While my recent mission to West Africa is fresh in my mind, I want to share with you an outline of what God accomplished during our time there. CPC’s commitment to training African leaders is bearing fruit in remarkable ways and is contributing to the growth of Christ’s Kingdom throughout this region.
WEEK ONE: AKURE, NIGERIA—This was the final session of a Certified Course Instructor (CCI) program in which 35 men were prepared to teach the book of 1Timothy to their fellow Nigerians. The CCI program exponentially expands the reach and influence of our teaching while placing the privilege of teaching God’s Word in the hands of national leaders. Each trainee received a full exposition of 1 Timothy and a teaching outline broken into thirteen lessons. Paul’s first letter to Timothy speaks directly to many of the problems found in the church in Nigeria (and in W Africa in general), so we are confident God’s truth will have a tremendous impact on those who will be taught. This training session is already bearing fruit as these men prepare for their “final exam” by scheduling their own conferences. Dr. Umukoro has reported that quite a number of conferences are in the planning stages.
WEEK TWO: KUMASI, GHANA—Three ELI instructors (Dr. Allen Monroe, Dr. Joel McCall and I) worked together in Kumasi, teaching in two locations simultaneously. The Christian Education Forum brought together nearly 50 leaders from various denominations, while at the Shiloh Bible Training Center for Pastors 180 prospective and active pastors were taught. Every year the program at Shiloh trains 90-100 pastor candidates, by teaching them a basic Bible curriculum. These candidates come from a broad range of evangelical churches.
It was a very productive week as God’s people heard His Word applied to their lives. Seeing how eagerly they embraced Biblical truth, even when it conflicted with their own practices, was stunning! As a direct result, ELI has been asked to send “visiting instructors” to Shiloh twice each year.
WEEK THREE: AFLAO, GHANA—This was a new venue for ELI, working with Baptist pastors from along the Ghana/Togo border. Joel McCall and I had a great time working through 1 Timothy with them. I think this was the first time some of them had ever heard expository teaching, and they were enthralled. The translation into Ewe, the local language, cut our time in half, but God’s Word worked powerfully among them. Again, we were invited to return to continue our teaching of the Scripture.
WEEK FOUR: ACCRA, GHANA—About 60 senior church leaders met at the Prisons Interdenominational Church to hear the instruction from 1 Timothy. Although the time was short, God’s truth challenged them in both their personal and ministerial lives. This conference has already begun to open many new doors for ministry in this city of 3 million. It will become a regular venue for ELI, and I expect our teaching there to have a strong impact on the churches in Accra.
We truly enjoyed God’s presence throughout this trip. The Spirit’s power was evident: protecting us on the road in Nigeria, aiding us as we taught, opening new opportunities for ministry and giving the students in each venue a willingness to listen to the Word. Thank you for praying.
Pastor Steere