(Tim and Mary Lou Tiner are CCCC missionaries serving with International Training Institute on several continents.)
Multiplication!
As Tim and Mary Lou Tiner look over this past year, this is the one word which best sums it up. From the jungles of Africa, to the forests of South America, to the bustling cities of Europe, the Tiners have watched in awe as the Lord is producing fruit — much fruit!
The Tiners are serving with Network Beyond and the International Training Institute (ITI). It is thrilling for them to invest in the lives of these indigenous pastors and leaders through the vehicle of this “Bible School on Wheels.” Along with their team, the Tiners have traveled over 50,000 miles this year alone, bringing Biblical training to areas of the world where it is otherwise unavailable, inaccessible, or unattainable. The key leaders who attend these intense days of training commit to completing a four-year course of study, which lays a solid Biblical foundation for those in ministry.
Tim and Mary Lou teaching in Kenya
But what has been truly thrilling this year has been watching multiplication take place. A number of the students who completed this training, have now taken the material, in some cases translated it, and expanded this work by organizing and teaching new training schools.
In June two graduate students (one from Kenya and another from Uganda) took the International Training Institute material, translated it, and traveled to the Congo to lead the first training school there. Anthony and Alfred are amazing men of God. During a fact-finding trip, Anthony was captured by terrorists as he crossed into the Congo. After being held at gunpoint for over four hours, Anthony was miraculously released, unharmed. But did that deter his desire to return to the Congo this June? No! Together with Alfred, the two men organized and taught 55 pastors and leaders from the Congo. This is an area that would be difficult and perhaps impossible for Americans to travel to. But through these national African leaders, the work is expanding and multiplying. Anthony and Alfred had both completed the training in their respective countries, and last May they both co-taught with our team in Uganda, as they prepared further for this new outreach. The Tiners are planning to return to Uganda this next year, and are looking forward to the opportunity of meeting many of these new Congo students, who are hoping to travel across the border and join the training in Fort Portal, Uganda.
Marriage seminar in Kenya
The Tiners saw more multiplication taking place this month. For some time, students and graduates in Peru had been telling the ITI team, “You need to go to Ecuador. They need you and this training.” But the ITI team replied: “No… YOU need to go, and we’ll walk alongside you.” This year that became reality. Key leaders from Peru stepped forward and organized a new school in Ecuador. Tim and three other members of the North American ITI team, along with two Peruvian teachers (graduates of the training) taught a group of 80 men and women in Ecuador. This training school is just the beginning, as these Peruvian brothers and sisters have a vision to expand even more.
On yet another continent, the Tiners have seen more multiplication taking place. One of the men Tim had discipled for years in Austria has become active in ministry as an evangelist and pastor. For many years Tim and “R” have ministered together in many Arab-speaking countries, such as Egypt and Israel, as well as European countries which have large Arab populations. “R” recently called and shared that he has started two new Arab-speaking churches in Austria. The Tiners feel like proud grandparents — watching their spiritual children producing much fruit.
New ITI in Ecuador
And then this summer in Africa, the Tiners led a marriage seminar for Kenyan leaders and their wives. These leaders are working in dangerous northern regions, and truly are front-line ministers. The couples were very receptive and thrilled with the teaching they received. But the highlight came at the end of the week when the Tiners were told that this seminar was the springboard for a new marriage and family ministry that will be beginning. The vision is to provide much-needed Biblical teaching and training for pastors and leaders who work with troubled families and must overcome damaging cultural practices in their communities. The leaders have insisted that the Tiners return next year to provide more training.
The Tiners ask for your prayers, as they look forward to more travels this next year. In January they will return to Peru and Ecuador, extending their time in Peru to include leading some marriage seminars. In March, the Tiners will be heading to the Holy Land to teach for the first International Training Institute for Arab leaders. Then they will be back in Europe and Africa.
And continue to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into His harvest…for the harvest truly is plenteous. (Matthew 9:37–38)
