Upon entering the Eikenhof facility on the 1st February 2011, one is filled with a sense of bewilderment; the source for this being the groups of people from different countries gathered in groups outside, and making hand gestures while reciting Biblical words. Closer inspection reveals that these people are in fact, receiving the training required to be a Walk thru the Old Testament Instructor.
The 9 participants from countries as diverse as Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa, Burundi and Nigeria, took the sojourn through the Old Testament with aplomb, and were able to complete the hand gestures in context in 3 minutes.
A few of the participants were deeply touched by the “Teach Test” principle, and shared their testimonies around experiences they have had where God was reaching out and trying to see whether they had learnt particular lessons in their lives, and testing them to see if they had learnt anything from those lessons.
One participant (Willem van der Waal, Gereformeerde Kerk, Northcliff), described the training as “Insightful,” as it “equipped him as a servant and as a teacher.” He further stated that his “teaching skills had been sharpened” and viewed the training as “an investment in his personal growth.”
He enthusiastically indicated that, “Jesus is the greatest teacher we can all learn from,” and that “He ignites a fire in my heart to take the calling further by accessing people from different cultures and personalising (the Old Testament) and placing it into our own contexts.”
Instructors in training being put through their paces
Hendrik van Deventer, from the same church, shared his experience from a youth ministry point of view and expressed his “eagerness to teach the youth; as they need a hunger for the Word.” He also echoed the sentiment that there is a lack of Bible education for the youth, and that he felt equipped to teach the youth with the instruction he received at the Eikenhof facility.
Trainees sharing personal testimonies
Painito Ambuka (Burundi), indicated that he felt “eager to teach”, as the training “revived his teaching spirit,” and inspired him to generate the same enthusiasm and energy when teaching others in his home country.
It all started with Creation
Vernon Vera (Lesotho), stated that the journey through the Old Testament was, “as refreshing as the first time, and allows one the opportunity of reflecting on one’s personal walk with God, as the images brought out of the presentation ministered strongly to me.”
With this overwhelmingly positive response to the training, one is filled with a sense that the objective has been achieved, and that the participants are well and truly equipped to pass on the knowledge gained, so that others may benefit from a renewed relationship with Jesus Christ, and that the Word may become the driving force in the lives of so many.
In the words of Phil Tuttle (President, Walk thru the Bible), “You can start a great legacy in your generation.” What better way to start than by equipping church leaders who can, in turn, equip the communities they serve by transferring their knowledge and skills so that many may dine at the table?
To obtain further information about the Walk thru the Old Testament Toolbox training event, please click here.