Pastor's Workshop (Rick Calenberg)

Today was the second day of the Pastors’ Workshop on Biblical Preaching being held at the Uduk Church in Yabus town. So far 24 pastors (mostly lay elders) have come for this weeklong training. One of my supporting churches supplied the money to feed these men, some who have trekked in for hours to be here.

On the first day, I challenged them with the responsibility to “Preach the Word” (the theme of the workshop) and gave five reasons why preaching the Bible (not personal opinion or telling stories) is so crucial to the spiritual well being and growth of the flocks they help shepherd. Some of these men are very young (early 20s) and very young in the faith. They constitute the leadership of churches newly planted in their areas. Some are Uduks who have Genesis, Psalms and the New Testament translated into their language. Others are Mabaan who likewise only have the NT. The Gonza and Koma have no Scriptures in their language and are listening in Uduk. Some of these men cannot read. I think you are beginning to understand the challenge of helping this group of spiritually hungry and teachable men be able to preach the Word of God to their people!

I am giving the some basic principles of Bible study as the basis of trying to understand the meaning of a text of Scripture. Tonight they are looking at Luke 5:16-26 and having to answer the Who? What? When? Where? Why? questions. It will be very interesting to see what they come up with. Africans tend to spiritualize the interpretation of the Bible and make immediate application of a passage often missing the basic meaning. A logical sequential process of asking questions of the text to understand what it meant back then before asking how it applies today is not part of their way of thinking or approach to the Bible. So, assuming they can understand what they are reading, we have a big task to help these men become biblical preachers!

Please pray for me and for my translator, Joseph Malkan. He is the only ordained man in the district and only one who really hears my English. Pray that he will be able to interpret what I am saying about interpreting the Bible! There are three more days of the conference and I hope to also speak to them on spiritual, servant leadership.