way of providing help. Weekly his church members go and sleep with them in the streets, and then homeless families come to the church and stay overnight there. It gives Juan-Jose and his church members a chance to eat with them and have Bible study together.

“It is interesting how God can teach me through them,” he says. “I help them to understand the world of the Bible and some methods reading the Bible, but they teach me about the street and how to live – to grow – and there is a moment when I understand that we cannot separate the academic from the pastoral care and the wisdom is not just in the seminary or the library, but also in the streets.”

This combination of “street” studies and formal education is a way Juan-Jose is able to meet with people who have a heart for the Word so he can spark in them the need to grow stronger in their growth with God.

After completing his studies, Juan-Jose will be teaching with the Kairos Foundation, which seeks to teach the Bible to churches and different ministries with an integral mission view. There he will help to train other area pastors and church leaders. He also plans to start some Bible education projects in the neighborhoods.

To learn more about Juan Jose, his comments on society, and how to pray for him read his comments below:

When you think about issues that you see happening in the society, what is one that the church can help most?

Juan-Jose: Well as a church, we are talking about solidarity right now. Here we live with a lot of individuality. And there is a problem because, everybody looks for himself, and our problems in society is that it is very difficult to find someone to help you, to take care of you. Also, it is difficult to get somebody to love. It is interesting because many people are asking for somebody to help them, but when somebody tries to, we have a culture where it is difficult to receive love from the other. We don’t know how to be loved. Our church tries to help men from 55 years, and we have serious problems. They say they want to be helped, but when we try, they feel very bad. So, as a church we have been transformed by the Holy Spirit to learn how to love somebody, to make space where everybody wants to be together and help each other and make a difference in our society.

In Argentina, 10 years ago we never saw people sleeping in the streets, but today, there are many families living in the streets and the society is not attending to their problems. They see them as part of a building and they just walk by and leave them there.

How can the churches in the West and America best pray for you?

Juan-Jose: First of all, it’s important to meet us. One from the other. When I talk about theology, I talk about the body. The body is important. We all need to meet to talk about things like what we all are doing. There is a lot of ways to help, but there are many that think we can help you to learn about the world and life in Christ. But when somebody feels that it is important to get to know the other it helps him or her to grow as well. I think that the first thing we need to learn together is to become friends, to have partnership and to love each other and take time together. When you think you have everything and you are the leader, you sometime forget that you need to love the other, and be loved in return.

Also, my father is very sick right now – he has Alzheimer’s and has recently been diagnosed with cancer.

If you could say something to the people that have made your scholarship possible, what would it be?

Juan-Jose: First of all – Thanks! I really appreciate the help that I receive. I started my doctoral studies in 1996, but I could not finish because of my work and my economic situation here – it wasn’t possible. And I think those who support me are part of my ministry right now. I feel that we are together in ministry that God has given to me. I want them to know that I will be working for God and I am thankful for them.

Part of the editorial team for the Commentaire Biblique Contemporain (left to right): Tewoldemedhin Habtu, Samuel Ngewa, Issiaka Coulibaly, Solomon Andria, Yusufu Turaki

It was a historic moment when the launch of the French edition of the Africa Bible Commentary — the Commentaire Biblique Contemporain — took place on November 19, 2008, at the prestigious Palace of Culture in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Langham Literature helped to support the project and was present to honor the hard work and dedication devoted to making it happen.

The president of Côte d’Ivoire honoured the invitation to attend the launch, sending the minister of Home Affairs as his official representative. The minister of Culture and the minister of Communication were also present, as was a representative of the mayor of Taeichville, Abidjan.

An attendant clutches her copy of the Commentaire Biblique Contemporain.

Yusufu Turaki, representing General Editor Tokunboh Adeyemo who, due to illness, was not able

to be present, and Solomon Andria, the French editor, joined nearly a thousand others who have been eagerly awaiting the launch of this one-volume commentary on the Bible in French. The original work was written by both French-speaking and English-speaking African scholars, with those portions originating in French translated into English. Over 50,000 copies of the ABC have been distributed since its launch in July 2006. The two years since then have been spent translating the English portions into French,

The Minister of Home Affairs, Cote D'Ivoire, receives a copy of the CBC from Solomon Andria, French editor.

much of the burden of the editorial activity falling on the shoulders of Solomon, who is much to be applauded for his excellent work. Further translations are already underway in Swahili and Portuguese as well as for Hausa and possibly Amheric. Serving In Missions and Langham Literature have supported this project for seven years and are delighted with the results.

