World Hope Bible Institute Helps Train Lay Leaders

Training lay leaders to take a leadership role in churches without pastors is a need in many places around the world. Thanks to World Hope Bible Institute, many lay-leaders are being trained around the world. Recently Stuart Sheehan (pictured below) from the Bible Institute in Houston, TX came to Zimbabwe along with Pastor Nick Moore and a trained lay-leader from his church in Kentucky, Mr. Caleb Green.

About seventy participants from three different Baptist Conventions in Zimbabwe came to the Baptist Seminary in Zimbabwe where they participated in 3 intensive courses. Potential trainers are being fast-tracked so they can teach lay-leaders around Zimbabwe. Trainers from World Hope Bible Institute will come from the states twice a year to teach these intensive courses until the program is complete. The courses being taught are basically the same ones a seminary student would take to earn a seminary degree. A few electives will be written by Baptist leaders to meet the practical needs of training lay- leaders to work in Zimbabwe churches.

Pastor Moore shared that he had really enjoyed be able to teach such eager students, who were responsive and excited to have the opportunity to learn more about God’s Word. Pastor Moore is seen below looking through the books in the Baptist Seminary library.

The most challenging aspects of the week, according to Mr. Brown, have been the logistics, communication, “African Time”, and the language barrier. When lay-leader Caleb Green was asked why he would choose to get involved in this programme he responded, “The Lord has blessed me with opportunities for training and a number of men have invested in my life. Now I have the ability and education necessary to share with others. I want to be faithful to God to share with others what I have learned myself.” Pray for all the participants of the World Hope Bible Institute courses that they will also be faithful to share with others what they themselves have learned. “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (I Timothy 2:2, NIV) If you would like to know more about World Hope Bible Institute check out their website at: www.whmi.org (Not a hot link.)