After four encouraging weeks in Africa with Bible hungry students, I’m home.
The first week in Makeni, Sierra Leone, we completed Course One our nine course curriculum with thirty-two students. In the video below you can see the two men from the Bridge of Hope who came to help mentor the pastors. It was a privilege to be a part of their team.
Then another week in the capital, Freetown, preaching through 1 Timothy. It was a missionary dream: motivated students, hard discussion, and always going back to the Bible when things were in question. Each attendee received a copy of Conrad Mwebe’s book, “God’s Design for the Church: A guide for African Pastors and Ministry Leaders.”
My first week in Liberia with a super team of trainers was hot and hard, but super cool and rewarding. We covered Course Three: the art of interpreting biblical narrative and Old Testament Law – it never ceases to inspire. My last week at GraceLife College I read and explained Romans for 20 hours, verse by verse, line by line, following Paul’s reasoning closely. We read the whole book except for a few verses.
Thank you for reading, looking, praying and giving!
Bob
African pastors need resources. The apostle Paul asked for parchments/books at the end of 2 Timothy and so we too need resources to help us with the book of books – the Bible.
On this trip we brought a handbook on church/pastoring for African pastors, written by an African pastor. Every single attendee wanted one. But in the absence of books there are some great online sites. I’ve listed them here.
And these are not just for African pastors. They are for pastors, church members, churches in the United States, and around the world.
Challies.com His name is Tim Challies – a Canadian. He has a web site and a daily blog with links to Kindle deals, somewhat uneven in their quality, but some very good books at hugely reduced prices. I have reverted to Kindle books because of my travel. He also has links to other sites every day. Hardly a day passes that I don’t read something he has posted with great benefit.
The Gospel Coalition. A warehouse of great articles, sermons, and blogs. Trustworthy. GospelCoalition.org
Desiring God. A treasure: sermons, articles and free PDF books. John Piper and others. DesiringGod.org
NetBible.org An all purpose site with Bible study materials.
9Marks.org A ministry founded out of Capital Hill Baptist in Washington D.C. Great resources and handy 9Marks books on the church.
World Magazine. The news from a solid Christian worldview. World.wng.org
The Berean Test. A Christian song review site. Give it a try. I like it. TheBereanTest.com
Ligonier.org Everything from a gentler Reformed perspective. You’ll enjoy the material. R.C. Sproul was the founder.
Gospel Coalition Africa! Yes. A great resource for African pastors and churches. There’s a link below that I’m requiring my students to read and write about. The prosperity gospel, not really the gospel, has invaded the continent like a hoard of locusts. Brought from the U.S. and syncretized with ancestor worship and witchcraft, it has taken on an existence that will move you to your knees. I pray daily for God to open eyes to see the error. They have taken the Holy Spirit, put him in a Trojan Horse, and now they’ve let him loose so they can play with him. That’s one of the reasons I’m here now. https://africa.thegospelcoalition.org/article/a-trojan-horse-in-the-african-church-deliverance-ministry/