The five hundred copies of the CBC available at the launch were very quickly sold out, with those who purchased them obviously very pleased to have one in hand.

Visit the LPI photo gallery for a slideshow of the event.

]]> http://www.langhampartnership.org/2008/12/04/cb/feed/ 0 http://www.langhampartnership.org/2008/11/30/good-news-and-friendship/ http://www.langhampartnership.org/2008/11/30/good-news-and-friendship/#comments Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:28:31 +0000 import http://www.langhampartnership.org/2008/11/30/good-news-and-friendship/ John Stott Ministries recently asked some of the current scholars how obtaining their Ph.D.s affect their ministry in evangelism and how they expect to be involved with evangelism when they return home. Ignacio Benitez from from ISEDET University Institute in Buenos Aires, Argentina, responds with a reflection on how his thoughts on evangelism changed during his studies.

Langham Scholar Ignacio Benitez

Before I started my graduate work, I believed to have all the answers to people’s problems. And that’s how I approached evangelism… with a sincere heart but a limited scope concerning the church’s mission and Christian theology. I did my best in communicating the gospel. I used to feel guilty if I was not preaching every single day and not winning people for the Lord. Unfortunately, I realized that a good part of my sharing the gospel was empowered by envy, the need to feel that I was “a good Christian” and to say “I preach everyday”. Preaching in the streets, buses and trains is great, but through the years I have understood that evangelism through friendship is more effective.

When I started my M.A. in Biblical Studies (California) my vision about the church’s mission was enriched considerably. I began to realize that I didn’t have all the answers to people’s problems and that people were not a “product” to obtain using certain cliché evangelism phrases but human beings with unsurpassable worth because of what Christ did on the cross. My vision on evangelism changed radically.

Langham Scholar Ignacio Benitez (far left) with JSM VP Dave Hoffman and friends from the Certeza bookstore in Argentina.

We have decided –with my wife Larisa– to spend as much time as possible with our non-Christian friends. We are amazed how the Holy Spirit opens their hearts, and how they want to know more and more about the Lord. Our love for them is honest and real. Now we enjoy sharing the good news in a very simple way –not by pressure or envy– that sometimes includes saying “I don’t know” to the hard questions about life and suffering. It may sound paradoxical and even outrageous, but my Ph.D. studies are helping me become conscious of how little I know about the complexities of life and how the love of Jesus is sufficient to change every heart and situation.

I always encourage my students at the Bible College to invite their non-Christian friends to have a meal at their home, to serve them in love, to be there for them unconditionally, to ascribe worth to them in every situation. I believe this is what Jesus did throughout his ministry.

May the Lord help us-–here in Argentina–-not to be self-righteous but a loving and embracing church that shares the good news of Christ.

Stanley Clark holds up a copy of a commentary on Galatians.

Students at seminaries and Bible colleges in Argentina and across Latin America face a common problem: the cost of textbooks and study materials, an expense that could mean the difference between finishing a study program and abandoning their studies. Langham Literature is doing its part with programs that make resources available to Majority World theological institutions, their libraries, teaching staff, students and alumni and to pastors, preachers and scholars.

“Many of our students would simply not be able to complete their studies,” said Stanley Clark from the Baptist Seminary in Buenos Aires.  “For example, in their first semester students take a course on Galatians. The Galatians books would cost a student $50, and with the John Stott Ministries subsidy program, it will only cost them $25. Without this program they would not be able to complete their studies.”

Certeza Bookstores in Argentina helps Langham Literature with the "subsidy program" that helps absorb some of the expense of resources for seminary students.

The Additional Book Program (ABP), known to Argentinean students simply as the “subsidy program,” is one of two literature programs that John Stott Ministries operates in Argentina through agent Beatriz Buono of Certeza bookstores.  The second program is the Library Grants Program (LGP) that in Argentina is known as “regalos biblioteca,” or gifts for libraries.  As a licensed book importer, Certeza is able to ensure that these two programs can be offered to over 50 seminaries and bible colleges throughout Argentina.

