AFCI World News

Pastors’ Conference in Bhilai

The Bhilai India Pastors Conference organized by the local churches and pastors from Himachal, Arunachal, Jharkhand and Andhra was held at Bhilai from 27^th – 30^th Oct, 2011. Vijay Hebbal was the key resource person for the conference. He said that the conference was an eye opener to the Pastors and they extended invitations for AFC to visit their mission fields in their respective regions to minister to a larger fraternity of pastors and leaders.

AFCI ministers are in high demand from churches and denominations across India. The AFCI team has developed training materials that are theologically sound as well as practical, enhancing the work of pastors wherever they are invited to teach.

Rural Indian Pastors Start two-year Training

BY: Vijay Hebbal

The lush green surroundings of the countryside of Ramaganahalli, Karnataka offered the fitting venue for the inaugural session of the Karnataka Rural India Pastors’ Enhancement (RIPE) training.

Thirty Pastors from age 25 to 45 are the target group for the next two years of intensive and foundational teaching of the Scriptures. Though the participants do not have any formal theological training, their desire for the things of God and the ministry are great. They have committed themselves to this two-year training schedule and we had an optimistic start with one week of Bible teachings on the basic doctrines.

Dr. Suresh Christie taught lucidly on the Church from his extensive experience,  I brought teachings on Biblical Doctrine, and brother Cyril Kunder handled the doctrine of Salvation. All the pastors had great eagerness to learn.

The feedback received was encouraging . . .

“The pointed teaching of God’s Word convicted me and showed what was lacking in my life and ministry.”

“I felt what I did till now was not fruitful. Now I am equipped with the truth which I want to implement in my own ministry and teach others too.”

“I claimed to know many things about faith but here I realized the true meaning of the doctrines.”

Rural India Pastors’ Enhancement (RIPE)

A two year training program for pastors in Orissa state finished the last week of March. Of the 72 pastors that started two years ago, 65 completed the study requirements and received a certificate of completion.

Orissa is an area of India where persecution of Christians has taken place, being targeted by extremist groups. The extremists have raided prayer meetings, attacked churches, beating and in some cases killing Christians in attendance. Living in the midst of this environment, the pastors were greatly encouraged that other Indians were willing to work with them, encouraging them and providing much needed training.