Training Pastors Worldwide

I’m finishing up a three week teaching trip to Minnesota and Sierra Leone. Graduation after three years and nine one-week courses was a grand celebration. Sierra Leonians love parties! Many students who spoke from well prepared notes relayed how much their whole approach to teaching/preaching/shepherding has been radically transformed because of the training.

Thank you for making this possible through your encouragement, prayer and financial support.

Here are a few pics.

Thanks for reading and looking,

Bob and Vickie

I’m back. South Africa has been a wonderful experience. The students have grown in their teaching and preaching abilities. This will be my last trip to South Africa for now. We are looking to open up new training sites in new countries so stay tuned.

Students in Queenstown.

Thank you for reading. It truly is a great work God has allowed us to be a part of.

Bob and Vickie

I’m on a short trip hiatus. Thinking. Studying. Preparing. Strategizing. For Africa.

Here’s my Summer/Fall schedule:

Aug 8-15 – preaching in N. California and touching base with supporters

Aug 22 – Sept 9 – Sierra Leone, Psalms/Proverbs and Habakkuk

Sept 16 – 30 – South Africa, Psalms/Proverbs and Revelation

Oct 20 – 24 – Minneapolis staff meeting/safety training

Oct 24 – Nov 9 – Sierra Leone, Ephesians and Revelation

And now for some fun pics.

The following article discusses the syncretism that has invaded much of the African church. It helps us to see our own special USA brand of the same malady.

Thank you for reading, giving, and praying. I’m looking forward to a busy next several months.

Bob and Vickie Burris

I’m sitting in my non-heated room, soaking in the flavors of the winter season in South Africa. Last week we met in Kimberley and studied Mark with a group of 18 – excellent students and a very fruitful time. Yesterday, in Queenstown with another group, we finished “principles of interpreting prophetic literature.” It was a hard week. Isaiah was our book. Prophetic literature is not easy – but it was good. We finished the curriculum and are looking forward to the next session in September/October – Revelation, and Poetry: Psalms and Proverbs. Here are a few highlights from the last two weeks.

Every text contributes to our knowledge of God’s plan, work, and character/attributes. Here is the list from our workshop on Isaiah. My favorite is “no naps.”

We stopped by a wildlife refuge, 5 minutes from our B and B, and for $3.00 we toured for an hour. Here are few pics of our interesting friends that we met, briefly: warthogs, a herd of red hartebeests, black wildebeests, a baboon, a giraffe, 5 rhinos, multitudes of springboks, zebras, a secretary bird, and some blesbok. $3.00 well spent.

And our new friends were hanging with their friends. A group of zebras is called a “dazzle.”

Students give their mini-sermons and I encourage them and I give a few pointers afterwards.

Here’s the group from the first week’s seminar on Mark’s Gospel. A very capable group.

A day to relax and walk along the shoreline in Fish Hoek.

The Isaiah group met in the Presbyterian church’s building. The church was founded in 1862 and remains a faithful gospel preaching body.

It was cold. No heat in the classroom or the B and B. Fortunately I brought gloves, wool socks, insulated pants, and my TLI beanie..

This friend came within 30 feet of the car. We stayed inside.

Workbooks, open Bibles, discussion – all day – every day, Intense. I gave MIQ a nickname – MI6.

My little but mighty speaker allows us to listen to the Bible. Most of the students are oral learners. We follow along in our Bibles and then begin the work of interpretation.

The first two days we met in a Baptist church and then we transferred over to a nearby Presbyterian church.

These cards help us locate each book and text in the larger message and story of the Bible. The picture below shows the finished product with some explanation. If you are interested in more information about the story of the Bible send me an email.

I head home in an hour. 45 hours and I will be home. Friday, we will begin the drive to Colorado Springs for our annual TLI conference. It’s been busy but always good.

Thanks for giving, praying and encouraging. These students would not have access to this training without your commitments.

Bob

I’m sitting in the Newark airport waiting for my next flight, 15 hours to Johannesburg, for two weeks of biblical training.

