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2009-10-06T02:39:10Z

As African Leadership equips National Directors like Young Ohm to make a lasting impact in churches and communities throughout South Africa, we are grateful for the support of our donors who make this national transformation possible. 17

South Africa is a country of 44 million people, and is the only nation in the world with three capital cities: Cape Town, Pretoria and Bloemfontein. South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa and is the world's 25th-largest country, about twice the size of Texas. With a population of 44 million, the South African economy is the largest in Africa and 24th largest in the World; making it the most socially and economically developed country on the continent. Advanced development is significantly localized around four areas though: Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Pretoria/Johannesburg. Beyond these four economic centers, development is marginal and poverty is still prevalent despite government efforts, so it is considered a developing country. Consequently, the vast majority of South Africans are poor, and 80% of the population is Protestant Christians. There are very few resources for the average Pastor or Church Elder to go to school or seminary. Responding to a church leadership or Pastoral calling, they often draw from what little they learned from their prior church experience. South Africa was one of the first countries where African Leadership began the training of Pastors and Church Leaders, in the early 1990’s. As of March 2008, we have 19 BTCP classes throughout South Africa, with 553 students attending regularly. With 10 or more additional classes starting before Summer 2008, our student numbers may almost double. The hunger to grow in knowledge and truth is in many Pastors’ hearts, even though they must often travel many difficult miles to attend training. "I send kind regards in the name of our Lord, who has saved you and I, and who sympathizes with the soul of Africa. And seeing that the Lord cherishes each soul, seeing the Lord's guidance and blessings on building the kingdom of God, I want to especially proclaim this: God achieves. Our Lord achieves, through us, the kingdom of God that he desires. As you and I proclaim the kingdom of God, we also proclaim that the land of Africa is the kingdom of God. Lord! Be glorified and be praised!" -Young Ohm, National Director in Cape Town, S.A. As African Leadership equips National Directors like Young Ohm and Mr. Alan to make a lasting impact in churches and communities throughout South Africa, we are grateful for the support of our donors who make this national transformation possible. The long-term effectiveness of the church requires that leaders be biblically strong, and as we travel to visit our Directors and attend graduation ceremonies in Africa, we are amazed at the dedication of these pastors. They usually work full time jobs in addition to their pastoral workload, and go to school 2-4 days a week. Their desire to be better teachers and preachers for their congregations is reflected in their joyful completion of the 2-year program, which provides comprehensive training in all phases of church leadership equivalent to a foundational-level seminary or Bible College degree, utilizing a 10-course, 2,500-page Bible centered curriculum, developed by Dr. Dennis Mock and translated into a nine African language by African Leadership.. Please pray for Young, Mr. Alan, and their families and staff, as they labor to bring hope to the communities of South Africa, by increasing the impact of the Gospel through training of pastors and church leaders. Their staff reports that there is a national energy crisis in South Africa, resulting in power and electricity power failure, interrupting classes, study, transportation, and life in general. Mr. Alan, Young, and the AL staff have these prayer requests: <ol> <li>That the Lord will keep us usable with a firm and unwavering vision for the equipping church leaders.</li> <li>That the Lord will continue to prepare His people for ministry, explained in Mt 28v19 and Eph 4v12.</li> <li>That the challenge of finding faithful and committed teachers and students is a work the Lord alone will continue to do for His Church.</li> <li>That the African alumni remain faithful to their call to follow the Biblical mandate of Col 1v28. and 2Tim 2v2..</li> <li>That the National Church would recognize the Biblical imperative to be healthy, holy and biblical strong. May the Lord be gracious to visit us with an awakening by his Spirit.</li> </ol> Students attending leadership classes desperately need support to complete their courses and to graduate, so they may minister to their congregations with biblical maturity. The two year schedule required to complete the course is very intense and time demanding. Financial support is needed for feeding students, support for teachers, and for travel costs. It is a wondrous work of grace that so many pastors are able to attend training, as the truth of the Gospel is the only hope for most of these people, living in one of the poorest nations in the world. African Leadership-South Africa is planning teacher's conferences in 2008, with about 35 teachers and potential teachers invited to each one. Through conferences like these, many new classes are often established with networking of alumni and teachers. In November 2007, 2 alumni conferences were held in Queens Town and Encobo. Many graduates attended, and we saw that these alumni conferences also seem to spread the word about our Training Program, resulting in more and more Pastor registrations, and expanding educational opportunities to even more cities. African Leadership is thankful to have a presence in South Africa. Training takes place in the context of the rise and spread of faiths and beliefs that are in direct conflict with the essential, fundamental teachings of the Bible. In bringing the Gospel to South Africa, the practice of ancestral worship and other traditional practices can create cross-cultural challenges. Many people groups in S.A., including members of churches, are involved in some of these traditional practices, often resulting in compromised health conditions, and causing the spread of many diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Approximately 5.3 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. With such immeasurable need for training of Pastors and church leaders, African Leadership is working to bring accessible, affordable training to South Africans, for the vitality and health of the Church. Please consider how you might lend support, as you pray for African Leadership's Directors, and families and staff, as they labor to bring hope to the communities of South Africa, by increasing the impact of the Gospel through training of Pastors and church leaders.

2009-10-16T19:51:33Z