Hursts in Africa

This week and next week I am teaching every day at the bible school here in Kinshasa. I'm teaching a course called "The Church and Development." My focus in the course is "Transformational Development." Transformational Development is basically looking at the ministry of Jesus and how he focused on touching, healing, and redeeming every part of man and encouraging our pastors to do the same - to tell the Good News in word and in deed. We have talked about the term "development" being more than just structures of "modernization", but that true development, from a Christian perspective, means that we are completely transformed - in our spirits, in our relationships, and in our physical life and how we lead it. We have had great discussions on the importance of the church here in Africa and the church's prominence in their communities. With this visibility they are perfectly positioned to help touch the tangible issues that their communities face, as they simultaneously present the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Next week we'll look at the issue of HIV/AIDS. We'll apply the strategies and methods that we've learned to developing a local church based HIV ministry.