This article is from Trainers of Pastors International Coalition (TOPIC) of which The Aquila Project is a member organization.

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TWO MILLION PASTORS NEED MORE TRAINING*

      At the dawn of the Third Millennium, we face the urgent necessity of equipping two million pastoral leaders! They have responded to God’s call on their lives--they are gifted--but many lack adequate ministerial training. These wonderful servants are pastoring the 2 million plus churches in Africa, Asia, the former Soviet Union and Latin America.

In the past 25-30 years, the Body of Christ has emphasized evangelization and the planting of churches. These plans have resulted in great advances, but many of these efforts conclude at the end of 2000. Unfortunately, during this same period of time we have not had a similar emphasis on equipping pastoral leaders. As a consequence, we are 25-30 years behind when it comes to pastoral leadership development.

In global terms, it is estimated that about 2 million pastoral leaders are lacking in some aspect of essential pastoral training. The number is growing exponentially and on a daily basis! Today, there are thousands of sheep without a shepherd and multitudes of churches without at least one equipped pastoral leader.

Historically, we have concentrated the training of ministerial leaders in Bible Institutes, Seminaries and other formal systems of “in-residence-education.” Even when these are effective and bring great blessings, they do not meet the great need due to their high costs and the investment of time, money and geographic relocation. 

Dr. Ralph Winter says, “Those million * keen, humble, godly men running two million of the churches in Africa, Asia, the former Soviet Union and Latin America CAN’T be educated by setting up schools which they cannot attend.” (Mission Frontiers Bulletin March-April, 96). We need to create and develop other systems that are easily transferable, transportable and less costly in order to meet them where they are. 

* (now 2 million)  from TOPIC (Trainers of Pastors International Coalition)