A few days ago I returned from a very full and productive time in the west African countries of Nigeria and Liberia. I was joined by my friend and training partner Randy, and we were encouraged by the progress both groups made.

In Nigeria, there was a larger group of 15 master trainers and 4 observers who participated in our Pathways workshop #2 focusing on 2 Timothy. We reinforced principles from workshop #1 and taught them new tools for understanding God’s Word, like “asking good questions” and “staying on the line.” Nigerians are much more vocal, expressive, passionate, and louder even than most other Africans, so there was a LOT of energy bouncing around the room.

We stayed with coordinator Gideon on his compound where the training was held, which was very convenient. He and the group stated that they have a high level of commitment to the training, and hopefully we will witness evidence of that commitment through their participation, their practicing of the principles in their churches, their passing on the training to other preachers, and their preparation of the pre-assignment for next time. One interesting feature is that Christians are told that they must use the King James Version, since that is the only version that can truly be trusted. This creates problems since the pastors and much more their people do not understand 1611 English. We also heard that some church leaders feel threatened by their undershepherds learning things in Scripture that they do not know, and they may fire these upcoming preachers, which would be very difficult. Please keep them in your prayers, that God will grant wisdom and courage in the face of persecution.

From Nigeria, Randy and I made our way to Liberia for our final training and graduation with this network. We have been with them for three years, and the group has struggled but made undeniable progress. Each participant in the smaller group of seven preached two sermons in the book of Habakkuk. As a class we shared encouragement and also growth opportunities for the preacher. Then we had an informal graduation at the end, and the graduates spontaneously began to share testimonies of how they have been changed by Pathways. Here are their comments, as best I could capture them:

• James McCarthy, coordinator: I have received previous trainings, but they were like seminary – just many ideas. Pathways is practical, useful, gives us the message for today that we can use, and how to relate the Bible closely to people through application.
• Abel – I learned through Pathways what Scripture really means. We commonly hear about storytelling, but now I know we need to follow the storyline of the Bible.
• Gayligahn – Now every time I open my Bible, I think, “No shortcut!” Follow the Pathway. This training is more intense than Bible college and more useful, and gives me a hunger for God’s Word. Pathways gave the whole picture of working with the Bible.
• David – Using Pathways principles helped me form a sermon based on God’s Word instead of my ideas, and now my sermons are stronger.
• Emmanuel – Every time I hear a preacher, I take my Bible and check if he is using it well, interpreting it properly following God’s Pathway, or is he taking a shortcut directly to us from the Bible.