This will be, approximately, my 60th week of training in seven countries, in almost six years with TLI. I’ve ministered to hundreds of pastors and church leaders who have little or no opportunities for pastoral training. Thank you for praying, giving, and encouraging me. You have truly made this possible.

Please pray for the students: travel, attentiveness, health, consistency in attendance.

Pray for me: smooth travel, clarity when teaching, health.

Here’s a pic from our recent Expository Team Training retreat in Wisconsin, and a family pic and video.

After our bi-annual staff meeting in Minneapolis, I headed to Sierra Leone for two weeks of training. I’ve included some pictures with commentary and some excellent links. My next trips will be a staff meeting in April-May and the two weeks in South Africa in May-June.

Here’s a link to a sermon I preached at my home/sending church, 2 Samuel 16. The essential nature of forgiveness as seen in King David and Jesus.

The following is a recent Joni Eareckson Tada contribution fueled by a lifetime of faithfulness in suffering. Here’s why she refuses to grumble.

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/worse-than-any-affliction

And another short article, “Who would I be if I were happy?” by Trevor Wax! Excellent

https://mailchi.mp/bb76e6524bb6/who-would-i-be-if-i-was-happy?e=1b4745dd06

It was a long stretch of training. I’m glad to be home for a bit. Thanks for reading, praying, and giving.

Bob

I’m home from an exciting and very profitable 9 day trip to South Africa. The students received a grasp of how to interpret the epistles (Romans – Revelation) and as a bonus, the overall message of Ephesians. Everyone was very pleased, and we are anticipating the next session in June – Prophetic Literature: Isaiah and in Kimberly, Mark. Here are a few pictures of our time together

I’m headed to Minneapolis on Monday for a week of meetings and then to Sierra Leone for two weeks. Please pray for the students that they would grasp the principles and the enduring truths of the gospel of Mark and Ephesians.

Thank you for reading, praying, and giving.

Bob and Vickie

Hello friends. Here’a a quick update:

Monday morning I leave for Queenstown, South Africa where I will be training a group of church leaders in skills for understanding epistles.

I will be using Ephesians to model and teach these skills. I will also lead the students to discover for themselves the glories of God as unfolded by Paul in Ephesians.

My shoulder is much better, I’m ready to travel, and the time spent recuperating was used studying: Ephesians, oral learning cultures, and developing a more focused orality teaching approach to help my students grasp the Scriptures. Some of my reading is pictured below.

I will return to California from South Africa, be home for 5 days, go to Minneapolis for staff meetings, and then depart for 2 weeks in Sierra Leone.

This will be a busy year: 11 training trips in Africa, and 3 week-long staff meetings in Minneapolis. Pray that each training will be fruitful.

And please pray for the students in South Africa, that they would grasp the concepts, and be amazed by the cosmic view of eternity from Ephesians about the work of God in the church, in the world, and in the coming ages, Ephesians 1:9-12, 3:10, 11. If you can, please read/pray/paraphrase/plead the prayers in Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:14-21, for my students.

Thank you for praying and giving and reading,

Bob

Here are some pics from the last few months.

And some of my reading for the last couple of months. The biography of Elisabeth Elliot is excellent.

Thank you for praying! My recovery from shoulder surgery is going well. I should be traveling to South Africa the first part of February, and then back to the U.S. for TLI staff meeting in Minneapolis, then two weeks in Sierra Leone.

And thank you for praying: I’ve been busy studying and working on the book of Ephesians to make our training more accessible to those who are oral learners.

First – Thanksgiving pic.

Our pastor, Ric Rodeheaver, is preaching through the book of 2 Samuel. It’s excellent. Check it out at CCCLH.org. I was privileged to preach 2 sermons on chapter 7.

And lastly, a couple of insightful, short articles on evangelism.

My planned four weeks in Africa has been changed due to an injury at the gym trying to stay healthy and fit. I had shoulder surgery, Thursday, and will recoup for the next several months before I can travel again.

The good news is that I will be working on our TLI courses to better reach students who learn through storytelling, symbols, and a variety of teaching techniques more in line with African culture and orality. Most of the world’s population are oral learners. This includes Africa and the U.S.

