Training Pastors Worldwide

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.

Ancestor Worship in the Church

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