Barnabas aid March April 2022

Building Christian Leadership their churches to engage with their situations faithfully and with integrity.” Some of the topics currently being explored include political marginalization of Christians, theological and physical conflict between Christians and other religious groups, the impact of the Gospel on low-caste and poor people, the ethics of work, Christian education, women in the Scriptures and domestic violence. Basilius Kasera from Namibia recently completed his doctoral studies with OCRPL. Basilius – now Dr. Basilius – explains that his research “seeks to provide the Church with a way of having dialogue in the public sphere on matters of social justice.” This is important in Namibia, where there is “an obvious resistance against the Church having a say in public issues of governance and justice.” Dr. Basilius’ work aims to help the Church be an influence for good, as well as “a faithful and present witness of God’s Kingdom.”

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predicated on sound knowledge of Islam and research, not on emotion and baseless arguments.” Islam, according to Adeboye’s research, has a better record of engaging the social context and making its message appear relevant to people in Nigeria and across Africa. This shows where the Church must improve. Adeboye’s knowledge of Islam is now being put to use with the development of a guide for African Christians on how to witness to Muslims and disciple Muslim-background believers.

“At no point did I feel that I was doing this all by myself.” The structure of the program “allowed for participating in society while I’m studying, and I didn’t have to leave my family behind.”

Neither Basilius nor Adeboye would have had the opportunity to undertake their studies without OCRPL. Basilius earlier had to drop out of a Ph.D. program owing to lack of funds. OCRPL was able to offer him a twoyear scholarship.

OCRPL students meet for a seminar at Barnabas Aid’s International Headquarters in the U.K. The M.Th. program is geared mainly towards helping Church leaders develop a fuller understanding of Islamic theology and practice, in areas where the Church is under pressure from Islam. Adeboye Godwin, a recent graduate of OCRPL’s M.Th. program from northern Nigeria, explains, “I have come to realize that any proper Christian response to Islamic mission in Africa must be

As well as providing the means, OCRPL also provided the support. “The technical support from OCRPL is one thing I appreciated the most,” says Basilius. “At no point did I feel that I was doing this all by myself.” The structure of the program “allowed for participating in society while I’m studying, and I didn’t have to leave my family behind.” Adeboye adds, “I have not heard of any opportunity to undertake Islam with academic objectivity and contextual relevance apart from OCRPL.”

“Shepherds of Their Flocks”

OCRPL is also setting up undergraduate-level opportunities for impoverished church leaders across the Global South with The Shepherd’s Academy (TSA).

With OCRPL Dr. Basilius Kasera, a Namibian church leader, did not have to leave his family behind. The Covid-19 pandemic in particular, explains Dr. Prasad, “has meant that theological training is increasingly becoming a luxury. Many Church leaders have lost their incomes and are struggling to feed their families, let alone undertake theological training.” The high death toll in some countries – for example India – means that believers are being thrust into positions of leadership long before they feel themselves properly prepared. TSA currently includes 70 students from seven different countries, each linked to one of five study centers in Cameroon, Nepal, Pakistan, South Sudan and Zambia. God willing, the number of students will rise to 250 in June 2022, and to 500 in 2023, with expansion into Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Kenya. Additionally, course material has already been translated into Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Russian and Tamil. “Our vision is to train up 10,000 grassroots Christian leaders in the next five years,” says Dr Prasad. “Some will join our full bachelors (undergraduate) program; others will take certificate or diploma courses, or standalone courses, that address the gaps in their ministry training.” Dr. Sookhdeo concludes, “It is our sincere prayer that through The Shepherd’s Academy we would be able to address the leadership challenge faced by the Church before it becomes a crisis, and that the leadership of the Church will be properly trained in their role to be shepherds of their flocks.”