From October 16th to 20th, we hosted one of our largest pastoral conferences in partnership with the Living Word Fellowship Church in Houston, TX. The event brought together 41 men and 32 women to learn about theology, the Bible, leadership, and counseling. There were five classes running simultaneously, allowing participants to select classes that aligned with their ministry needs. This arrangement provided them with sufficient time to delve into the subject matter and they greatly appreciated it.
The conference was led by a team of facilitators from the United States and Haiti, including Mrs. Sandra Phillips, Pastor Paul Cannings, Mrs. Brenda White, Mrs. Valarie Miller, Pastor Keith Treadwell, Pastor Audrely Swain, Mrs. Epsie Swain, Miss Michelle Turner, Pastor Jean Joseph, and Rev. Keron Brown. The chairman of the US board, the chairman of the Rwanda board, and the Africa director also participated in the conference.
The women learned about effective bible study methods for teaching the Bible, Christology, counseling techniques for survivors of sexual abuse and rape, counseling for families in crisis, empowering women for leadership roles, and other relevant topics. Their enthusiasm for learning was evident, as demonstrated by one of them who approached me and asked, “What can I do to understand the Christology class that we will be starting tomorrow?” She explained that she wanted to deepen her understanding of Christ so that she could follow him faithfully and have a good end. She eagerly anticipated the class and actively engaged in it.
The same eagerness to learn and grow characterized the men who attended the training. They thoroughly walked through the historical books and the gospels, learned about Christology, soteriology, how to build a cohesive leadership team, effective Bible teaching techniques, and how to resolve conflicts in their churches and in their marriages. Pastor François Niyonzima from the AEBR (Association of Baptist Churches in Rwanda) conveyed his appreciation for the training he received. During the past conferences, he gained insight that during difficult times, a congregation can grow instead of being weakened. This realization helped him navigate through challenging times when he was appointed as a pastor of struggling church. He kept in mind that obstacles can be transformed into opportunities for growth. As a result, the church is now flourishing and has established a Bible institute
Despite the overall success of the conference, a significant obstacle arose as certain rooms proved inadequate to accommodate all the participants. During one of the sessions, participants had to sit in the doorways. This emphasizes the urgency for the completion of the Thousand Hills International University building, which will be used for conferences when students are not on campus, and that will provide a suitable facility for conferences. Before everyone left, a survey was conducted at the conclusion of the conference to identify the essential classes that should be incorporated into future programs. To enhance the program’s effectiveness, the facilitators and the TLAfrica team, during a review meeting, decided to develop a five-year program comprising four tracks: Theology, Biblical studies, Ministry studies, and counseling. Trainees will have the opportunity to select their desired classes according to the needs of their ministries and subsequently register for them in advance.
In addition to their training, the facilitators were actively involved in ministry within local churches. On the Sunday prior to the conference, October 14th, Pastor Paul Cannings preached at Evangelical Restoration Church Rubavu. Following his message, his team presented a generous gift to assist in covering school fees for high school students from low-income families. Pastor Keith Treadwell, the chairman of the US board, led the congregation in prayer for the students. The following Sunday, October 22nd, the team gathered for fellowship at Evangelical Friends Church of Nyamagumba, where Pastor Treadwell delivered a sermon. Engaging in local church ministry allows facilitators and trainees to interact not only during the conference, but also within the setting of the local church ministry which enhances their understanding of one another.
During their stay, the US team had the opportunity to visit the construction site and were astonished by the progress made since their last visit. In unison, they expressed their gratitude to God for the provision thus far and prayed for further support to ensure the timely completion of the building. You can watch an interview with Ivan and Tina Chung as they visited THIU.
Reported by Solange Balikunde,
TLAfrica Rwanda
