Stewardship*
Training indigenous pastors produces an investment that is unmatched. It costs more than $50,000 to bring one pastor from Africa to the US to study for a year. However, for the same $50,000, utilizing a training center in Africa can provide one year of training for thirty students. There is no question which is the wiser stewardship of the Lord’s resources.
Multiplication
By training one local pastor, we are strengthening an entire church congregation. That body, in turn, will be more able to faithfully preach Christ to its surrounding community. As more and more men graduate from these biblical teaching programs, gospel witnesses are multiplied exponentially. An investment into one pastor’s life brings a harvest of many.
Impact
Given the proper training, indigenous church leaders are more effective at planting and pastoring churches than foreign missionaries since they are fluent in the language, have an innate knowledge of their culture, and are intimately connected to the people to whom they minister. Because our graduates face no cultural or language barrier, ministry impact is maximized from day one.
Longevity
Because our students are trained in their own countries, they are not subject to the visa issues and diplomatic volatility that sometimes plague missionaries. Rather, they are equipped as capable local leaders for a lifetime of ministry in their home country even after the missionaries leave.
*Derived in part from TMAI