Masters Training African Pastors
Train a National, Transform a Nation.
AFRICAN CHRISTIANS IN CRISIS
As of 2024, there are an estimated 734 million Christians in Africa. This is a huge increase from the 363 million Christians in Africa in 2000 ¹. At the current rate, 42% of the world’s Christians will live in Africa by 2060 ².
YET…It is estimated that 90 percent of all pastors in Africa have no formal biblical, theological, or pastoral training.
AFRICAN CHURCH UNDER ATTACK
The African Church is fighting to primary foes: the prosperity gospel and syncretism. Africans who long for a better life are easy prey for false teachers who twist the truths of the Bible to promise the good life here and now. Many African Christians still mix traditional beliefs with Christianity, worshipping Christ while living in fear of evil spirits and wearing protective charms and bracelets from witch doctors. Without leaders trained in the Truth, the African church stands defenseless under these attacks.
The African Church Desperately Needs Trained African Leaders.
BARRIERS TO TRAINING
The two biggest barriers to pastoral training in Africa are access and finances. Traditional in-person education poses a problem in Africa. Most pastors and ministry leaders are unable to leave their jobs, families, and congregations to pursue in-person training. In addition, they lack the funds to take an extended leave from their work and pay for bible college or seminary. African pastors desperately need high-quality theological and leadership training delivered directly at no cost to them.
And Lancaster Bible College is doing just that.
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
Lancaster Bible College, in partnership with the Pastors Discipleship Network in Uganda, has created a one-of-a-kind online, fully accredited seminary program designed specifically to equip African pastors right where they are. Our Master of Arts in Contextualized Pastoral Ministry can be accessed anywhere, making high quality theological and ministry leadership training available to African pastors in need. The program is also 100% funded by generous donors, allowing our students to receive theological and leadership training at no cost to them.
What Does the Program Look Like?
DESIGNED WITH AFRICANS IN MIND
This online 40-credit degree program includes training in Bible and theology, ministry application, and African contextualization. African church pastors and leaders are prepared to serve their church and society, by developing a biblical understanding and worldview, ministry and leadership skills, and applying this to the African context. Every course has been specifically designed and selected with the unique needs of African pastors and leaders in mind.
The bulk of the program is delivered online, but also in community, through our cohort model. Beginning each May, forty-four qualified African men and women take the same classes together throughout the 2-year program. Students also gather twice a year at the Pastor’s Discipleship Network in Uganda for events such as orientation for new students, 3-day residencies, team building exercises, marriage conferences and commencement.
MULTIPLYING IMPACT
Our program applies the “train the trainer” ministry model, calling students to actively share their training with other Christian leaders in their sphere of influence. With this approach, we are not only training individuals but multiplying the impact of the truths we are teaching.
Robert Blanks is LBC-PDN Liaison and LBC’s Program Director