Mission Critical - African Gaps
Did you know that Africa will be the global center of Christianity in 37 years? There will be more Christians in Africa than on any other continent; it is mission-critical that we equip and educate pastors in Africa.
Q: Why?
A: The Gaps.
On these last trips, it became increasingly clear to me that what we’re doing is vital. In both Tanzania and South Sudan, we found that many of the pastors who oversee churches or groups of churches had areas of misunderstanding about the basics of the Christian faith. Examples:
About half in class didn’t believe that Christ’s work on the cross was enough for salvation and that we don’t have to do good works to earn our salvation.
Many of the pastors we trained could not clearly describe how to lead a non-believer to Christ.
Many of them shared that some people in their church go to witch doctors, wear charms, worship ancestors, and then come to church on Sunday and some are not convinced that it’s wrong.
These pastors are doing the best they can, but because of the gaps in their understanding and a lack of education in the Scriptures, they are limited. There’s a lot of work to be done to equip them better understand the Word, preach biblically, and lead churches that genuinely honor Christ. The reason is that 80% of pastors in the majority world have no formal biblical or ministry education or preparation. They feel the call of God to pastor a church but only know what they’ve heard by listening to the pastor in their church, who might also not have had any formal preparation for ministry. It creates gaps. What we’re doing is mission-critical and making an impact. We’re “standing in the gaps.” It’s making an impact.
who learned how to interpret scripture and prepare a bible-based sermon and then a second class on reaching non-believers so they might know Christ. On these last two trips, 84 pastors were given mission-critical training to better lead their churches; they were challenged to pass it on to other leaders!
The Tanzanian Pastors
The South Sudanese Pastors
I was excited to see that some of the pastors in my Acts class have already started two new Bible studies. They’re taking my class notes and leading their people through the book of Acts to understand mission, evangelism, and Leadership. This is what we want to see – multiplication!
Local Pastor already teaching others what he learned in the Acts class
Another fantastic moment on the trip was when Anastacia, one of the pastor’s wives who was attending, realized that she had never become a believer. She came to us after a session, and we prayed with her to receive Christ. The next day, she began sharing Christ with another unsaved pastor’s wife attending our class. …gaps.
Anastacia Found Christ!
I’m so thankful for your partnership that makes it possible for us to keep investing in leaders who have significant needs and work so hard with so little education and preparation.
More pictures and videos from the recent Tanzania and South Sudan trips visit Photos from the Road at my website:
On The Horizon
ETHIOPIA
My planned Ethiopia trip in March has been postponed because our local leader refuses to take us into the areas we’re planning on going to. There’s a greater probability of kidnapping and violence right now. One such city 150 Christians killed, and the hotel we stayed in was burned down in rioting about a year after we were there. In South Sudan, we can’t walk on the street or drive out of the city since security tells us it is way too dangerous for us. We go where God directs, not where it seems safe. I tell you these things so that you will remember to pray for us daily as we travel and minister in some sketchy places. Pray for peace and a new date for us to get back to Ethiopia.
The remains of our hotel in Shashamene, Ethiopia after the uprising
BURUNDI
Burundi is one of the poorest countries on the globe. We’ve been invited to start a brand-new training for local leaders with very little formal Biblical education. I’ll be traveling there with my good friends, Steve Larson and Doug Posey, and we will be training leaders there this May. This promises to be a genuine Kingdom opportunity. We have excellent people to work with, and the needs in Burundi are off the chart.
RWANDA
I’ll be in Rwanda in early June. I will equip, train, and encourage the pastors who minister to the 30,000 Congolese people living in Nyabiheke Refugee Camp. It will be a great privilege to serve these leaders working in desperate conditions with people in great crisis. More details coming - start praying for great things!
Ministry Here At Home
Andrea and I will be traveling to Phoenix this weekend to meet with many of the 180 Global Training Network staff members to scheme great things for the kingdom, prepare well, and coordinate our efforts.
I have been asked by my friend, outstanding leader, Dr. Antoinette W., to mentor her and assist her in her move from the private sector to full-time missionary ministry. She’s a vibrant African American woman with an incredible education, powerful intellect, and a strategic plan to equip Africans to reach Africans, especially in regions areas that I cannot access with my pale skin (as she has reminded me, lol). This is a Kingdom Multiplying partnership!
I will be preaching at two local churches over the next several months on various Sundays to help out and share my passion for God’s Word, His Mission, and ours!
I will be meeting with several local pastors to encourage, coach, counsel, and help them to move forward in life and ministry.
I continue to meet monthly with Pastor Rudolf in Malawi as we work through a class on Spiritual Leadership. He is currently using this training to equip his people better to grow as leaders and serve their village.
Prayer Needs
Pray for the logistics to come together for this new ministry I’m launching in Burundi and that this new ministry will impact their whole country over time!
Pray for the many challenges and needs in the Nyabiheke Refugee Camp and for the pastors who minister to these folks weekly.
Pray for the safety of our friends, the pastors who live and minister in Ethiopia and Myanmar. They face poverty, unique difficulty, and are in the path of true danger.
Please pray for God’s provision as I continue to work to fully fund our ministry for 2023 and beyond; it’s coming along!
I cannot begin to fully express my gratitude for your partnership in this ministry!
-Chuckk
How To Help
Your continued financial and prayer support make future ministry a reality!
Financial support can be sent directly online at:
This site is entirely safe and secure and makes it quick and simple to support our ministry financially.
For those who prefer to mail paper checks, the GTN mailing address is:
Global Training Network
PO Box 6507
Peoria, AZ 85385
Checks need to be made out to Global Training Network, not to me personally.
In the memo, it’s vital to include my name & account number for support
to make it to my personal account:
Chuckk Gerwig, ACCOUNT NUMBER #50322