The following video is from my last trip to Sierra Leone. Great students, great weeks of teaching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9r17AfE45k

Please pray for the team going to Freetown and Makeni without me.

In the meantime, I’ve added a few pictures and a couple of links to articles that I have found helpful.

The last link is a famous sermon by John Piper that influenced a gereration of students.

Thanks for praying and giving.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/idealism-identity-politics-guilt/?amp

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/missions-could-make-you-sick/

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/boasting-only-in-the-cross

It was a great trip with some very good co-teachers. The students are especially grateful for the training, and they wish to express their appreciation to you for praying and giving. I remind them regularly of your prayer and financial support without which I would not be able to come.

I will be home for a month now and then leave again October 9 for a week of staff meetings, then 2 weeks in South Africa, and 2 weeks in Sierra Leone. We will be ‘test driving’ some tweeks to our curriculum to accommodate those whose learning preferences are more oral than written.

Kitchen crew making lunch for 50 students in Freetown.

Thanks for looking, and reading, and giving. Our account balance is much healthier now. Additionally, I have seen great progress in the students since we began the training.

Bob.

Tomorrow morning, Thursday, August 24, I leave for 2 1/2 weeks in Sierra Leone. TLI has produced this video which explains why we go and what I will be doing.

https://m.youtube.com/watch/BfOiSmRY-j8

This week I’ve been collecting articles and videos that I thought would be good for you to check out. I also added a link to the recent sermon on retirement I preached at my church, Christ Community in Laguna Hills.

Here is a video from some of TLI’s work up the Amazon River. Click on the link below.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CKsEPjbSl8

From Steve DeWitt, a thought provoking excerpt from his new book.

“The cross is love’s highest human expression and beauty’s ultimate declaration. Before a sunset, mountain range, painting, or song can be relished as beautiful, our souls must awaken to true beauty. The cross and resurrection of Jesus shine as supreme demonstrations of beauty. Everything else is a reflection.” Steve Dewitt, Enjoying God in Everything, p 24

The following insights are from some of my students in South Africa.

“Most of us, we’re being pastored by motivational speakers, and I think this is where it all goes sideways when it comes to the Word of God. Instead of focusing on God, we focus on the things around us. And I feel like if pastors can better equip themselves by getting properly educated regarding the Word of God and then educating others, it’s going to have a trickle effect.”

“I’m grateful to be a part of this training. I trust that after this 3 year course that I will be a better person, that I will have a greater understanding and greater knowledge of who God is and his Word, to be able to handle his Word in a proper manner to teach and to share with my family and friends and colleagues.”

Next, a link to my recent sermon at Christ Community Church.

https://www.ccclh.org/list-of-sermons/?wpfc_preacher=bob-burris

Roots. Local church rootedness. From The United Kingdom.

https://www.ilfordipc.co.uk/blog/

I hope this is helpful.

Bob

69 reasons/considerations to continually bear witness to the truth of Christ’s work on the cross. This is not a complete list.