The Baptist Seminary is one example of how these Langham Literature programs are helping.  With tough economic times, this school that was started by the Southern Baptist church now offers evening courses for approximately 180 students each semester and extension courses for another 100 students.  Students can earn a two-year basic degree or a three-year advanced degree.  All students at the seminary benefit as the library receives a gift of $200 each year through the LGP, and students studying the Bible can benefit from the ABP program when purchasing books related to these courses. The same story was repeated by the leaders at the Seminary for the Assemblies of God and the large ecumenical seminary, ISEDET University Institute.

“Our graduates become pastors or missionaries,” says Stanley Clark. “As missionaries they will serve mostly in Afganistan and Northern Africa as well as Latin America. Over the course of their two years of study, each student will take 10 courses related to the Bible. Thanks to John Stott Ministries, they will save $250, which for most students will be the difference they need to complete their studies.”

Visit the Langham Photo Gallery to see more pictures of schools in Argentina.

Visit the Langham Literature program page for more information on how you can help support the grant programs.

The editors and coordinators of the Latin American Bible Commentary (LABC) project met November 3-6 in Oxford, England for a bi-annual meeting. After a time of prayer and thanksgiving, René Padilla (general editor), Milton Acosta (editor – OT), Rosalee Velloso Ewell (editor – NT), Ian Darke (project coordinator), and Pieter Kwant (LPI representative) spent three intense days looking over charts, calendars, names and texts related to the project sponsored in part by Langham Literature.

It was a very productive time, during which the editors pulled together many of the various details of the project, such as:
1. the final decision about contributors for articles and individual commentaries of biblical books;
2. deadlines for all the authors;
3. target dates for the first three major steps of the editorial process (revision of articles, first revision of shorter commentaries, first revision of longer commentaries);
4. the best way to provide research and study assistance to the writers of the commentaries.

The editors and coordinators in a planning session for the LABC

We rejoice in the fact that over 70% of those invited to participate in the project have already accepted the challenge.

Many contributors have begun their work of research and writing. Those who have been invited to write the longer commentaries have been encouraged to prepare for their communities sermons and Bible studies on portions of their work. This should serve as an aid to focus their efforts in making the LABC both accessible and relevant even to those who might be hearing the gospel news for the first time.

For more photos of the LABC planning session in Oxford, visit the Langham Partnership photo gallery.

Read an update on the LABC project in espanol.

Displaced family in Goma, DRC (Copyright (c) Congo Vision. Reprinted with permission.)

This is a brief account of the Langham Preaching training programme in Goma, the centre of unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as told by Muhindo Isesomo (Langham Preaching country coordinator), and two Langham facilitators, Gordon Woolard and Mike McGowan.

Once a year, the Langham Preaching programme in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) gathers together a small group of pastors, continuing the training in Biblical preaching. This year they chose a week in October and a city in the east of the country. It happened that the city was Goma, and the week was October 27-31, the week the troubled conflict in eastern DRC exploded.

The courageous team of pastors at the Langham Preaching training, Goma, DRC

‘We are very thankful to God for his protection during the seminar, and also for the brothers and sisters around the world who have been praying for us’, said Muhindo Isesomo. He described how 22 delegates had arrived from different parts of the DRC, except those from Kasai and Rutshuru, who were blocked by rebels. The training began on Monday, and so did the gunfire. ‘It continued right through the night, some of it very close and frightening’, said Mike McGowan. ‘The prison was on fire on Monday evening, and police killed a number of people. Civilians were shot. On Wednesday things erupted again when the Congolese army fled Goma, taking their tanks at top speed through the streets. A curfew was imposed, and there were rumours that the rebels would enter the city.’ The firing went on through the night.

The humanitarian crisis in Goma, DRC is especially difficult for children. (Copyright (c) Congo Vision. Reprinted with permission.)

