Why these pastors?
Pastors with little education and few finances are usually located in the rural and poorest areas of their country. They are uneducated because they cannot afford schooling or travel. Because their communities are smaller, they are known and have influence. When we bring training and materials to them at no cost, it is deeply appreciated, readily received, immediately applied, and widely disseminated. Our material doesn’t sit on the shelf, competing for attention with numerous other seminars. It is like rain after a long period of drought. People rejoice and put it into practice immediately.
How many of these pastors?
10,000,000. Our goal is to train 10,000,000 pastors. Why? Every pastor who is trained is inspired with the vision of taking this material to their own people and beyond. If the average pastor teaches just 100 people, then every time we train a pastor, our work is multiplied 100 times or 10,000%. Reaching 10,000,000 pastors means impacting 1 billion people.
A big goal? Of course! But why not! We serve a universe creating God!
Why are pastors so effective?
Pastors in small, rural communities are usually trusted and respected leaders. When they teach truth that changes lives, marriages and families, people flock to them to find out more.
“Since the conference, my marriage has changed. I used to say negative things about my wife, but I repented. Now, there's peace in our family. I have also taught in the church I lead and cases of violence have decreased. I thank God for that. Please send me more material, so that I can teach the church."
- Pastor Thomas Musumba, Kenya
First, no one is doing what we are doing
Our approach is unique.
We provide all our materials in the pastor’s own language for three reasons:
- so it is clearly understood
- so they can use the material to teach their own church
- so the training spreads and becomes indigenous driven and led.
We know that once equipped, they can do a better job at reaching their people than we can.
Second, no one is following up like we are
Our process is unique.
Follow up: After every seminar, we follow up with support and encouragement material twice a week for one full year using audio, video and print. These videos are specifically designed to give one or two ideas to practice each week.
Mentoring: Personnel are trained in each country who can provide personal follow up, biblical counseling and further training. This assures us of greater impact in each life and family.
Practice: At 3, 6 and 12 months following the initial conference, we follow up with a questionnaire to determine how much each person has applied what they have learned.
Empowerment: As leaders distinguish themselves by spontaneously training and teaching nationally or internationally, we partner with them giving them whatever support they need so that they can eventually continue their efforts independently.
Third, no one is teaching what we are teaching
Our material is unique.
This is not American, Chinese, African, Indian or any other culture’s philosophy. This is truth directly from the Word of God. It is applicable to every people, every culture and every language. As a result, audiences in every nation are stunned. They have never heard marriage and family teaching like this. It is bold, powerful, culturally-appropriate, high impact and life changing, and often anti-cultural - just the way God intended.
We are the only training group we know of throughout a vast majority of the underdeveloped world that provides this type of training in marriage and child rearing.
Over and over we have heard people say:
“We have never heard this before!”
“Others are teaching about marriage and family, but no one teaches directly from the Word of God.”
“No one has the courage to teach what you are teaching.”
“I have not been able to support my family or spend quality time with them since I am always drinking with my friends at the bar. My wife left me and even called me to initiate a divorce.
When I heard the teachings of Godly marriage and receiving the booklets of Dr. Vance teachings, I was very emotional and shed tears, praying and asked God for forgiveness. I went to see my wife to ask her for forgiveness since I now have a changed mind and I will never leave her again to struggle alone. I told her God changed my mind after hearing the Godly marriage teachings. She forgave me went with me to a second seminar on Godly marriage. We agreed to start a new life trusting in God for His provisions. I am still thirsty for more of these teachings and encouragement.”
- Dennis Okinyi, Kenya
“I would like to share a powerful testimony from last week's Godly Marriage Seminar. A couple attended the seminar facing family problems, including a pastor living in an illegal relationship with another believer. The situation had escalated to the point where the wife confronted the pastor, leading to threats on his life from the other woman involved.
In a state of despair and contemplating self-harm, the pastor attended our two-day seminar with the intention of finding solace before taking drastic measures. However, during the Godly Marriage Seminar, he heard the message, confessed his mistakes, and re-committed his life to his wife. The seminar played a crucial role in helping him reunite with his wife, and he decided against the tragic choice he was contemplating.
This testimony is a testament to the impact of the work we are doing, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this Kingdom ministry in building families.”
- Pastor Satyam Yellasiri, India
“Praise the Lord. The first thing that I have learned is forgiving your wife when you are very angry. I have beaten my wife many times out of anger. I felt very sad and realized my mistake. I have said that I will never beat her again. Secondly, I have learned to hold hands with my wife which I have never done before, and next, to hug her each day and apologize whenever there is a mistake done.”
- Name withheld, India
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© 2024 Dr. Vance Hardisty
Renewal International is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Federal ID # 26-7169710.
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