Kenya (MNN) — Today kicks off a four-day training conference for pastors serving remote communities in Kenya.
Shepherding a rural church is challenging work. “Many of these pastors work in really difficult situations. They’re very remote; they’re isolated,” Kenya Hope’s Joy Mueller says.
“The pastors are very poorly supported by their churches financially; [they receive] less than $200 a month, so many have dairy farms or livestock to supplement [their income].”
Training and networking opportunities are plentiful in the West, but that’s not the case in rural Kenya. Developing an event and curriculum that meets everyone’s unique needs is a complex yet worthy endeavor.
(Photo courtesy of Kenya Hope)
“These pastors come from a wide range of denominations, educational backgrounds; some speak English, and others don’t. Some have very little training, and others have gone to Bible school,” Mueller says.
“We try to make this [widely-applicable], but the main thrust is to equip these pastors to present and teach the Word of God.”
Along with training, Kenya Hope provides tools the pastors need but cannot afford on their own. “We are thankful for gifts that [allow] us to present each pastor [with] the Africa Study Bible,” Mueller says.
Learn more about the Africa Study Bible here.
“This is an amazing study Bible put together by 50 pastors and theologians across Africa. It makes the Bible applicable to African culture and African issues.”
Find your place in the story
As the conference begins, pray for traveling mercies. “Pastors will be traveling from great distances to attend this conference,” Mueller says.
“Pray for the fellowship, and pray for pastors coming from the United States to help teach the conference.”
Pray also for victory in spiritual battles. “As we present God’s Word, whether it’s distributing audio Bibles or these pastor’s conferences, we find that we are in a battle, and there’s a lot of roadblocks. Those can be very discouraging,” Mueller says.
“But we find that God does amazing things when we do not let the hurdles discourage us.”
Visit Kenya Hope’s website to learn more about this ministry’s work in rural Kenya. Financial gifts help Kenya Hope present training events like this pastor’s conference. Consider giving to support this work.
“There are quite [few] costs involved because the cost [presented to] pastors is very, very nominal. We try to cover all the main costs for them to come: the travel, the food, and all the materials presented to them,” Mueller explains.
Header and story images courtesy of Kenya Hope.
