TLT Training in the Gambia – October 2023
In mid-October 2023, participants gathered at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Fajara, The Gambia, to commence the first module of the Timothy Leadership Training (TLT) basic certificate programme. The Gambia is a small West African country with a population of around 2.5 million people and a diverse cultural heritage. Although Islam is the dominant religion, Christianity has a noticeable presence, with the Anglican Church being a significant part of the Christian community. The church is led by the newly enthroned Rt. Revd St. Obed Arist Kojo Baiden, Bishop of The Gambia.
The Timothy Leadership Training Programme, developed by Raise Up Global, is a practical ministry training programme comprising seven manuals. It uses an interactive approach, encouraging students to discuss the materials among themselves. It also includes an action plan to help students apply what they learn in their lives and leadership roles within their churches.
The first module, which was undertaken in the Gambia, is “Caring for God’s People” (CFGP). It focuses on equipping leaders to follow biblical teaching and effectively shepherd their congregations. With 14 dedicated individuals attending the training, it provided the pastors and lay leaders with the additional skills to care for their congregations and all of God’s people.
The training was delivered by Rev. Moses Lincoln, Director of Studies at the Mount Zion Training Centre in Sierra Leone, who has also conducted similar training in Liberia and across Sierra Leone. His dedication to imparting knowledge and skills has been instrumental in shaping the future of these leaders.
Bishop Kojo, reflecting on the training, said, “It was a wonderful project. It went very well, and both clergy and lay readers are extremely grateful.”
Sponsored and coordinated by the Relay Trust, this training session is part of a broader effort to extend the impact of TLT training across the six dioceses of the Internal Province of West Africa (IPWA), the start of which has now been achieved.
As the participants of the TLT CFGP training in The Gambia move forward, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. May they carry the knowledge and skills they have gained into their communities and families, promoting harmony and peace. Also, pray for the continued partnership between the Relay Trust, the Diocese of The Gambia, and the broader church across the IPWA, working to introduce more individuals to Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour and foster a more united world.
