AS more and more people become eager to hear and study God’s word through the Bible, the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church has decided to train some of their members to become missionaries by being a preacher and to be able to conduct Bible studies.
This is because of the shortage of ordained Adventist pastors in the country to share God’s word.
Following the recent three weeks ‘Truth For Today’ evangelism series via TTV, more people have shown interest to know and study God’s word.
And because of this, the East Honiara District of the SDA Church in Honiara under the leadership of Pr Gary Manele conducted a series of training for some of the volunteers and members over the past three weeks.
The training was conducted at the Maranatha Centre dinning Hall. It was facilitated by experienced church pastors.
Most of the participants are from from Panatina to Alligator Creek area which comes under the Eastern District of the Honiara SDA region.
Following the completion of the training they are now are missionaries for the Lord to preach the good news and be able to visit and conduct Bible studies with the church members and non-Adventists who are keen to learn about God’s word, it was revealed.
The purpose of this workshop is to learn the participants in terms of preaching, visiting and bible studies, said Pr Manele.
He said based on his experienced during weekends they would often find people to preach or conduct Bible studies.
But with the 49 members having graduated and equipped with better preaching skills and Bible knowledge he hopes they will no longer find preachers to do some of missionary work.
“Because the newly graduating preachers are here to conduct and assist with the word of God as a missionary,” he said.
Ruddy Mark, one of the grandaunts of the training said following the three weeks training he is now more confident to conduct Bible studies and lead out in taking sermons.
“Previously I don’t know how to preach or conduct Bible studies,” he said.
He further added, after the workshop he has gained more techniques and methods on how to conduct Bible studies.
“My expectation as time goes on is to make people learn more about the simple Bible study methods about the good news that I will share as a missionary.”
Mr Mark added he will do his part and the Holy Spirit will inspire the message that he will share to others as he goes out to field as a missionary.
The participants have expressed joy for the successful training.
By Floyd Terry
Newsroom, Honiara