The brothers from around DRC would not be distracted, and the training programme continued through the week until Thursday. They were determined to complete their Level 3 preaching training, and were keen that the group of local trainers were equipped, ready to launch new Level 1 training programmes in their home regions. Across the DRC there are now 27 local preachers’ clubs, with nearly 300 participants. They in turn are impacting countless believers in many hundreds of congregations. The ripple effects of the preaching training are substantial as, in many corners of this vast and troubled country, pastors and lay preachers proclaim the Word with renewed faithfulness, clarity and relevance.

Archbishop's wife completes Level 3 training, with Gordon Woolard, Mike McGowan and Muhindo Isesomo. Bullets were flying round outside during the ceremony.

‘I don’t know about Gordon’, Mike wrote. ‘But I spent the night in prayer. I think Gordon did too.’ They kept the lights off at night and stayed below window level, praying for the city ‘and especially for the traumatised children’, said Gordon.

‘Even after only four days we found that any loud noise would make you flinch. I’m trying to picture how a child would be affected living with this every day. I felt one night in bed that the situation presented me with a choice. Either the gospel is true, and it would make sense to be here in Goma for the sake of training people to preach the Bible; or the gospel is false, and it’s plain silly to train

people to preach a myth that ends in oblivion. The gunfire cleared the brain to think objectively. I decided that Jesus is true and that it made sense to be where I was. I won’t kid you, though. It was good to walk back across the border into Rwanda.’

Gordon and Mike completed the training on Thursday and, against the odds, were able to leave Goma and join the staff of many NGOs leaving the country to the east, crossing the border into Rwanda. ‘We even had a certificate celebration on Wednesday night, with bullets flying round outside. We had to keep our heads down …’, said Mike. ‘The whole experience tested our faith in a living God to the limits, but he is there and he is faithful.’

Muhindo Isesimo, Langham Preaching country coordinator for DRC.

Isesomo is a remarkable leader with a calm and cheerful presence. He stayed with the pastors, because there was more training to be done – and no flights to leave Goma. They worked together on the plans for equipping pastors in different parts of the country.

Isesomo has written to me: ‘We would like to develop training of pastors for people in Bandundu, Katanga, Bas-Congo, Equateur and Congo-Brazzaville. We hope the 10 people trained this week will start Level 1 events in their different regions. Then we would like to train these trainers still further. We need more Bibles, bikes and motorbikes – this is a priority for the preachers’ clubs.’

He won’t stop. He knows what really matters for the church and for a nation in sustained crisis. It is God’s Word, in the power of God’s Spirit, that brings the gospel of Christ to needy men and women and has the potential to transform broken lives and shattered societies.

We need to pray for them. Gordon concluded, ‘I come home. They stay. I now follow the news from afar. They live the news each day.’

Read more about the Muhindo Isesomo and his passion to equip pastors in DRC.

View a photo slideshow of the humanitarian crisis in DRC.

For more information on how to support the work of Langham Preaching in DRC, please visit http://www.langhampartnership.org/preaching/.

Exactly one year since WordAlive Publishers (WAP) commenced the translation of the Africa Bible Commentary into Kiswahili, and with about 75 percent of the translation already completed, the project has now entered the crucial editing phase in earnest. The Kiswahili ABC will hit the market in October 2009.

As part of the project, WAP organised a consultative meeting of translators and editors in Dodoma, Tanzania from 3 to 6 September 2008. The key agenda for the meeting was to review the work and to discuss issues that emerged during translation. During this meeting, the participants pledged to rededicate their efforts to ensure that the timelines are observed and that the project is completed according to schedule.

The meeting was also a forum to train in and hone editorial skills in readiness for the editing phase. Indeed, editing had been going on albeit at a slower pace due to shortage of personnel; almost 15 percent of the editing work had been done by August 2008. With the successful editorial seminar, six editors will now be joining the only four that are currently undertaking the exercise. We hope that this will speed up the process and complete the editorial phase by April 2009. While in Dodoma, we had the opportunity to meet some key church leaders at a dinner event. Among those who attended were officials from the Bible Society of Tanzania, Christian Council of Tanzania and Anglican and Catholic dioceses as well as lecturers from the theological colleges around Dodoma. This conference was part of our build-up to the 2009 release and subsequent distribution of the Kiswahili edition of the Africa Bible Commentary.