1. Because eternal conscious punishment, hell, is God’s righteous judgment on all, Revelation 19:11-21; 20:14-15; Matthew 8:12; 13:42; 13:50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30.
2. There is no other way to be saved except by trusting in Christ, Acts 4:12; John 14:6.
3. The Lord strengthens and stands by those who share the gospel, 2 Timothy 4:17.
4. When unbelievers come to faith, they come to their senses, 2 Timothy 2:25-26.
5. When unbelievers come to faith, they are saved from hell, and they know Christ, 1 Peter 3:18.
6. The lost escape from the snare of Satan when they come to faith in Christ, 2 Timothy 2:6.
7. Witnessing is a holy calling, 2 Timothy 1:8-9.
8. When we are obedient to the call to preach the gospel, the power of God is at work in us, 2 Timothy 1:8.
9. The words of the Gospel cannot be bound, they will do their work, 2 Timothy 2:9.
10. When the Gospel is preached to the elect they will be saved, 2 Timothy 2:10.
11. If we never proclaim the gospel, we will be denied by Christ at the judgment, 2 Timothy 2:12; Luke 12:8-9.
12. Paul rejoiced when Christ was proclaimed, Philippians 1:18.
13. The good news of God’s deliverance is glad news, Psalm 40:9.
14. In all four gospels, Jesus’ call to follow him is synonymous with his call to be fishermen for men, Mark 1:17; Matthew 4:19; Luke 5:10; John 20:21.
15. There are blessings and rewards when Christians are persecuted for proclaiming the gospel, Matthew 5:1-12.
16. People glorify God when they hear the words of the gospel, Matthew 5:16.
17. Jesus sends his followers to live and preach in the same way the Father sent him to live and preach, John 20:21.
18. The Abrahamic Covenant is fulfilled when the gospel is proclaimed to all the nations, Genesis 12:1-3.
19. We are commanded to make disciples, which entails going and telling the good news, Matthew 28:16-20.
20. Telling the greatness of the glory of God, as seen most fully in the work of Christ on the Cross, is the means by which the glory of God fills the whole earth, Psalm 67:2; 72:19
21. When the Gospel of the kingdom is proclaimed in every nation, then the end will come, Matthew 24:14.
22. When believers proclaim the testimony of Christ, and die in the process, it fulfills the number of saints who need to die before the end will come, Revelation 6:11; 12:11.
23. Christ wept for the lost, Luke 19:41.
24. Paul wept for the lost, Romans 10:1.
25. Non-believers need to be warned about judgment, Colossians 1:28.
26. The Bible says that the task is so vitally important that every effort, except sin, should be made so that people would believe, 1 Corinthians 9:22.
27. There is rejoicing in heaven when sinners, repent, Luke 15.
28. Jesus’ name means savior, Matthew 1:21.
29. In Jesus’ estimation, preaching the gospel was more important than healing sick people, Mark 1:35.
30. Jesus will crush everyone who rejects him, Acts 2:37.
31. There is no other way to be saved from our sin and God’s wrath, Acts 4:12.
32. Jesus saves all who come to him in repentance and faith, Acts 2:21.
33. The gift of the Holy Spirit is intimately tied to the mandate to witness, Acts 1:8.
34. When Christians evangelize, they are working with God, 2 Corinthians 6:1.
35. We are ambassadors of reconciliation to God, for Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20.
36. We fear God; therefore, we share the gospel, 2 Corinthians 5:11; Luke 12:4-5.
37. When these bodies are destroyed in the caldron of mission work, we get new ones, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.
38. When people are saved, it increases thanksgiving to God, 2 Corinthians 4:15.
39. When we speak of Christ, we are following the example of those who have gone before us, 2 Corinthians 4:13.
40. When we suffer for Christ, there will be an eternal weight of glory awaiting us far beyond comparison to the suffering we endure here, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
41. Evangelism pleases God, 2 Corinthians 5:9.
42. Witnessing is evidence that God’s love has been poured out in our hearts and controls us, Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.
43. Christians are God’s new creatures, made new to proclaim his greatness in the Cross, 2 Corinthians 5:16-18.
44. We know that just as Christ is majestic beyond description, even though we cannot see him, the unsaved are also eternally majestic souls who must be saved, 2 Corinthians 5:16.
45. Jesus came to seek and save the lost and we are called to follow his example, Luke 19:10; John 20:21.
46. The early church went everywhere preaching the word, Acts 8:4.
47. God commands everyone to repent. Most are unaware of this command, Acts 17:30.
48. We have confidence in the message that Jesus can forgive sins because he came back to life, Acts 17:30.
49. Those who preach the good news have beautiful feet, Isaiah 52:7.
50. God is watching over his proclaimed word to accomplish his purposes, Jeremiah:12.
51. We cannot not speak of that which has enflamed our hearts, Jeremiah 20:9.
52. It is the privilege of old age to tell of God’s greatness, Psalm 71:15.
53. We share the good news so that all might worship God, Psalm 117:1; Romans 15:9-11.
54. When we share our faith, God promises to be with us, Matthew 28:20.
55. Sharing the gospel gives Christians great joy, Philippians 1:18.
56. When we evangelize, and endure hardship, persecution, and stresses it gives us great joy, Acts 16.
57. God is a missionary God, John 20:21; Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 3:15; Matthew 1.
58. When you share your faith it gives you joy, Genesis-Revelation.
59. When the called repent, they are changed from God haters to God lovers, Romans 5:5.
60. When the called repent, they become happy, Matthew 5:3-8.
61. New Christians enjoy the fellowship of the Trinity and of the church, 1 John 1:3, 7.
62. Those formerly at enmity with God, are now, followers of Christ and are enlisted as fisherman, Mark 1:17
63. New Christians have moved from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus, Colossians 1:13.
64. All the spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus now belong to those who know God by our efforts, Ephesians 1:3.
65. New Christians bring new life into the body of Christ and help those who have been Christians for a long time new excitement.
66. When Christ returns, we will have reasons to rejoice and glory in those who come to faith by our labour, 1 Thessalonians 2:19.
67. There is a certain kind of joy that we feel when those who we have evangelized stand firm in their faith, 1 Thessalonians 3:8-10.
68. Those who come to faith in Christ will never thirst again, John 4:14.
69. 3.2 billion people have never heard the name of Christ, Romans 1:16-23.

