Pastor Development

Many indigenous leaders with access to Scripture still have a difficult time evangelizing and discipling their oral communities when Bible translations follow a written rather than oral approach. In these communities our multi-year Pastor Development Program comes alongside existing church leaders to create a self-sustaining discipleship movement, where oral learners are equipped to share God’s Word and address their culture’s most pressing questions.

The Pastor Development Program is a multi-year program. This program aims to shepherd and mentor local leaders in Orality to reach their surrounding communities. An active leader will be part of a leadership team with two purposes: to grow in their ability to ​be an effective disciple​ to Oral Learners and to recruit additional quality leaders in an ​effort to multiply disciples​.

New leaders are not paid to promote the Word, but do so because they believe in it. They invite others in their local community to hear the gospel stories and become disciples themselves. As each member becomes more involved, they advance to become a leader and learn more about sharing Biblical content and community development information with oral communities.
These disciples, no matter their current training cycle, are also encouraged to start Small Discussion Groups, gathering 5-10 people to listen to stories and discuss their meaning and application.
This unique element provides ​engagement with Scripture – which is critical to heart transformation. In communities that revolve around sharing stories with neighbors and loved ones, this is a critical piece to understanding Truth and creating lasting change.

Pastor Development Program: Cycle of Multiplication

One Person

Generation 1

1 Person

Generation 2

Spoken 1 Person

Generation 3

One Person Spoken

Generation 4

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In this graphic, what began with four indigenous leaders could organically grow to include hundreds of leaders.
Content is developed in story, song, and drama formats in collaboration with local leaders. Technology is utilized whenever available and applicable to enhance the Oral Bible Translation process.

Leaders trained. Disciples made. Lives transformed.

Pastor Development Program: Content Covered

1

Cycle 1

Books of Moses
(Pentateuch)
and the Gospels

2

Cycle 2

The Prophets,
Acts and
Pauline Epistles

3

Cycle 3

History and Wisdom Literature, General Epistles and Revelation

MP3 players or MicroSD cards (for use with cell phones) loaded with audio content are often used as a tool in these groups as the Gospel is shared in story, song, drama format. Learn more about PDP’s use of technology here.
"Stories are serving us more than preaching because everybody pays attention to the story. As a result, more people are coming to God. People are taking the initiative, gathering on their own, and sharing the stories while a wise person highlights the points. We need more stories."

Small Discussion Group Attendee

Kenya

“God bless you for teaching us a new and simple strategy to reach our people in a better way with God’s Word.”

Ministry Partner

Ethiopia

“One lady was so pleased to have the stories in her heart language and can now recite from Genesis 1-4. The pastor was very amazed about that and felt the stories can be used like a bible study, to listen and discuss. He loves that others in his church now know Bible passages by heart.”

Local Leader

Kenya

The Pastor Development Program is how we MULTIPLY disciples.