What we do
Except for time spent raising funds in the USA and a year of language study during our first term, we have been involved in Bible School ministry in Africa since 2003.
We initially spent three and a half years in Tanzania, then we were asked to transfer to South Africa, where we spent the last four years. Both of us work full time in Bible School ministry at the Assemblies of God Bible School in South Africa. This school, Global School of Theology Western Cape, is accredited in South Africa to offer a Diploma (Ministry major), a Bachelor of Arts degree (Bible and Theology major), and a Master of Arts degree (with majors in Ministerial Leadership, Christian Education, and Bible). Jackie teaches full time in the BA program, teaching mostly Bible courses and New Testament Greek. She also helps out in teaching Greek at the MA level. Bob helps out at the BA level by teaching part time and by serving on the Board of Administration, but his primary responsibility is serving as Director of the Master of Arts program.
We initially spent three and a half years in Tanzania, then we were asked to transfer to South Africa, where we spent the last four years. Both of us work full time in Bible School ministry at the Assemblies of God Bible School in South Africa. This school, Global School of Theology Western Cape, is accredited in South Africa to offer a Diploma (Ministry major), a Bachelor of Arts degree (Bible and Theology major), and a Master of Arts degree (with majors in Ministerial Leadership, Christian Education, and Bible). Jackie teaches full time in the BA program, teaching mostly Bible courses and New Testament Greek. She also helps out in teaching Greek at the MA level. Bob helps out at the BA level by teaching part time and by serving on the Board of Administration, but his primary responsibility is serving as Director of the Master of Arts program.
the dream: an increasingly redeemed africa
By cooperating with God as He is building His church in Africa, our dream is to make a difference first within the church in Africa, and through the church to make a difference within African society, by catalyzing grass-roots solutions to two intractable and interlocking problems.
Our personal passion has always been to address the problem of true discipleship, especially among church leaders. The church in Africa has had problems with stability, identity, and effectiveness. The tendency for untrained pastors is to base their preaching on what they are hearing from popular TV and radio personalities, many of them heretical. Untrained converts mix Christian ideas with their old religion or culture. Christianity mixed with anything is no longer Christianity, but without intentional study, they don’t know the difference. Our dream is to see a church in Africa that is a true instance of the body of Christ, not moved by every wind of doctrine but on a firm biblical foundation, and not insular or concerned only with “religion” but making an impact on society at large.
A new and growing passion for us is addressing the problem of leadership. The traditional idea that leaders are above accountability can be found at every level in African culture. Even in the church, unless leaders have the opportunity for biblical training, servant leadership is either completely unknown or remains a foreign concept associated with a few white faces from somewhere else. What could it mean for Africa if the African church could demonstrate and live out a different model of leadership? What if good examples of leadership were everywhere dotting the continent, everywhere a local church is engaging their community?
Our personal passion has always been to address the problem of true discipleship, especially among church leaders. The church in Africa has had problems with stability, identity, and effectiveness. The tendency for untrained pastors is to base their preaching on what they are hearing from popular TV and radio personalities, many of them heretical. Untrained converts mix Christian ideas with their old religion or culture. Christianity mixed with anything is no longer Christianity, but without intentional study, they don’t know the difference. Our dream is to see a church in Africa that is a true instance of the body of Christ, not moved by every wind of doctrine but on a firm biblical foundation, and not insular or concerned only with “religion” but making an impact on society at large.
A new and growing passion for us is addressing the problem of leadership. The traditional idea that leaders are above accountability can be found at every level in African culture. Even in the church, unless leaders have the opportunity for biblical training, servant leadership is either completely unknown or remains a foreign concept associated with a few white faces from somewhere else. What could it mean for Africa if the African church could demonstrate and live out a different model of leadership? What if good examples of leadership were everywhere dotting the continent, everywhere a local church is engaging their community?
The plan
By training young African church leaders (who are looking for accredited degrees even as they seek out basic Bible and ministry training), we have the opportunity to infuse a generation of African church leaders with accurate understanding of scripture and practical training in living out biblical leadership principles.
Spiritually, our approach is direct discipleship. Our primary focus is to disciple leaders who can disciple others in turn. Bad doctrine is everywhere, but teaching against these misconceptions as they arise is too little, too late. Doctrinal stability is best addressed proactively by giving pastors and leaders a solid grounding in Bible doctrines and principles of interpreting the Bible, and practice in walking out the doctrines they hold.
Socially, we believe we will have a strategic impact on the society at large by training church leaders who have a different approach to leadership than is traditional for Africa. Through training of national church leaders, first the church and then the continent at large could benefit from acquaintance with a model of leadership that serves, so that through direct ministry and indirect influence of the Church, Africa could make progress toward meeting the needs of her diverse people. We endeavor to teach students to pastor their communities and not just their congregations. This seemingly small change in thinking has had dramatic results where it has taken hold.
If you want even more background about us and what we do, check out our newsletter archive.
Spiritually, our approach is direct discipleship. Our primary focus is to disciple leaders who can disciple others in turn. Bad doctrine is everywhere, but teaching against these misconceptions as they arise is too little, too late. Doctrinal stability is best addressed proactively by giving pastors and leaders a solid grounding in Bible doctrines and principles of interpreting the Bible, and practice in walking out the doctrines they hold.
Socially, we believe we will have a strategic impact on the society at large by training church leaders who have a different approach to leadership than is traditional for Africa. Through training of national church leaders, first the church and then the continent at large could benefit from acquaintance with a model of leadership that serves, so that through direct ministry and indirect influence of the Church, Africa could make progress toward meeting the needs of her diverse people. We endeavor to teach students to pastor their communities and not just their congregations. This seemingly small change in thinking has had dramatic results where it has taken hold.
If you want even more background about us and what we do, check out our newsletter archive.