Meanwhile, we expect the remaining portion of the translation exercise, involving fifteen (15) books, to be completed by the end of November. Once completed, some of the translators will be recruited to join the editing team.

We continue to thank God for enabling the translation exercise to get this far. As we turn our focus to editing, we pray for additional strength so as to issue an excellent product that will significantly transform Africa and the world.

In August, one of the members of the translation team, Geoffrey Majule, was awarded a doctoral scholarship at Asbury Theological Seminary, USA. We congratulate him warmly and wish him well in his studies. At the same time, in September, Dr Catherine Ndungo of Kenyatta University joined the editing team. We warmly welcome her to participate in this ‘monumental’ leaders project.

We are greatly encouraged by the impressive progress that this project has attained so far. We are confident that we shall observe the timelines, which were re-examined during the meeting in Dodoma. The enthusiasm expressed by both the translation and the editorial teams will no doubt see us across the finishing line, expectedly well ahead of schedule.

Pray for:
1. The translators: for strength and clarity of mind as they work to complete the remaining portion.

2. The editors: for wisdom and insight as they continue putting the work together.

3. Members of the team, George Ndulesi and Sheila Ryanga, who were bereaved during the editorial seminar; for strength to bear the loss.

Editors Note: WordAlive Publishers acknowledges the successful consecration and enthronement of Canon Father John Simalenga as the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of South West Tanganyika on 6th July 2008 at Njombe. He continues to play an effective role in the translation of the Kiswahili ABC.

Permission to reproduce this article granted from WordAlive Publishers (www.wordalivepublishers.org).

About 1.4 million people make up the contingent of the Chinese Filipinos in the Philippines, a group that is primarily strong in its Christian faith. Interestingly enough, many of the churches in that community are self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propogating, getting little help from foreign missions. It is this indigenous strength that’s key for the growth of the church in China itself. And it is why building a biblically sound study program for local pastors is a crucial strategy for the Biblical Seminary of the Philippines (BSOP), led by Seminary President Joseph Shao. BSOP’s commitment to deeply rooted biblical training has helped grow congregations from hundreds to thousands.

Established in 1957, BSOP has always strived for wholistic Christian

BSOP students on a mission trip in the Philippines

training to develop students in spiritual growth, biblical knowledge, and ministerial skill. BSOP serves primarily Chinese-Filipino students and is an anchor for training leaders in the church. And with recent growth of Christians in the Chinese-Filipino community, BSOP feels the need more than ever to strengthen the indigenous leaders.

Most important is the outreach that serving those communities has had created for the church in China. BSOP has many Chinese students who return to establish the church in their regions. Acting as a lifeline for the church in mainland China is crucial to the seminary’s role in God’s kingdom.

“It is only by God’s grace that we are able to draw a strong contingent,” says Joseph. “We have partners who introduce key students to us. We have some key pastors who endorse our ministry and send important leaders to us. Our alumni are endorsing students. We have focused on the basics in our training ministry, in the proper interpretation of the Word, correct doctrines, Christian education, and caring counseling methods.”

The church in China today is comprised primarily of these four churches:
•    Open Church (recognized and sanctioned by the authorities)
•    Registered Church (registered but not controlled by the open church)
•    House Church (not official; congregations meet in houses and offices)
•    Returnees Church (comprised mainly of believers who return from overseas)

BSOP has served participants in all four churches and continues to see God at work and alive in China. “We have learned that churches are growing, due to the faithful teaching of the Word of God. One church grew from 300 members to 1,000 attendees, while another grew from 400 to 1,000 attendees,” says Joseph. “One particular alumnus was asked to lead a revival meeting upon his return to his hometown, and 2,000 believers gather to hear him. One couple in the northeast region is in charge of 500 cell groups. Outreach ministries flourish due to the involvement of some of our alumni.”

The high standard of biblical education and focus on indigenous church leaders is why up-and-coming professors such as Langham Scholar Samson Uytanlet are key to the future of the impact BSOP has on the the Chinese-Filipino church.

