eNews and prayer update October 2020

Veena is a regional co-ordinator for Langham Preaching in South Asia and earlier this year she shared the following thoughts about the Langham Preaching program: “I love the ethos of Langham Preaching. The emphasis on prayer, depending on the Lord Jesus, valuing all people with dignity and respect, and focussing not only on the skills but also on the character of a preacher, are some of the things I love most.

It’s a joy to work with Langham folk. The grace, love and encouragement shown by Langham leaders and colleagues is a unique blessing. It’s so empowering to see the local leadership, local language and culture are given such primacy while upholding the values, priorities and goals based on scripture faithfully. I love this balance.

When we teach the Langham method of observing the bible passage, and the process of preparing the sermon, we see the joy of discovery in the participants. They are so excited and encouraged by the results as they work in small groups. Many of them have expressed that their sermon preparation has become more interesting and that their congregations are finding the difference in their preaching. This gives me hope that the Church in my nation will continue to grow deeper in the Word of God and will mature as the pastors and their congregations spend more time in the Word of God.

We also have a great need to emphasise and develop the character of our preachers. Langham’s emphasis on the integrity and character of the preachers is meeting this need. I love seeing the transformation in thought, word and deed of the participants.”

This transformation is happening in many Majority World countries

Last year we were encouraged to hear the testimony of Langham-trained pastor John in Liberia (West Africa). Before receiving training on how to faithfully teach the Bible, he says he would just pick a verse and preach on whatever he thought was best. Today, he calls that “a great mistake” and has committed to faithfully study and clearly preach God’s Word to his congregation. He says, “I want to bless God for Langham Preaching. . . Langham has greatly improved my level of preaching and teaching. I am grateful to God and the Langham family for this training.”

We praise God for this transformation in pastor John’s preaching, knowing that it will lead to transformation in the hearts of his congregation members as they come to know Jesus.

But the Majority World church needs more trained leaders

In many places, the church is growing rapidly in vulnerable soil, and as many as 80% of its pastors lack biblical training. In Africa, our brothers and sisters in Christ come to church hungry to hear what God’s Word says in the face of everyday struggles like poverty,  lack of educational opportunities, diseases like HIV/AIDS, and pressures from Islam and African traditional religions. Instead, many are met with false and harmful teachings that leave them vulnerable and without hope. Matthew Gonkerwon, a pastor who now helps lead the training effort in Liberia, paints a stark picture: “Described as a mile wide and an inch deep, the church is growing physically but not spiritually. Spiritual growth is shallowed with lots of false teachers and preachers, especially with the increase of prosperity gospel. Church members migrate from one church to another in search for solutions to life challenges.”

Support from faithful partners like you has made it possible for Langham to train hundreds of local pastors and lay leaders like Pastor John in Liberia. As Matthew shares, it’s making a difference: “With the introduction of Langham Preaching, we are seeing a shift of Christians growing in the Word. The preaching within our country, due to Langham preaching training, has greatly improved.” Pictured above is another group of Liberian pastors who attended training just this month.

Please help us continue this vital Kingdom work.