Five Trainings in Two Weeks: Equipping the Indigenous Church in East Africa

In September, ITEC conducted a two-week training trip in east Africa, partnering with indigenous churches through an indigenous missions organization. The trip was split into two parts. During the first week, the team focused on providing dental and eyesight training to local Christ followers from the northern and predominately Muslim region of the country. Our dental team was joined by a local indigenous dentist, Edith, who has trained with ITEC previously, and her expertise and wisdom was invaluable to the dental training. Our dental team graduated 10 trainees, equipping them to help meet basic dental needs in their communities. The eyesight training, led by Mike and Jill Stafford from South Carolina, saw 6 local Christ followers equipped and supplied with glasses to take back to their home region as a door opener to the Gospel.

The second week focused on film, medical, and mechanical trainings, further equipping local Christ followers from the north with additional skills to take back to their communities. Our ITEC medical team was led by a local indigenous doctor, Thomas, who trained previously with ITEC in January of this year. Supported by our ITEC team member, Dr. Trina, Thomas led the medical training with professionalism and compassion, and his knowledge and heart for his people inspired our whole team. The week two team graduated 6 mechanical, 13 film, and an impressive 20 medical trainees.

Only a week after our teams left, we started receiving word from our trainees that they were already putting their new skills to practice, providing dental and vision clinics in their home regions. As a result, over 35 people have chosen to abandon Islam to follow Jesus!  Indigenous trainers like Edith and Thomas played a critical role in continuing the work after the team left, and we are excited to hear more stories of how God is using His people who have recieved training  in east Africa to share the Gospel with the hard to reach!

If you or your church would like to learn more about partnering with the indigenous Church and training on your next short-term mission trip, we would love to connect with you! Click here to learn more!