Model for the Ministry - Pastors in South Africa

Pastors in the ABWE-associated churches in Durban, South Africa trained through a system where the local church provides the context in which the gifts of these men are developed.

Formal training takes place at the Baptist Bible College of Natal. Following this, graduate-level training is available through an extension site of the Baptist Bible Seminary in Clarks Summit, PA, leading to a Masters of Ministry. All of the classes are taught by people actually involved in church planting. The Bible college program runs in tandem with five years of internship in a local church, which allows an individual to develop skills and character and gives him time to work through problems that develop in ministry. When the training is completed, missionaries and local pastors work as peers. Strategy for evangelism, church planting and recruitment of new workers is developed with the pastors integrally involved in decision making. Let us introduce you to three pastors:

Vic Willis

My wife and I were drawn to know the Lord Jesus Christ through the love of a friend and the faithful witness of missionaries sent to South Africa through ABWE. Do not let anyone ever tell you that the work of missions is not worthwhile. God's grace continued to flow into our lives and soon we both desired to serve Him in full-time ministry. Our training came through the hard work of missionaries and national pastors who gave of themselves to teach at the Church Ministries Institute, now the Baptist Bible College of Natal. This academic program was supplemented with hands-on experience and a close working relationship with my pastor, ABWE missionary Dale Marshfield and other men who modeled the ministry for me. Today I am the pastor of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Durban North. We are a growing congregation and enjoy a wonderful spirit of unity and love as we work toward the goal of impacting our community for Christ. We work hard to reach the lost and to rebuild lives that have been broken by sin. As we do this we feel the need to establish ourselves in a building, a project that will stretch us in many ways. I would like to thank those faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who have sacrificially supported ABWE missionaries to South Africa for years. One day in heaven many people will share with you the blessed inheritance we have in Christ.

Rob Elkington

I was saved at a youth rally when I was 11 years old. I heard John 3:16 preached and when I realized that the Lord Jesus died in my place on the cross and shed His blood for me, I asked Him to forgive my sins. I still remember a message from 2 Samuel 11 that I heard when I was only 16. It stressed the consequences of neglecting your duty. I was stirred to minister the Word of God in the way I heard it preached that day. I was trained in the Church Ministries Institute in Durban. I also hold a B. in Th. from the University of South Africa, and M. Min. from Baptist Bible Seminary in Pennsylvania. God has given me the privilege of pastoring Community Baptist Church, a multi- racial church in Westville, Durban. We face challenges in learning to minister effectively to hurting South Africans who suffered under apartheid.

Henry Davis

My wife Shirley and I both heard the gospel for the first time when an American missionary shared it with us in 1976. We were both saved by God's grace on the same night; we were baptized together some months later. From the beginning we had an overwhelming desire to serve the Lord. At that time there were very few options in independent churches in South Africa. We joined a group working with alcoholics. They had a lot of desire and willingness to work, but no training. When we met ABWE missionary Marc Blackwell, he offered to train us for the pastorate. We began in the Church Ministries Training Institute. Along with that, both Shirley and I studied at the University of South Africa. I received my B. in Th. degree in 1985, then later graduated cum laude in the M. Min. program from Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania in May 1994. I started my apprenticeship in a team relationship with Dale Marshfield, and planted a new church in Queensburgh, Natal province. I was later called as the pastor and have served here for nearly 14 years. We have gone through two building programs and currently have about 180 people attending on Sunday morning.

ABWE missionaries working in Durban have witnessed the blessing of God in many ways. Over the last 16 years seven churches have been started, a Bible college established and scores have been saved. The missionaries all agree, however, that God's greatest blessing is the godly South African colleagues who serve with them.

Back to Top	Respond to this Article Email Article to a Friend Print this Article