For further reading – Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret.

Vickie and I just completed our 4000 mile trip to encourage missionaries in Utah, attend TLI’s conference in Colorado, and visit family, friends and supporters west of the Rockies. Our trip was absolutely fantastic. We came home encouraged by the fellowship, teaching, and beautiful sites of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Washington. We also drove through parts of Nevada.

Vickie and I arrived back home in California, but then I left four days later for South Africa. Currently it is winter there. Our mission: to train pastors and church leaders at two sites: Kimberley and Queenstown.

In Kimberley we had time for a three hour safari. The temperature was very cold! That’s me layered and bundled up to ward off the wind and cold. It seemed like at every turn, our open-bed touring truck got colder and colder. Fortunately our host gave us blankets, or I would not be writing this letter from Orange but from heaven itself.

Our first training was in the city of Kimberly. There were 20 eager students in a classroom without heat. I was warm while teaching, but the rest of our crew was chilly. We taught skills for interpreting the Gospels using Mark as an example. Great students and a great week.

My favorite memory was when the students were working in groups of three, answering questions from their Bibles, working on honing their understanding based on authorial intent.

Our TLI group spent a couple of nights in Fish Hoek, near Cape Town, before our next scheduled training in Queenstown. Fish Hook is a beautiful, quaint, city south of Cape Town.

Following our days in Fish Hoek we traveled to Queenstown. Our two teaching partners taught a couple of lessons each from the curriculum. One of the teachers alternated between English and the local language dialect as he taught. He was very effective in reaching the students. As always, our goal is to train local leaders to train local leaders.

South Africa is a study in economic disparity. These squatters camps pictured are built using tin roofing. However, as soon as the electricity is provided, via the government, the television satellite dishes go up. The entertainment industry reigns in America and South Africa.

TLI sent its own camera crew with us on this trip: pictures, interviews, and video clips for advancing the mission of TLI. These two ladies look very professional as they record testimonies from students and trainers.

After returning to the United States, I recently attended a TLI Diaspora training in Redlands, CA, here is the link to our Diaspora division. Our Diaspora partner has assembled a very fine group of trainers, using a Spanish version of our curriculum, to equip church leaders and strengthen the church in Southern California.

Thank You: for your prayers, and for you giving, and interest in the ministry of training church leaders.

Bob and Vickie Burris

Pure joy! Cousin bath time at grandpa and grandma’s house.

In just a few days I will begin a busy season of traveling and training. Here’s my/our itinerary. Vickie will be with me in the U.S., but so far, she has not traveled with me to Africa. In the future, South Africa might be a possibility for a trip together.

June 8 – 29: Training Leaders International Annual retreat at Glen Eyrie Navigator’s retreat center in Colorado Springs, CO. We have not had a retreat since 2019, COVID induced. This will be an exciting time, especially for Vickie to meet the guys I work with and their wives. After our 4 days at Glen Eyrie, we will drive to Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and Nevada, to visit supporters and family. I will be home for a few days and then fly to South Africa.

