My most recent training in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa, with my friend Uriah was an interesting opportunity for growth in flexibility. Most everything that can go wrong with a training did go wrong. Communication was very difficult with the local coordinator, they had booked another conference at the same time as our Pathways training, the translator had many difficulties, our workshop materials for pastors had not been translated or photocopied, none of the trainers had completed or even started the pre-assignment which was supposed to be complete before training began, very few of them had reproduced the training, which is a requirement for all pastors we train, and the list goes on.

Yet despite all these challenges, the time we did spend together was so enjoyable, and I saw much growth occur in the ability of the pastors to handle the Word well.

What made the difference? I believe a few things:

1. People were praying. Holly alerted her prayer team (btw, let us know if you want to be added to this group that receives late-breaking prayer requests while I’m on the field.)
2. The pastors and coordinator are humble people who were sorry for the shortfalls, and committed to improve in the future. They all are so hungry to learn the Word, and their teachable heart won the day.
3. God granted me grace and flexibility, perhaps in response to the first two points, so I was able to come up with a creative plan that kept things moving forward while meeting the pastors where they were at.
4. We were able to work together to form a better plan with improved communication for the future.

All of this is part of my job – it goes with the territory of cross-cultural work. It makes every network a bit different with challenges and opportunities, and I always am blessed as I see God work in the pastors’ lives.

I have to share with you one interesting report from one group that did pass the training on. Three pastors, Sahin, Ekra and Magloire, trained 25 preachers/pastors in Seguela (585 KM to north of Abidjan). The Seguela pastors felt they didn’t need the training – that they already knew all they needed to know about the Bible. One leader of the group was a pastor with a doctorate. The trainers were discouraged and didn’t know what to do. What saved the training according to trainers was that this group thought and taught that the fish vomited Jonah into Nineveh. When they couldn’t prove this from the biblical text, they humbled themselves, acknowledging they didn’t know everything, and joyfully submitted to training, eager to learn from the trainers. The pastor with the doctorate publicly repented and began receiving the training. The trainers shared, “When we trained others, we learned the material better ourselves and gained confidence, replacing fear, to continue with training.”

All praise to our awesome God who works in amazing ways to build His kingdom. I am reminded of the grace God has shown me, and am empowered to keep on!

Then on Sunday I was invited to preach in three different churches, being shuttled from one to the next. Each was progressively hotter till the last church my suitcoat was soaked before I even started preaching! God moved in people’s lives, and 23 people came forward to place their faith in Christ for the first time, or to recommit their lives to Christ, breaking the stranglehold of sin. God is good, and it is a joy to be in His service.

Walking by grace, Eric