India
ITMI’s Paul and Molly have been organizing and holding a series of training conferences for pastors.
The need for this is both deep and wide. Few pastors and leaders have any Biblical training to deal with the unspeakably difficult role of shepherding believers who are dealing with poverty, the permeation of Hindu cultural norms in society, persecution, Covid-19 lockdowns and interruption of income, past trauma, and minimal Biblical background or knowledge.
These pastors are sincere and want to serve the Lord and follow Him. They do so at great cost and personal sacrifice. The abuses they share that they’ve suffered and the lack of Biblical influence on common beliefs about marriage and family relationships leads to relationship wounds and breakdowns in many cases, for both pastors and their families as well as congregants.
Often, pastors are looked at by congregants as a savior and receive worship that should go to Christ. If this is just accepted, it turns toxic for these pastors, as none of them are equipped to save anyone or be the savior - only Jesus can do that.
Paul and Molly’s conference digs into these issues and pulls Biblical principles directly down into daily situations.
Some of the topics include, Biblical priorities, how to point people to Jesus instead of themselves as a leader, Biblical guidance for discussing a disagreement with your spouse, how to shepherd your children’s hearts and lead them to Christ, how to identify emotions (something that is culturally very challenging) and process them Biblically, and how it’s sinful to give in to the cultural temptation to let their schedule and priorities be driven by a sense of self-importance or a savior complex.
Paul and Molly walk through situations step by step, such as discipling your children and handling a disagreement with a spouse. They talk about not prioritizing the public functions that make them feel important but prioritizing time for listening to the Lord.
Without this, Paul and Molly shared, we make decisions that Christ has nothing to do with and we aren't led by the Spirit. We’re blind to our own rudeness, we’re unkind, and we lose the ability to abide in Christ. The pastors were taught instead to prioritize marginal time in prayer and the Word that allows them to listen to the Spirit and respond.
Paul teaches pastors and their wives during one of the conferences.
Pastors absorb the teaching they receive.
During testimony time at the end of a conference, a pastor and his wife thank Paul for the valuable Biblical training they are receiving.
Their conference is beyond profound for many who attend. Leaders come up afterward and text for weeks with comments like,
“I realized my assistant removes my sandals when I arrive and puts them on when I leave and God's showing me that's not right.”
“The exchanges with your family [Paul, Molly and their children who helped with the conference] were a highlight for us because you won't see families serving together often."
“We never hear teaching like this anywhere else.”
“It’s saving my marriage and my relationship with my kids.”
Please keep Paul and Molly and the many pastors who attended their recent conferences in your prayers as they serve Jesus in India.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steve Evers has advocated for and served the ITMI partners as ITMI Director since 2001. Approximately once a year, Steve visits with ITMI partners in their countries and brings stories back to encourage supporters. Steve enjoys photography and mechanics (both hobbies that have greatly benefited ITMI partners!) Prior to becoming ITMI’s Director, Steve served on […]
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