This picture is Glen Eyrie in the winter!

July 4 – 16: Queenstown and Kimberley, South Africa. This will be my first time in South Africa. Our team will be training two groups: In Kimberley we will teach Course 1: Knowing God, Scripture and Ourselves. In Queenstown our agendas will be Course 4: Interpreting the Gospels: Mark. New for for me – it will be winter in South Africa, and the weather will be a little chilly. I will be packing accordingly. My first cold weather trip with TLI!

I’ve never seen this parking warning before, but I will be checking when we are on the coast.

August 24 – September 9: Sierra Leone, Makeni and Freetown. One week in Makeni teaching Course 4, Interpreting the Gospels: Mark. One week in Freetown teaching my favorite course, Course 2: Knowing the Story of the Bible. If anyone is interested in seeing the curriculum, send me an email.

October 9 – 12: Fall staff meeting in Minneapolis.

October 27 – November 11: Sierra Leone, Makeni and Freetown. I will teach course 5 in Makeni: Poetry. In Freetown we will be focusing on Old Testament Narrative and Law. The change from December to November for Sierra Leone training means that this will be the first time in 5 years that I haven’t been in Africa during December.

Shameless grandsons pic.

And finally, the heart of why I go to Africa, a quote from D.A. Carson,

“Should the Lord in His mercy ever pour out large-scale revival on any part of the world where I have influence, I shall devote all my energy to teaching the Word, to training a new generation of godly pastors, to channeling all of this God-given fervor toward doctrinal maturity, multiplication of Christian leaders, evangelistic zeal, maturity in Christ, genuine Christian ‘fellowship.'”

Thank you for praying, giving, sending, and reading.

Bob

Here’s a last minute addition. Article in Christianity Today about worldwide theological education.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/may-web-only/theological-education-global-church-growth-icete.html

Hello friends! Here’s the latest from Africa. The most recent trip was a difficult and yet a good and rewarding adventure. During the first week I was in Minneapolis at staff meetings and then we left for Makeni, Sierra Leone.

We had a very productive 3 weeks of training pastors and church leaders. Here’s a recap and news about future trips.

After our first week (see last blog post) we hiked up the hill behind the Bridge of Hope compound in Makeni on Saturday morning. It was a 1/2 hour climb. Every year the hill is burned the hill to keep the vegetation down. The plants look dead but out of the darkened branchlets come new growth. There is a sermon illustration in there somewhere.

This hike was one of the very rare outings we have taken when we travel to Africa. We had some wonderful hosts at the compound in Makeni but just a little free time and so we enjoyed the morning’s hike together with our guide, Joseph. On the way home back to the center, we met the man who owns the land. His son attends the Bridge of Hope school. The owner was very happy to meet us.

This photo below shows the kitchen that serves lunch to several hundred students every day.

Here is the group from Makeni. We have grown to love these student. Our partner provided all the students with very cool TLI shirts!

Our first official class in Freetown began the Monday morning of our second week in Sierra Leone. We had 45 students and three teachers including me.

We met in the newly constructed block wall classrooms, complete with white boards and fans.

The students came well prepared and were on time. We are looking forward to another great week of training in early September.

During the third week the Sierra Leone American teaching team returned to the U.S., but I took a short flight to Liberia to join 4 other U.S. trainers for another week of instruction.

Three of us team-taught with three Liberian men who have been faithful to their studies and have grown in their faith tremendously over the last 2 years. The ministry in Liberia has been greatly assisted by TLI’s full time, in country, trainer, Ryan Currie. Ryan and his family have been residents of Liberia for the last 15 months and trained, discipled, and loved these men and developed them so that they could ably co-lead our classes.

Unfortunately, this will be TLI’s last trip to Liberia until administrative changes are made with the Monrovia site. The leader, Dyonah Thomas, has breached our trust, in many ways, including finances, and until there is a changes in leadership we departed, for the last time. With sadness we left, but we are trusting God that our labors will bear fruit and that in the future we will be able to return.

