What is the value of running intensive preaching training weeks cross-culturally?

Having been involved in short intensive weeks of preaching training for pastor-preachers and Bible teachers in Africa and Asia for the last 17 years – six of them based in SE Asia with Crosslinks – it’s been good to reflect on the question: ‘Of what value are these – do they not simply run the risk of cultural imperialism, even in preaching style?’

Local churches across the globe are growing without us, as Christ is proclaimed and the gospel bears fruit. So why do such Bible teaching and preaching training?

The reality is that there is much false teaching overseas, as well as in our own country. It often springs from a lack of knowing God’s word and faithfully teaching it. The recent tragedy of the so-called ‘Death Cult’ in Kenya is just one example. In the UK, we are immensely privileged in having a plethora of Bible translations, commentaries and online resources, alongside expository preaching in many evangelical churches week by week – and there are examples of expository preaching to learn from within our own culture. Additionally, many UK pastors will have more commentaries on their own bookshelves than a local Bible school in the Majority world, and the books in such Bible schools are unlikely to be in the students’ or pastors’ heart language anyway. Add to this the fact that we have various training opportunities, for example, through regional gospel partnerships.

Teaching international students, both in-person and more recently online for internationals, has persuaded me even more of the responsibility that goes with this blessing. It’s been said of one country – in which the church is growing quickly – that whoever has been a Christian the longest in the village becomes pastor of the church, regardless of Bible knowledge or ability.

I’m convinced there’s still a need for individuals who will commit and humbly serve overseas for the long-term, learning language and culture in order to be involved in evangelism or to be able to strengthen local church leadership (‘training trainers’). But there’s still value in an intensive Bible-handling course, if handled in the right way. Of course we need to be alert to our own cultural baggage in entering a different environment, especially if it is for the first time or for a short visit: it’s often easier to see the speck of sawdust in our brother’s eye. There’s a need to build on the love for God’s word and understanding that so often already exists, and partnership with like-minded Bible colleges or training courses wherever possible, to keep the training going, since in several countries local Christians are well trained in understanding and applying the Bible in their own context and have set up good training courses.

But one recent international Cornhill student was exposed to expository preaching in his home city in South Asia through such a week of teaching, run in a local Bible College. It wonderfully altered his perspective on ministry, such that he came away wanting to be able to open up the Bible and proclaim Christ faithfully from it, in a situation where preaching is often very weak.

What a model of Philippian-like partnership such training could be! Recognising the faith and endurance of local church leaders; connecting with mission partners or local organisations already doing something, rather than reinventing the wheel; making a long-term commitment to those who are being trained (therefore returning repeatedly); seeking to understand the context locally (observing, asking questions when appropriate, and doing background reading); the local church here sacrificially supporting a pastor to go on trips (both funding and allowing him time to go several times); praying for him and others who go with him, and for those receiving the training; and investing in our own preaching, so we work at improving how we preach and learn how to train others to do so.

May the Lord help us to generously share what we have.