Project Description
Formed in 2011, the Pastoral Leadership Institute trains grassroots pastors who have received the call of God, but do not have formal theological training. The three-year course focuses on making disciples of Christ who are transformed holistically. Graduates are given a cow to sustain their families with while they continue in ministry.
THE NEED
Grassroots pastors in East Africa are not paid and their families suffer while they work in ministry
There is a shortage of pastors in DR Congo and other regions because of the hardships in the calling
Grassroots pastors do not have formal theological training due to financial or educational constraints
Africa suffers from poor leadership and needs strong disciples of Christ to lead by example
PLI TRAINING
A three-year program with two training sessions a year
Training courses take place in Musanze, Rwanda
Pastors and their wives from Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, and Kenya attend
Educators from the U.S. and Africa teach theology, biblical values, business development, and holistic transformation
HOLISTIC TRANSFORMATION
PLI training empowers the learner to think critically, to love both God and others, and to bring change in his or her community
Process of holistic transformation takes place through divine revelation, self-reflection, written material, and one another
Graduates leave intellectually enlightened and economically empowered through the gift of a cow to provide for their families
Congratulations to the Class of 2021!
In October, 60 men and women completed their 3-Year training, which had been delayed due to Covid-19. These leaders traveled from Kenya, Rwanda and the DRC for every conference held in the past 4 years. Most traveled by bus for hours or even days or flew to another country in order to attend. Churches and their Pastors and highly trained theologians from the United States sponsored and taught each of the conferences.
“The main problem in the African continent at the church and national level is that of poor leadership. All leaders in our continent have sight, but not many have vision”
Dr. Faustin Ntamushobora
Dr. Faustin and Florah have been invited to speak at several churches about the biblical instructions and importance for self-reliance and stewardship. Their teachings are shared in the Self-Reliance manual for churches and ministries that has now been translated from English into Kinyarwanda and French with 900 copies total printed and being distributed throughout Kenya, Rwanda and DR Congo.
BACK TO THE BIBLE CONFERENCE
The purpose of the Back to the Bible Conference is to train and equip pastors from the Great Lakes Region of Africa (Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo, Uganda and Kenya) in expository teaching of the books of the Bible by walking them through a series of expository lectures of a selected book of the Bible per year. The objective is to teach them new interpretive skills and gain a mastery of the books’ contents. Thus, they will be empowered to take this training back to their local churches and feed the congregation, train up-and-coming leaders and empower current leaders with God’s Word.
One-week conference to continue theology training after graduation
Exposition of one book of the Bible
100 grassroots pastors from Rwanda, Burundi, and the DR Congo come together to study a chosen book and methods of interpretation
They work on how to apply the teaching in their lives, families, and community
“We’re interested in sponsoring a conference.”
Each conference is sponsored by a church. Their pastors visit Africa to teach an in depth study on a book of the bible. The church hosts the accommodations for all attendees. For more information on what sponsoring a conference entails, please fill out the form and we will be in touch with more information.
“Too often education is equated with knowing something, or being able to do something, and does not form us and transform us into godly people who are salt and light in the world”
Dr. Kevin E. Lawson
The cow project grew out of the Pastoral Leadership Institute as a resource to aid in the holistic transformation of pastors lives. The distribution of cows at graduation from the Pastoral Leadership Institute empowers grassroots pastors, allowing them to financially support their families while continuing in their ministry.
THIS IS NO ORDINARY GIFT
Economic asset for Rwandan family
Manure fertilizes depleted soil
Milk provides nutrition and income
First calf gift to neighbor promotes unity
OTHER ANIMALS
A different animal is given if the pastor does not have suitable facilities for a cow
Goat meat is favored in Rwanda and these are popular breeding animals
Pigs are prized for their large offspring which can be sold at the market