Transforming Students

An excerpt from...

Transforming Students

Partnering with West Africa Theological Seminary
By Shelley Chapman, Nigeria
January-March 2014

What does it take to transform a community—a village, a city, a state, a country, a continent—for God’s glory? The task is daunting. I am reminded, though, of something that management expert and systems thinker Peter Senge said: “Organizations learn only through individuals who learn.” We could say that “Communities transform only through individuals who transform.”(Quoted from The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization.)

West Africa Theological Seminary in Nigeria is in the business of helping individuals transform. Students come from diverse communities of their own, representing 100 denominations and more than 10 countries. They come for academic achievement and spiritual growth so they can take places of leadership in their home villages and states. They attend classes, worship regularly in chapel, participate in discipleship groups, engage in outreach ministries, and seek to live and grow together in the kingdom of God.

Throughout its nearly 25-year history, WATS has capitalized on a community of strategic partnerships that helped the school to focus on the transformation of individual students so they can lead transformation efforts in their home communities. And now, World Gospel Mission is joining the team by sending two missionaries to WATS in 2014.

A great community of helpers contributes to transform individual students, who, in turn, help transform their home villages and churches, as well as distant mission fields—all for the glory of God.

GIVE: Shelley Chapman and Jennifer Bennett need ministry partners to come alongside them financially to see that this partnership with WATS becomes reality. To join team WGM Nigeria, make a donation at www.wgm.org/chapman or www.wgm.org/bennett today!

Biblical Transformation

An excerpt from...

Biblical Transformation

The benefits of using the CHE tool in South Sudan
By Joy Phillips, South Sudan
July-September 2013

World Gospel Mission has joined a global movement called Community Health Evangelism. Mango Ministries in South Sudan uses this tool that leads to transformed lives and communities. In 2013, we are training and mentoring nearly 75 leaders in four different areas of South Sudan.

We’ve seen exciting glimpses of transformed lives in both the spiritual and physical realms. In one CHE lesson, WGM missionary John Muehleisen explained the plan of salvation by drawing the Four Spiritual Laws illustration in the dirt, in lieu of a chalkboard. Here is a testimony from one of the participants:

“I had gone to different trainings. But this was very special. I benefited spiritually and physically. This is a lesson that I can’t ever forget. I used to believe that salvation is from my side. I was thinking that I can reach God. But when Pastor John explained to us, I realized that I was wrong. I realized that it was God who can reach to me and save me. I can’t forget this lesson all my life—never!”

Isn’t that exciting? Changing misconceptions about God is the work of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to pray. Will you join us in praying that God will continue speaking truth into the lives of the CHE leaders and turn their worlds upside down? It’s a slow process, but we believe biblical transformation holds the key to radically changed lives, families, churches, and communities. When a life is wholly submitted to God and His truth and God’s creative power is unleashed, no one can predict what amazing things God will do!

Partner with Mango Ministries through prayer. Print Pray CHE, a free prayer guide, at www.wgm.org/mango.

Learn more about the CHE movement at www.chenetwork.org.