“Even in the past, the Chinese Christian community had this desire to reach our kinsmen who live in the mainland. What happened several years ago, with the opening of Chinese department in BSOP, was really a breakthrough,” Samson says. “[Now], locals can remain in the Philippines to serve in the Chinese churches there, yet at the same time we are not neglecting mission work to China because the Chinese from the mainland are going to BSOP to be trained so that they can serve there.”

Samson is currently completing his doctorate at Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, Fla., and will return to teach at BSOP in a few years. He represents the hope that the ministry of BSOP will continue as it strengthens the Chinese and Filipino Christian communities to grow in numbers.

About 1.4 million people make up the contingent of the Chinese Filipinos in the Philippines, a group that is primarily strong in its Christian faith. Interestingly enough, many of the churches in that community are self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propogating, getting little help from foreign missions. It is this indigenous strength that’s key for the growth of the church in China itself. And it is why building a biblically sound study program for local pastors is a crucial strategy for the Biblical Seminary of the Philippines (BSOP), led by Seminary President Joseph Shao. BSOP’s commitment to deeply rooted biblical training has helped grow congregations from hundreds to thousands.

Established in 1957, BSOP has always strived for wholistic Christian

BSOP students on a mission trip in the Philippines

training to develop students in spiritual growth, biblical knowledge, and ministerial skill. BSOP serves primarily Chinese-Filipino students and is an anchor for training leaders in the church. And with recent growth of Christians in the Chinese-Filipino community, BSOP feels the need more than ever to strengthen the indigenous leaders.

Most important is the outreach that serving those communities has had created for the church in China. BSOP has many Chinese students who return to establish the church in their regions. Acting as a lifeline for the church in mainland China is crucial to the seminary’s role in God’s kingdom.

“It is only by God’s grace that we are able to draw a strong contingent,” says Joseph. “We have partners who introduce key students to us. We have some key pastors who endorse our ministry and send important leaders to us. Our alumni are endorsing students. We have focused on the basics in our training ministry, in the proper interpretation of the Word, correct doctrines, Christian education, and caring counseling methods.”

The church in China today is comprised primarily of these four churches:
•    Open Church (recognized and sanctioned by the authorities)
•    Registered Church (registered but not controlled by the open church)
•    House Church (not official; congregations meet in houses and offices)
•    Returnees Church (comprised mainly of believers who return from overseas)

BSOP has served participants in all four churches and continues to see God at work and alive in China. “We have learned that churches are growing, due to the faithful teaching of the Word of God. One church grew from 300 members to 1,000 attendees, while another grew from 400 to 1,000 attendees,” says Joseph. “One particular alumnus was asked to lead a revival meeting upon his return to his hometown, and 2,000 believers gather to hear him. One couple in the northeast region is in charge of 500 cell groups. Outreach ministries flourish due to the involvement of some of our alumni.”

The high standard of biblical education and focus on indigenous church leaders is why up-and-coming professors such as Langham Scholar Samson Uytanlet are key to the future of the impact BSOP has on the the Chinese-Filipino church.

“Even in the past, the Chinese Christian community had this desire to reach our kinsmen who live in the mainland. What happened several years ago, with the opening of Chinese department in BSOP, was really a breakthrough,” Samson says. “[Now], locals can remain in the Philippines to serve in the Chinese churches there, yet at the same time we are not neglecting mission work to China because the Chinese from the mainland are going to BSOP to be trained so that they can serve there.”

Samson is currently completing his doctorate at Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, Fla., and will return to teach at BSOP in a few years. He represents the hope that the ministry of BSOP will continue as it strengthens the Chinese and Filipino Christian communities to grow in numbers.

Travelling in a three-wheel tuktuk across the city of Colombo (my guidebook warned me of ‘the anarchic driving conditions’ on Sri Lanka’s roads), it was a relief to arrive at the Centre for Graduate Studies, a bright and welcoming building in the centre of the city. Part of the Lanka Bible College and Seminary, the Graduate Centre supports leadership and pastoral training, distance learning initiatives and a Masters course. The Centre has just celebrated the opening of its new library.

