Train to gain…

Worldwide, 90% of pastors and lay leaders are doing the difficult work of leading small churches with little to no formal theological training. Some new believers can even find themselves in leadership positions just months after coming to faith without the skills to lead their congregations effectively.

Aware of the challenges and problems that can arise when pastors have had little or no training, theological education is one of Serving In Mission’s top priorities.

The Circle of Silence

SIM UK’s Donald and Becky Kamese are serving in an area of Mexico where many are hostile to the gospel and fewer than one in 100 people knows Jesus.

With just 1% of the population Christian, issues range from corruption, pagan rituals and drug and alcohol addiction; to unemployment, broken families, and human trafficking.

“We learned there’s an area called the Circle of Silence with the largest concentration of unreached people in Spanish-speaking Latin America,” recalls Donald, “so our goal is to see this area transformed through the gospel and bring a positive change in its underprivileged communities.

“But only one in ten church ministers in Mexico have any Bible training, so we focus on training them to faithfully teach the Scriptures and mentoring them as they go out and take the gospel to the unreached areas.”
 

Training leaders

In 2021, Donald and Becky established a two-year Bible training course called Prédica Vida (Preach Life) and although they have faced plenty of challenges, God has used their ministry enormously.

“We partner with local churches to train their leaders by giving them the resources they need to be able to share the gospel message. We rejoice when we see fruit from this labour and currently have 25 students — the largest cohort yet — many of whom are ministering in the Circle of Silence,” says Donald.

“Prédica Vida exists to come alongside those already serving, to provide training, encouragement, and mentorship along the way,” he adds. “Our aim is to plant Christ-centred churches and train pastors so that the Circle of Silence will turn into the ‘circle of proclamation’ for the gospel!”

Prédica Vida also runs online courses to include others in churches serve more faithfully, whether it’s in Sunday Schools, youth groups, elders, and people who have a focus on evangelism, women’s and men’s ministries. alongside pastors who are preaching and teaching,

Becky adds: “We’re really passionate about training people to handle the Bible well and to be able to teach it faithfully because we know it’s God’s Word and the Holy Spirit that will transform people and communities.”

Chavo’s story

When the gospel is shared clearly and simply, lives are transformed and one of the leaders the Kameses have had the privilege of training is Chavo. Here, Donald shares Chavo’s remarkable journey of redemption and calling.

“Chavo’s childhood was marked by brokenness and years of hardship at the hands of an alcoholic father and an anxious, abusive mother. At 13, he joined a drugs gang, but one dark night when he was 17, he was stabbed several times in the stomach and his back during a brutal fight between rival gangs.

“In the hospital, hovering near death, he heard the gospel for the first time from a Christian visitor. Chavo not only survived, but he walked away transformed by the grace of God.”

‘As a gang leader, I was ready to die for my peers, now, I live to serve my Lord Jesus Christ through church planting. Christ is the only one who gave his life for me!’ says Chavo.

“We met Chavo after he came to us looking to be discipled and to learn more about Jesus Christ. Over the past 10 years, we’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation,” adds Donald.

“We helped him finish school, become an electrical-plumber, and begin theological studies. Today, he’s a church pastor and teaches on the Prédica Vida Bible course, equipping others to faithfully multiply God’s Word.

“He’s now married with three children and has dedicated his life to planting a church among the unreached Chichimeca Indians in central Mexico.  His story is one of many. Though we are eager to train many gospel workers, it’s the focus on the few like Chavo, who in time enables us to reach the many.”

Please pray

• praise God for Chavo and pray he’ll continue to grow in his knowledge and faith;
• for God’s blessing on Donald and Becky’s ministry to train Mexicans to faithfully teach and preach God’s word;
• for Prédica Vida students to put what they’ve learned into practice in their churches and communities.

*The Re-Forma Initiative