Irvine Banda is deeply aware of how fortunate he is to be studying a Bachelor of Theology at Evangelical University in Zambia. Many pastors from his home country of Zimbabwe do not have any formal theological training at all.
A big barrier for many is the expense of committing to theological study. “There are a lot of requirements for me to be here, like study permits, the tuition fees, and the living expenses for me and my family. It’s quite expensive to study,” he shares. Thankfully, Irvine was able to find a sponsor who has taken on the financial cost of his time at university.
Preaching developed by knowledge
When he returns to his church in Zimbabwe, in a medium-sized city that is quickly expanding due to population growth, Irvine hopes to be able to train others. “If I am trained, then I can also train some pastors at the local level. And that will help them have sound doctrine and a better understanding of theology,” Irvine says.
From experience, Irvine has seen the impact training has had on his own preaching. “The way I preached then and the way I’m preaching now is very different,” he says. “It’s not just about observing and interpreting, but also asking how does this apply to us now.”
Langham Partnership has been working with Evangelical University for over 30 years to help develop and grow their library. By providing quality books and resources on biblical studies, Langham Literature has been bringing quality theology to Zambia and beyond.
“It’s been a privilege being in an institution that has got books with sound doctrine and teachings,” Irvine says. “Personally, I’ve been helped so much by reading books like Between the Two Worlds by John Stott, where he’s talking about the preaching itself, the art of preaching and the challenges that preachers face as they prepare themselves.”
African knowledge for an African context
Increasingly, Langham is also able to stock the library with quality theological books written by Africans for Africans. One resource like this that Irvine has found particularly helpful is the Africa Bible Commentary, which looks to bring African perspectives to the text. Resources like these acknowledge that because different cultures respond differently to different issues, culturally specific insights are highly valuable.
Seeing African names in the book list is also a personal encouragement for Irvine. “I feel encouraged because it says I could also get to a point where I can write something that would be read by others. We should have our own books that are not just read in Africa, but can be read across the globe. So many people think Africa is just on the receiving end, but as I read books written by Africans, I realise, no, we can also be giving out what we have, and people can know and benefit from our worldview and perspective as Africans.”
Affordable access to knowledge is an ongoing challenge
Without a university library, accessing the array and depth of books Irvine has been able to read would have been out of reach. For pastors without that access and training, even knowing which books to try and acquire presents a huge challenge. For Irvine himself, when he returns to ministry work in Zimbabwe, he will not have as easy access to a library. So he is now working towards building his own small collection of books that are dear to him, and that will have lasting usefulness in his ministry.
One book that will be in that small personal library is the previously mentioned Between Two Worlds by John Stott. Another is Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem. But these volumes are not a small purchase. “If someone wants to buy it, they will have to sacrifice some money. Possibly it is money that would otherwise pay for school fees for a child, because those are about the same amount. So a pastor who is a parent is thinking, should I buy one or two books and sacrifice my child’s education for a term or two? It is a challenge.”
Passing on the knowledge
As he finishes his studies, Irvine remains committed to passing on what he has learned. “Even if those other pastors can’t get a paper to say they have completed this, they can have the knowledge from me,” he says. Irvine knows he has been equipped to do this work because of the excellent training and resources he has received at Evangelical University. “When I go out there, I know what I’m talking about because of the books that are in the library,” he shares.
The Langham Literacy partnership has helped fund the library at Evangelical University, as well as many other theological institutions around the world. Many students like Irvine are able to access scholarship and resources that grow them as theologians, as pastors, and as Christians.