"Can a nation be saved in a day?" In a word, Yes! Can they be discipled in a day? In two words, No way!
Today, in 2010, the world is experiencing unprecedented revival. In fact, evangelical Christianity is expanding at a rate more than three times as fast as the world population--most of this exponential growth occurring in the Third World. Just think: In A.D. 100, there were 360 non-Christians for every true believer. Today the ratio is less than seven to every believer. What does this mean? God is winning!
Even more disconcerting to us, 95 percent of these pastors have been placed in the pulpit as brand-new believers themselves--without any opportunity for further ministry training. What does that produce? I hate to say it, but it produces babies teaching babies.
This is why it's critical that pastors get the training they need--training that goes far beyond books, binders and broadcast media, though they are certainly critical components of a pastor's training.
Pastors need our help! Many of them are living and working in nations that you have a stake in--both financially and through your faithful prayers. Because of this, I'm asking you to send your most generous gift today so that together we can continue to give them the resources they so desperately need to first get discipled themselves and then to mentor/teach/train others.
One of our newly trained pastors received this comment from a young Indonesian convert:
"I'm a new believer and so thankful for your Bible teaching. I want to know more about the Bible. Would you send me a Bible? I want to read the Bible!"
Can you imagine having such a love for God's Word before you even receive a Bible to read, let alone own one? This just shows the hunger that is out there among new converts in other countries to know the meat of God's Word--a Word that well-trained pastors cannot give them unless you and I make it possible!
Because of this great need, we're more serious than ever in our commitment to disciple and train as many indigenous pastors as possible--as quickly as possible--so that they can become "disciplers" themselves.
Won't you help me train more pastors so they can, in turn, disciple those whom God has committed to their care? The alternative--to allow new believers to remain babies in Christ all their lives--is unacceptable to me. I think it is to you too.
A Progress Report
We had some great successes last year. See examples of the progress in Ecuador & Brazil. Or, read some powerful quotes from overseas pastors themselves.
Get Involved
Your gift will help in the spiritual care & feeding of pastors overseas.