For me, this departure means that my two primary training centers will be in Sierra Leone – Makeni and Freetown. I will have some free weeks during the year to travel to other TLI sites and teach.

The picture below is of our final team meal together at the airport restaurant. Tim, on the left next to me, brought his daughter on the trip. She added a little 16 year old perspective and humor that we haven’t experienced before. Fun!

Team teaching requires listening to one another and giving helpful instruction. Tim, seated foreground, is one our our best volunteer teachers ( shout-out to William Tennent School of Theology, WilliamTennent.org ), and he was able to coach and encourage Roland, one of our star trainees.

As always, the students have open Bibles and student handbooks, during the discussions.

Additionally, some of you contributed reading glasses for the students who were having trouble. Here’s a common site in our classrooms – cell phone flashlights for clearer text. All 20 or so pairs of glasses were scooped up, and very much needed and appreciated by the students. THANKS!

I came home happy, encouraged by the progress in Makeni, excited about the new students in Freetown, pleased with the progress over the last two years in the church leaders in Liberia, and sad that our time there is over for now. Please pray with me for all three sites and that the difficulties in Liberia can be overcome.

Thanks,

Bob

It’s Thursday evening in Sierra Leone. We’ve had four days of training. Tomorrow we will finish Course 3: Learning to Interpret Narrative and Law in the Old Testament. It’s been a great week but we are tired. We arrived on Friday night after a long, long, long, flight and a three hour drive in the African darkness. We preached on Sunday morning in local churches and then started teaching Monday morning, 8:30am.

It has been a delight to teach with these men who have sacrificed much to come to Sierra Leone. Saturday, we will drive to Freetown for another week with a new cohort of church leaders.

Here are a few pics of the week so far.

Left: check out the fried diced chicken, beef, and shrimp menu item at a local hotel. I was tempted to order it…but chickened out.

Below is the outdoor kitchen our two cooks use to serve lunch to the students and our team’s breakfast and dinner.

Notice below the cool shirts that our Partner in Makeni had printed up for the students.

These are my favorite times in class. The students work in groups to read and discover the details of the passage. Then they return and give a short group report. I always have to stop their reading, searching and discussion to hear their insights.

https://africa.thegospelcoalition.org/article/africa-the-prosperity-gospel-and-the-problem-of-unguarded-churches/

The link above will give you some idea of the state of the church in Africa and why we train pastors and church leaders.

And lastly, our family Christmas picture. Thanks for reading. I’ll post again next week in Freetown if the internet cooperates. Bob

Africa [internet slow] would not let me upload videos so here are a few for you to enjoy. Plus a few new pics.

Great trip. Great time in Makeni, Sierra Leone, teaching the story of the Bible. Students are progressing very well. I’m ready to return in March.

Reciting the story of the Bible and how each book fits. It’s perfect. And from Moses!

Avi, who travels from Ivory Coast for our training with his appeal and mine.

They cook breakfast for four of us, then lunch for forty, then dinner for four. With a smile.

Singing at 8:30am as they come to morning devotions.

Straight from the market. Paper or plastic? Plastic.

That’s it for now. Thank you for praying and asking and giving and reading.

Bob and Vickie Burris

We have 30 pastors, leaders and student in our classes this week. Here is our summary sentence for Course Two, the story of the Bible: For His glory, God is reconciling the world to himself under King Jesus, and God has revealed His plan and work from Genesis to Revelation.

That sentence sums up 5 days of teaching. There are no words available to describe the privilege of presenting, discussing, and teaching skills to interpret and apply the story of the Bible to church leaders who have never heard this approach to Scripture.

Thank you for praying, encouraging, and giving so that these men and women can be more effective as church leaders in Africa.

Late Saturday night on the 3 hour trip from the airport in Freetown to Makeni.

55 lbs. bags of rice for a struggling city where most live at a subsistence level. The Bridge of Hope brings the light of the Gospel, schools, medicine, and hope for the hungry. TheBridgeofHope.us

Life is lived-out, outside.

In a remote village the tire toy bring hours of good play.

Sunday is washing day.

Church.

In this church the men are with their kids!! The “lonely” ladies are on the other side.

