Training Pastors Worldwide

Greetings from Monrovia, Liberia – Grace Life Bible College, Seminary, and Church. My three-month assignment has only begun and I am overwhelmed at the quality of the ministry, the leaders, the students, and the graciousness of the Liberian church. It’s been a delightful first twelve days in Liberia. Let me count the ways…

I was greeted and welcomed by my host with open arms and a very nice apartment – newly finished and ready for other TLI teachers to come also. If you come, you’ll love it.

All my meals are prepared for me and have been superb. We eat together under an African style dining room with the chickens and lizards keeping us good company. The chickens have a vested interest in making sure we don’t eat too much meat but it does them no good.

The students are sharp! They know their Bibles and come ready and willing to learn. We have been in class for 3 1/2 hours for six days. I will teach for another hour and a half Monday morning and then give them their final test. If you are interested in trying your hand at the test, just send me an email request and I’ll shoot you a copy. I’ll grade it with grace, if you’d like:). You might want to read 1 and 2 Samuel carefully beforehand.

The students who came a week ago Friday, for an all- day session, are being trained to teach our non-formal curriculum. It was a full and worthwhile day. We covered two of the ten lessons in Course One. They will return in February and in March to finish the rest of the course.

Good news: The College and Seminary have received funding to finish about 2/3rds of their new building as you can see the photos. Work is progressing and the future is bright for Grace Life Bible College, Seminary, and Church.

Thanks for reading and praying. Please pray for these men as they take the test and return to their churches. I will see them again in February for a seven-day class on the Gospels and Acts.

I’m preaching in the morning at Grace Life Church. Time for lights out here.

Bob

Hello friends and family,

Here’s is our most recent, October 31, family picture – note the really cool costumes – Toy Story themed. Included are Vickie’s mom, who has been staying with us for several months, and her sister visiting from Wyoming. The family resemblance is quite remarkable. One of us is featured on the iPhone. Covid kept him in Chicago for the holidays:(( Our little playground photo shoot was a lot of fun.

Liberia News – January to March 2021

Tuesday morning, January 5, I board a flight at LAX and arrive in Liberia Wednesday night at 10:40pm. Two days later, Friday, I meet in class with 12 men all day. I will be teaching them how to teach our non-formal curriculum. Please pray for them and pray for me. It will be a long, good, productive day.

Sunday morning I kick off a series on the book of Colossians, at Grace Life Church, which meets at the Bible College and Seminary. I will be team teaching/preaching through this great book while I’m in Liberia.

Monday morning I begin teaching for 3 1/2 hours each day 1 and 2 Samuel. There will be approximately 20 students from 5 countries in West Africa. My goal is to give them a good understanding of the contents of 1 and 2 Samuel and help them with the skills necessary for understanding and teaching/preaching biblical narrative. The class meets for seven days, excluding Sunday. I will finish on Monday, January 18. Then I take a break before teaching again in February.

I will be mentoring with students one-to-one, teaching two more formal classes in February, preaching on Sundays and helping with setting up the library for the schools.

On the left are the textbooks for my classes. The most important is the one on the right. Make it your lifelong companion.

The little book next to the Bible is packed with insight for interpreting biblical narrative. It is required reading for my class on 1 and 2 Samuel.

“God’s Design for the Church” is a brand new volume written by an African pastor for the African church. It also is required reading for my Pastoral Theology class.

In February I will teach “Introduction to the N.T. – Gospels and Acts.” This book by Michael Kruger will be of great help for these pastors in preaching from the New Testament.

And finally, a large volume, The ESV Expository Commentary, Volume 3. It will be a great aid in understanding 1 and 2 Samuel. It will also prove to be a valuable resource in the future if they choose to teach from the historical books of 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles.

All of these books have been purchased at a great discount from the Christian publishers, Crossway and Mentor Press, in order to train church leaders in Africa.

Without your prayers and financial support this trip would not be taking place. A colossal thank you for your help. I will be sending updates on a regular basis and pictures of my students so you can be praying for them. Please pray that they understand the material and that it will help them as they lead their churches.

Thank you,

Bob, for Bob and Vickie