Training the Trainers

“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2, HCSB.

Al and Diana Hoopes work among the Mandaya people on the Southeastern coast of the Island of Mindanao in the Philippines. For several months they have been training Mandayan believers in evangelism, discipleship and church planting in the small town of Cateel. 

The Hoopes travel to Cateel each week, and during rainy season, this can be a challenge. However, they arrive each week, safe and sound, and maybe a little wet. The Hoopes anticipated that the numbers of trainees would decline with the onset of rainy season, but students continue to attend two training sessions each week. The trainees are taught to share the gospel, and then they are sent out two by two to practice their training in the nearby village. After a recent “practice session,” one woman returned excitedly. She couldn’t stop jumping up and down as she exclaimed, “Three people accepted the Lord!” Now, those three people are attending worship with her each Sunday. Another man, who is 86 years old, gave his testimony. He said, “That’s the first time in my life that I have shared the gospel because I have just learned how to do it!" 
 
The Hoopes have also taught their trainees to share their own testimony about Christ -  what their life was like before Christ, why and how they received Him, and what their life is like now. Several weeks ago, the Hoopes went to the local high school, seeking permission for their trainees to go into the 18 classrooms and share their three minute testimonies.  Permission was granted, and the trainees went, two by two, sharing testimonies with the 1,300 students there.  The trainees also gave each high school student a booklet called "The Answer" with the promise of a free New Testament for each completed form received.  As a result, more than 1,000 copies of God’s Word are now in the hands of the Mandaya! 
 
Graduation was held in early April, and the trainees invited friends, relatives, church members, and others to attend. It was an Evangelistic graduation as each trainee presented something they had learned. Each student who graduates from the training is required to start a Bible Study, and hopefully, each Bible Study will grow into a church among the Mandayan people.

Pray that:

The Mandayan trained to share their faith will be bold witnesses in their communities.

Many Bible studies will be started by these new “graduates.”

Each new Bible study will grow into a church that will impact the Mandayan community and will draw many into the Kingdom of God.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.