Lausanne World Pulse – Re-thinking Training of Pastoral Leaders?
By J. N. Manokaran
There is also a need for more specific training for leaders who would like to work among targeted groups of people like the urban middle class, modern youth, urban poor or street kids. Training is also needed for Christians who desire to be ministry tentmakers.
Harnessing the potential of modern technology like the Internet and DVDs is another area trainers should explore. Delivering lessons via email or doing exams over the Internet is possible. Video conferencing is another possibility. Recording lectures of leaders on various subjects and distributing to potential candidates using various technology is another option. Group emails could become discussion groups to reflect on important current topics. Blogs could be explored for training, brain-storming and reflection among pastors and Christian leaders.
The need for specialized training for this new wave of pastoral leaders in India is great. The scope to reach them is unlimited and the current training models are symbols of hope pointing to a bright future for reaching leaders in India.
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Rev. Dr. J. N. Manokaran is managing director of Trainers of Pastors International Coalition (TOPIC) India. He is trained as a civil engineer in South India and served as a cross-cultural missionary in North India for eleven years. |
Comments on this article
Dr. Manokaran has given a very clear and succinct explanation of the history of missions and ministry training in India. This framework is very helpful for those of us who care much about the churches of India. I would also like to add BILD International to the list of examples. BILD is working with several indigenous church planting movements and other ministry training organizations in India to meet the need for comprehensive training of all types of leaders.
Steve Kemp :: 1 Aug 2007
I applaud Rev. Dr. J.N. Manokaran for writing this excellent article that clearly brings out all aspects of training in India. He clearly sketches the history, methods, goals and future needs of it. He enlightens us to rethink earnestly to revise the contemporary training models. It is true that theological colleges primarily focused its trainings to cater to the ministerial needs of the Church. On the other hand, the Indian missions impart the missionary trainings to their mission workers. Additionally, a considerable number of overseas training programmes are available in India. In the midst of all happenings, there is a great need for more apt training. I agree with Manokaran that we urgently need to evolve innovative new models of trainings that are contextually relevant and missiologically appropriate to the Indian CONTEXTS. It is genuine that uncritical rejection or accommodation of any training models or resources without a serious reflection of the scripture in the local context does not bring total change. Hence, we seriously need a critical appraisal of the above three streams of trainings in India to correct misconceptions and to develop proper perceptions of training endeavors. The critical study must enhance the Indian Church to evolve a missiological education or training that combines both ministerial and missionary trainings to transform the Church as well as the Indian society. These indisputable new models of missiological education must be done with the joint venture of Indian Church leaders and overseas Church leaders, and active participation of academicians and practitioners of missions. Oh! It demands humble boldness. Who will initiate? Are we prepared? Yes, Manokaran truly challenged us to think critically to evolve original training models to transform India.
Rev. P. Ramanathan :: 1 Aug 2007
Manokaran’s article is precise and valid. As I had served in Serampore as well as ATA colleges and am presently the director of the Post Graduate program of Indian Institute of Missiology through its Research Centre at Bangalore (training mission trainers at MTh and PhD levels in Missiology), I am attesting that there is great need for training programs for the emerging independent pastors all over India. Seva Bharat (Mission India) through its ICT (Integrated Community Transformation) courses have trained a few thousand such pastors in a very systematic way. My own Centre for Contemporary Christianity (CFCC) has linked with Seva Bharat and held ICT course for local pastors in my home town of Kolar Gold Fields. Ten pastors benefit solid input in each batch. More such programs need to emerge to give solid training; reliance on the overtly short four to ten-day seminars would be of less value. TOPIC has great potential to rally trainers and to launch into the deep for a greater future in mission training. Manokaran has done a marvelous job and we need more such to get the job done. My best wishes to him and this process.
Siga Arles, PhD :: 28 Jul 2007
This is an excellent overview but it is not an new one, This kind of strategy was proposed by S.D. Ponraj a long time ago. Moreover, these kinds of strategies are good, but if there is no funding, everything is an utter failure. I would like to stress some important suggestions. First, many organizations and church groups go to villages or cities to conduct crusades and say that so much souls were saved and afterwards leave those people in limbo. Many pastors are untrained to tackle the converted people who come to church. The Christian leaders are very happy in conducting big crusades, but they do not understad the aftereffect of it, Many people who become Christians go back and reconvert again because they may lose many benefits. The Church does not take any look at these issues and is more interseted in the quantity of the souls and not the quality of the souls.
E.samuel :: 25 Jul 2007
This is excellent information by Dr. Manokaran. Yes, we still need specific modules to train our people because every church is a training center. Church should be the powerhouse, not the warehouse. Our pastors and leaders must be trained and must train their own congrigation to reach the unreached.
George Pega :: 10 Jul 2007
Re-thinking Training of Pastoral Leaders by Dr. Manokaran in Indian context is an excellent work. This will be a tremendous tool for the mission leaders.
PRAKASH PATHI :: 8 Jul 2007
This is a pretty good capture of the overall training available for missionary leadership in India. One area that could have and needs to be mentioned is the total lack of (or if present, the minimal) training for the non-traditional and non-conventional missionary. The Indian Mission scene is moving into the use and need of/for non traditional means of missions. The Advanced Mission Leadership Training (AMLT) seeks to do this, but this is still a drop in the ocean. More needs to be done. For more information on AMLT please visit www.imaindia.org.
Remo :: 4 Jul 2007
This is an excellent overview by Dr. Manokaran. We would encourage all providers of training in India to register their organisation and training courses on the Evangelical Training Database at www.trainforChrist.org. This is a free service for all evangelical organisations.
Ian Benson :: 1 Jul 2007