Crosslinks October 2005 magazine

TEE is a way of enabling people to study without attending a fulltime residential college.

In the south of the Diocese of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, there are around 200 pastors and evangelists who are studying and upgrading the low level of theological training they may have received. They are gathered into regional study groups and receive regular visits. The level of training varies between basic (over 110 students) and degree. Every two months the Certificate students attend a two-day seminar, and a longer period of intensive training is given at Kiteto Christian College.

The co-ordinator is Peter Mkengi who was ordained a year ago. Having entered into the task with great efficiency he travels around the five Deaneries using his motorbike on very poor roads! Assisted by three helpers covering the outlying areas, Peter is studying for his own degree at the same time.

Student numbers are growing and the work is going well. The TEE work has been accepted as a Crosslinks project and the three-year grant covers Peter’s salary and travelling costs, as well as travel and food for students attending local conferences. If you would like to become involved in supporting the work, please quote code TKP when you send in a donation to Crosslinks.

Mesfin Mekonen

Mesfin Mekonen is a study partner at the Nekemte Christian Education College

“As you know, we are very much grateful for your willingness to sponsor our student who has now completed his second year study of Theology in our college. During his stay at the college within the last year he has worked hard academically by which he has proven to be the best student. Both devotionally and spiritually his life has been inspiration for other students and the community in our college. His ministry in some of the congregations in the town as part of his education (field education) has been so great and we are all grateful for the gift God has given him to serve him and his people.”

This year Crosslinks is involved in Schools of Biblical Training held in Myanmar, Cuba, India, Bolivia and Tanzania. They may often run for one or two weeks, longer than some people are able to give.

So in India, as well as the bi-annual SBTs, they are starting a monthly half-day training. A group of church leaders in Delhi have begun the seminars to excite people about, and equip people for, Bible teaching in local churches.

The initial studies were on the priority and power of Bible teaching, followed by a Bible overview. The third covered how to understand the Bible. The teaching, which is given in Hindi, is split between church leaders and church members. On the church leaders’ day, there is a preaching workshop so that people can encourage each other to improve their preaching.

The aim is for growing momentum, resulting in lives and churches transformed through the teaching and living out of God’s Word.

“There seems to be a great hunger for God’s Word in Delhi and a recognition that we need help if we’re to handle it correctly.”