School of Evangelism and Missions

Country: Liberia
Advance #3020613 DONATE NOW
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Project Information

Training and equipping pastors, evangelists, and the laity of the LAC/UMC.

Describe the need affecting community

The challenge of presenting the gospel without taking into consideration the contextual realities of target groups cannot be underestimated. Because the gospel has not fully penetrated the layers of the cultures (world view, belief system, values and way of life) of target groups, the life-transforming message of the Cross has not been adequately understood and received in various cultures in Liberia. While the need for equipping leaders to enhance discipleship and spiritual growth, intentional training of both the clergy and laity has been at a minimum due to the lack of financial and material resources; and as a result of inadequate training in evangelism and missions, most pastors, evangelists, local missionaries, and lay members who have the passion for service are unable to share the gospel message with people within their communities in the way that makes the message contextually relevant and culturally sensitive to the people. As a matter of fact, many would rather not share their faith due to this inadequacy. Moreover, the lack of vital resources such as transportation, training materials, tracts, English and Vernacular Bibles, financial and human resources has seriously hindered the work of evangelism, discipleship, and church planting leaving ripe fields unharvested. It is also worth mentioning that there is no established system to evaluate and monitor progress when it comes to evangelism and discipleship activities throughout the Conference. This has resulted to ineffectiveness, inefficiency, lack of accountability and coordination. There is therefore the need to mobilize both local and international partners’ support for the effective implementation of the discipleship and missions program of the LAC/UMC. Within three years, the DEM, with the support of both local and international partners will work in collaboration with District Superintendents and other key leaders of the LAC/UMC to provide training and relevant training materials to help pastors, evangelists, local missionaries and laity to do the work of evangelization throughout the Conference.
How will this Advance pro

How will this Advance project help to address the need?

Firstly, as a major part of our mission, the DEM trains and mobilizes pastors, evangelists, local missionaries, the laity and other church workers to reach various parts of the conference and beyond with the gospel. These church workers are strategically selected and equipped to accelerate the spread of the gospel throughout Liberia. Secondly, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the DEM will develop evangelistic and mission-minded leaders through four important strategies: A) Pray regularly for the pastors and ministers of the gospel for spiritual vitality and effective evangelism and discipleship, B) Equip pastors and church workers with passion for evangelism and discipleship through advance leadership and discipleship workshops, seminars, and retreats C) Partner with pastors and church leaders to host strategic leadership training D) Network leaders to share resources , encouragement and prayer for evangelistic and mission and church planting activities. Thirdly, the program will make disciples for Christ by accelerating the spread of the gospel through leaders of leaders empowered by the Holy Spirit. To realize this, the DEM will train and mobilize pastors, evangelists, local missionaries, the laity and other church works to reach various parts of the conference with the gospel.

Describe the primary goal of the project

The primary goal of the project is to develop men and women who are evangelistically functional and mission-minded planted across the conference to do aggressive and intentional evangelism, discipleship, church planting and mission work. The long term impact is, within the next four years, we expect that: 1) over 10,000 clergy, laity and other church workers to be trained and equipped in the areas of evangelism, missions and discipleship, 2) both clergy and laity and other church workers will acquire various and basic skills for effective faith sharing for the propagation of the gospel with cultural relevance and sensitivity and power, and 3) Twenty (20) churches will be planted and over twenty (25) renewed

Describe the change you would like to see in the community as a result of this Advance project

In an effort to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, accountability and sustainability, the DEM will conduct a quarterly retreat to evaluate and monitor progress and impact on the work of evangelization in the areas of concentration within the Conference.

Contact Information

Global Ministries Contact
Kenneth C. Jackson
kcj1980@hotmail.com
Rev. Lawrenzo Gbie
Africa Liberia