Pastor Training in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a country of 13 million people in southern Africa, with the lowest life expectancy rate in the world. Zimbabweans have suffered through war and political division for 40 years. Apartheid followed by chaotic land reforms, with seized farms and homes, has displaced more than 3 million people in the last decade. More than 20% of the adult population are infected with HIV/AIDS, with limited available medical care and resources. With inflation at over 100,000%, the estimated average yearly income of $325.00 is an absurd statistic. The people of Zimbabwe can see very little hope of their country returning to normal anytime soon.

Our National Director in Zimbabwe is Agrippa Dube, and he is also African Leadership's Regional Director for the Southern Africa. African Leadership has been training pastors and church leaders there since 1995, and as of March 2008, there are 516 students attending 23 classes at 11 training centers, with over 1200 graduates who are active in church ministry. Agrippa organizes and administrates the AL learning centers in Zimbabwe, where 25% of the population are Christian and 5% Muslim. Even though students face extreme hardship and difficulties attending classes, pastor training is essential for the health and growth of the church in Zimbabwe, to have mature leadership and build church unity. With very few resources for pastors or church leaders to go to school or seminary, many pastors lead their congregations drawing from what little they learned in their prior church experience, usually with untrained leadership, as the majority of church leaders have no formal training.

Students attending leadership classes need much support to complete their courses, and minister to their congregations with biblical maturity. All 23 classes need financial support for feeding the students, support for teachers, and for travel costs. It is a wondrous work of grace that so many pastors find the strength for attending 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 is thankful to have a presence in Zimbabwe. As African Leadership equips National Directors like Agrippa and his colleagues to spread the Gospel in churches and communities throughout Zimbabwe, we are grateful for the support of our donors who make this national transformation possible. As we visit with our African Directors and attend graduation ceremonies, we are amazed at the dedication of these pastors. They usually work full time jobs in addition to their pastoral workload, while attending classes 2-4 days a week. Their desire to be better teachers and preachers 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.

With such immeasurable need for training of pastors and church leaders, African Leadership is working to bring accessible, affordable training to Zimbabwe for the vitality and health of the Church. The African Leadership team members and teachers face difficulties traveling, with dependable vehicles always in short supply, as they organize and teach their classes. Please consider how you might lend your support, as you pray for Agrippa and his family and staff, as they labor to bring hope to the communities of Zimbabwe, by increasing the impact of the Gospel through training of Pastors and church leaders.

Please pray for Agrippa and his family and staff, as they labor to bring hope to the communities of Zimbabwe, by increasing the impact of the Gospel through training of pastors and church leaders. African Leadership-Zimbabwe hopes to graduate some 225 students each year, who, when their training is finished, will periodically attend alumni training for HIV/AIDS issues, Islam apologetics, and financial management. Hopefully, from the networking of these alumni and teachers, new training centers may be established, spreading the word about our Training Program, resulting in more pastor registrations, and expanded educational outreach for the maturity of the Church.