Its well-ordered shelves, growing stock of some 8,000 volumes, computer facilities and Internet access provide an essential resource for those engaged in theological training. Carried out in fellowship with many agencies around the world, including the Overseas Council which supported the building project and Langham Literature which supported the book stock, the library will be a welcome haven for quiet study and theological reflection, just metres away from the bustling streets of downtown Colombo.

But those streets are the mission field in this predominantly Buddhist country, where only a small percentage of the population owes allegiance to Christ. The growing church is engaging with the demands of mission in a challenging religious and political context, and the oasis of a library provides one of the essential resources for true engagement with the city and country – a necessary retreat in order to advance the cause of mission.

Amidst growing news of the persecution of thousands of Christians across northern India, a small group of Christian leaders met in Delhi last week to explore ways of coordinating their efforts in the training of pastors and lay preachers. Across northern India there are remarkable signs of church growth.  Compared to the south of the country, the region has been a tough environment for Christian witness, with far fewer resources and Christian initiatives than in the south. But the tide has been turning: leaders are planting thousands of churches in the huge northern states, and more energy is being given to their support through training initiatives of all kinds.

Recognising the overwhelming need to strengthen the churches through the training of preachers, the team of 12 leaders met for a short consultation convened by members of the Langham Partnership Regional Council for South Asia. Paul Swarup, Finny Philip and Paulson Pulikottil, themselves former Langham Scholars, sustain an active interest not only in the academic arena and in Christian publishing, but in the grass-roots needs of local churches. Specifically, they share the concern of Langham Preaching to find ways to strengthen biblical preaching in the many new emerging churches across northern India.

Drawing together agencies from various areas of northern India, the Langham Preaching consultation had the following outcomes:

•    All participants recognised the benefit of exchanging training ideas. Many of them were not aware of each other’s training work, and the opportunity to receive news, learn from the example of others, and pray for each other’s ministry, was a very significant outcome of the consultation. It is hoped that the friendships established will allow for ongoing communication between the different agencies.

•    The consultation determined to redouble efforts in the training of trainers, seen to be a priority need for all of the agencies involved in northern India. Given the vast scale of the work to be done, the most important need is to equip a new army of trainers who will carry forward the training of pastors and lay preachers within their own villages and towns.

•    The consultation decided to establish a database which will list all available resources – appropriate training materials, books and other resources which will serve each agency in the training of preachers.

•    It was decided to encourage Langham Preaching, in fellowship with several of the agencies at the consultation, to support a new training initiative in Nagaland. Here the churches have been growing rapidly, but there is a strong need for training amongst pastors. Langham Preaching will lead the initiative during 2009, carried out with help from facilitators from northern India.

•    The consultation agreed to meet annually and to extend the network of those who are invited to participate.

There was a strong feeling that this was the time for energetic commitment to the cause of preaching training, and for every effort to be made to coordinate our work for the benefit of the growing church of northern India.

Kenyan Preachers’ Club with Mercy Ireri

We all agree that a church is more than its services, a family more than its meal times. And since it began six years ago, Langham Preaching has sought to encourage ‘fellowships’ rather than just run events. In several countries there is gradually emerging a fellowship of preachers – a ‘movement’ for biblical preaching. Supported by seminars, books and training resources, such a movement is most clearly seen through the emergence of preachers’ clubs in towns and villages. Meeting regularly in their home regions, small groups of pastors and lay preachers gather to study a Bible passage, work on sermon preparation, and plan their preaching series. And of course they pray for one another and support each other’s desire to preach better. Linked to regional or national seminar programmes which provide training materials and good models for Biblical preaching, preachers’ clubs are the heartbeat of national preaching movements.

Preachers’ clubs are growing across Kenya, encouraged to meet regularly by country coordinator Mercy Ireri, who uses her cell phone to good effect as she chases up local leaders for news of their club meetings, or encourages them forward with new ideas. Pastors often contact Langham Preaching via our Web site, and we can quickly connect them with Mercy who then plugs them into the network of preachers’ clubs gradually extending across the country. Mercy says, ‘A few months ago you forwarded to me an email from pastor Jonathan in Nakuru. I put him in touch with the leader of the preachers’ club, Asman, there in the Rift Valley. Asman told me that they had a good meeting and are planning to work together. At the time I put them in touch it was during the violence – it did not even cross my mind that Jonathan is a Kalenjin and Asman is Kikuyu. Asman told me that it was a miracle for both of them to sit together and even have a cup of tea!’