I preached for 40 minutes and then saw this: my 20 minute time slot.

Our energetic breakfast lady delivers with style.

It’s Thursday evening. We’ve had a great week teaching and interacting with the students. We’ve fielded a multitude of questions and pushed through 9 lessons. We will finish tomorrow morning and begin the trek home. Thanks again for praying,

Bob

On the way to preach at a new church. Sunday is laundry day.

It is a day of “rest” with many chores. Hauling water, cooking over coal, washing, taking care of children… it never ends.

Church at “Sevens”. That’s the name of the town.

Tears.

Morning preparation. Electricity was fairly spotty. My rechargeable lamp and fan worked well.

Morning reading moves outside when the sun comes up. You can see, look closely, I share the space with my termite friends.

She keeps the floors clean! Vital. Sweet, sweet lady.

Seventh grade history lesson on how Liberia was founded. On a ship from Georgia and Virginia.

The school kids are always excited to see us.

Group work.

Lesson summaries by one of my fellow teachers.

Building materials. The work is progressing but stops when we come. Too much racket.

Apocalyptic sunset.

And lastly, my grandson practicing on his equine friend.

This week I’m in Sierra Leone. Teaching the story of the Bible. Thanks for looking, reading, praying and giving.

Bob

After a long trip (including 11 hours in the D.C. United Airlines lounge watching the World Cup with other enthusiasts) I arrived safely to my comfy home digs in Liberia late Sunday night.

Progress is being made on the second story of the education wing! Plastering is continuing on the walls, the front gate is almost built, air-conditioners are installed on the first floor and materials are being gathered for more work.

Below: students bringing chairs upstairs to unfinished classrooms.

Monday morning, with 25 eager students, we jumped into the messages of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. Five days, five hours a day we looked at world history, biblical history, the drama of redemption and the unique messages of each of the books. The students are growing in their understanding and are very open to new truths. They come from Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Liberia. They will stay another week to learn how to interpret and communicate poetry in the Psalms.

Please pray for Africa. The church is inundated with false prophets, health, wealth, prosperity teaching, and immorality. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel warn of all these in stark terms.

The items shown below are essential in Liberia: rechargeable battery lantern/bug-zapper, instant coffee, and drinking water.

Monday we will begin teaching Understanding and Communicating Poetry. My two teaching team members arrived safely last night.

Commuting ( is there room for one more?), classroom photo, and laundry day. Notice the air conditioner on the wall in the classroom. Total. Game. Changer!! And! The rug. And the lights!

Below: drying laundry on the grass before it rains. Almost every day we have several hours of good hard rain. And notice the razor wire that now sits atop the fence around our compound.

More essentials: Story of the Bible review cards (I will be teaching this at church in January to introduce the book of Jeremiah), TLI pens as classroom motivation, ditto with the candy, rechargeable battery fan for hot days, 220v to 110v converter, CPAP back-up battery for power outages.

I will send another update next week. Thanks for praying.

Bob

Note my world famous grandsons.

Here’s the latest on my next trip: three weeks in Africa.

I leave Friday, Nov. 25, at 7pm, for LAX and arrive in Liberia 54 hours later, Sunday evening. The high cost of airline tickets is to blame for this one.

One week in Liberia teaching the prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel.

Grandkids below. First responders!

The following week will also be in Liberia teaching skills for interpreting Psalms and Proverbs: Course 5 in TLI’s 9 course curriculum. I will be joined by two other seasoned teachers from the U.S. Our classes will be fairly large: 20 students each. 

Week three will be in Sierra Leone teaching the Story of the Bible: Course 2.

Below: Early morning hours in India from about 10 years ago.

I will also be meeting with our partner in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and finalizing preparations for a new training site.

Please pray for the students. They are giving up much to come to the training. Pray also that they will be able to grasp the concepts and that it will affect their teaching and preaching. 

Thanks, 

Bob and Vickie

P.S. Our account balance is in need of some generous giving. If you are able to give a one time gift, or begin a monthly commitment, go to the GIVE tab on our website and follow the prompts. Thanks.