Daniel Otieno & Franciscah’s Story

“My preaching has been greatly transformed,” he said. “I am able to preach, interpret and integrate the scriptures within context and I’m sure this is helping our church to grow more founded in the Word of God.”

Daniel Otieno was already a pastor when he joined AE Kenya’s training program. He was the deputy chairman of the Pastor’s Fellowship in his town – already a well-respected Christian leader. However, he hadn’t had the opportunity to study theology; until AE offered local Kenyan pastors the chance to join the PTC course, asking them to pay only a $10 joining fee.

In June 2017 year, Daniel got to put his training to extra use at AE Kenya’s mission to Malindi, his own town. He and his fellow students were all involved in the mission and one of the most enthusiastic participants was female pastor, Franciscah Kibira.“I was very committed during the Malindi mission. There is no way I could miss it!” she said.

She organised people in her church to give financially to the mission, to offer accommodation to over 40 mission evangelists, and had 30 additional church members helping out throughout the mission week. “I had attended some Malindi Mission planning meetings before the PTC, but I only understood the whole picture of the mission during the PTC training, she said. “After the Mission, I went with the AE-Kenya team to evangelise at the Kampala Mission in Uganda!”

Before this, Franciscah had received no theological or biblical training. She had enthusiasm and commitment, but lacked depth of understanding. So at each class, she lapped up the teaching. “The clear discussions about the Bible and the unfolding themes through the Scripture helped me see the Bible in a different perspective,” she said. “The theme of Christ unfolding from the Old Testament to the New Testament made me see the Bible as one.” “It’s like PTC opens your eyes to see the Scriptures as they are, not as the way we want to see them. It’s a common thing to see the Bible being misinterpreted in Kenya by many preachers, but PTC stops this.” It has given her and Daniel more confidence in their ministry. “I recently had an opportunity to go and preach the word of God in South Africa,” said Daniel.

“The knowledge and the material that I received during the course, helped me with all my preparations. I felt I was more effective and delivering the word of God more appropriately. PTC is now opening new doors for me.” “I remain thankful to AE for giving us an opportunity to study the word of God. In PTC, the training is not teacher-centred but student-centred; the discussion groups, the time the students have with the material before the actual training, makes PTC unique.”

“Thank you to the facilitators who sacrificially devote their time and resources to come and equip us, the Kenyan church! Thank you too AE for offering this training without cost. The little we pay is nothing compared to the total cost of this training. I am sure there are individuals and partners who give these funds to AE. Thank you for your generous giving.”