For the past three years a small core of 40 pastors have been attending the Langham training programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and developing preachers’ clubs in their home regions. And now? ‘We have actually 28 clubs in the country with 298 members’, says country coordinator Muhindo Isesomo, who travels widely to encourage them. ‘And I believe this will increase after the next Langham training of trainers event in October’. Through the generosity of friends at St Andrew’s church Oxford we have recently been able to support their work through the provision of bikes and Bibles, enabling the pastors to travel to their many scattered congregations and to meet to study scripture together.

The story is similar elsewhere in the world. Ghana reports the cascade effect of the training through local meetings in different denominations; two good groups are meeting in Jamaica; in Tanzania, preachers’ clubs have been established across the country, forming the base for 13 regional programmes which are now starting small training events for local pastors. And in Bolivia and Columbia, and other Latin countries, preachers’ clubs are vital training arenas – so much so they are called ‘escuelitas’, little schools for preachers. For any movement to catch fire, local people must own it, and passionate and committed people in the country must drive it forward. We don’t know if this will happen in each country, but this is what we pray for – national preaching movements which seek to unite, encourage, equip, train and inspire all those who are faithfully teaching and preaching God’s Word.

Kenyan Preachers’ Club with Mercy Ireri

We all agree that a church is more than its services, a family more than its meal times. And since it began six years ago, Langham Preaching has sought to encourage ‘fellowships’ rather than just run events. In several countries there is gradually emerging a fellowship of preachers – a ‘movement’ for biblical preaching. Supported by seminars, books and training resources, such a movement is most clearly seen through the emergence of preachers’ clubs in towns and villages. Meeting regularly in their home regions, small groups of pastors and lay preachers gather to study a Bible passage, work on sermon preparation, and plan their preaching series. And of course they pray for one another and support each other’s desire to preach better. Linked to regional or national seminar programmes which provide training materials and good models for Biblical preaching, preachers’ clubs are the heartbeat of national preaching movements.

Preachers’ clubs are growing across Kenya, encouraged to meet regularly by country coordinator Mercy Ireri, who uses her cell phone to good effect as she chases up local leaders for news of their club meetings, or encourages them forward with new ideas. Pastors often contact Langham Preaching via our Web site, and we can quickly connect them with Mercy who then plugs them into the network of preachers’ clubs gradually extending across the country. Mercy says, ‘A few months ago you forwarded to me an email from pastor Jonathan in Nakuru. I put him in touch with the leader of the preachers’ club, Asman, there in the Rift Valley. Asman told me that they had a good meeting and are planning to work together. At the time I put them in touch it was during the violence – it did not even cross my mind that Jonathan is a Kalenjin and Asman is Kikuyu. Asman told me that it was a miracle for both of them to sit together and even have a cup of tea!’

For the past three years a small core of 40 pastors have been attending the Langham training programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and developing preachers’ clubs in their home regions. And now? ‘We have actually 28 clubs in the country with 298 members’, says country coordinator Muhindo Isesomo, who travels widely to encourage them. ‘And I believe this will increase after the next Langham training of trainers event in October’. Through the generosity of friends at St Andrew’s church Oxford we have recently been able to support their work through the provision of bikes and Bibles, enabling the pastors to travel to their many scattered congregations and to meet to study scripture together.

The story is similar elsewhere in the world. Ghana reports the cascade effect of the training through local meetings in different denominations; two good groups are meeting in Jamaica; in Tanzania, preachers’ clubs have been established across the country, forming the base for 13 regional programmes which are now starting small training events for local pastors. And in Bolivia and Columbia, and other Latin countries, preachers’ clubs are vital training arenas – so much so they are called ‘escuelitas’, little schools for preachers. For any movement to catch fire, local people must own it, and passionate and committed people in the country must drive it forward. We don’t know if this will happen in each country, but this is what we pray for – national preaching movements which seek to unite, encourage, equip, train and inspire all those who are faithfully teaching and preaching God’s Word.