10/07/25 Zambia
This past week, Global Baptist Training Foundation held regional training in Lusaka, Zambia!
Two classes were actually held simultaneously! Dr. Bruce Snavely, GBTF Founder and President, taught Eschatology to 55 South African GBTF National Trainers. This is the second of three regional training sessions to train all of our over 200 national trainers to be able to train others. In August, we held the same training in Uganda for East African GBTF Trainers. In March, this training will be in Liberia. We are attempting to add one new class each year to keep all of our nationals moving forward!
When you see these pictures, you realize the size of the army that is taking the GBTF mission throughout the continent of Africa! Theological training, leadership identification, church planting, and amazing evangelism and discipleship are all results of this mission to train nationals to train nationals.
It is important to realize how hard these pastors and church leaders work to get to the class location. Many travel for long hours. They study hard for several days to absorb class materials that rival any Bible college curriculum anywhere in the world. And they learn. And they grow. Then, they go back to their churches and teach their own church people as well as others.
Alongside the trainer class, a second class of 55 pastors and church leaders had their first class in the GBTF curriculum, Interpretation of Scripture. This course was taught by Pastor Brasswell Nkhonjera of Malawi, GBTF South Africa Director. This group will continue their training for the next 2-2 1/2 years until they can graduate. These courses always include assessment (testing) to insure that the course material is understood and grasped. We have begun offering a projector to the student who exemplifies excellence in completing the assessments.
Several of our Leadership Team participated in the week in Zambia. Fidele Shinga, GBTF Africa Director, was there along with Naboth Atusasire, GBTF East Africa Director. Ntare Rodgers, GBTF IT Director, helped distribute GBTF-provided smart phones. Ntare also provided training in the use of the phones and the GBTF app.
It feels like Christmas when we are able to equip our trainers with phones, GBTF shirts, table runners, GBTF backpacks, projectors, and other equipment they use to be more effective in training others to train others (II Timothy 2:2)!
The students are asked to give a testimony after the class ends. We use them to improve our classes as well as evaluate how they are receiving the content. We thought we’d share excerpts from some of these testimonies in the exact words (spelling and all) of the nationals:
“I gathered my bus fare from selling my crop which I harvested from my small field all these was not because of my wisdom but by the grace of Him. I always feel to do this work of my Lord and it is indeed in my heart that GBTF is the only organisation eqquiping with the best knowledge of the scriptures and this will motivate me not to miss any class announced “
Though the journey was tiresome traveling by road and having sold some goats to travel, I was so happy to meet Doctor Bruce and his teaching. I look forward to be working towards teaching others having been equipped by GBTF for the good work of the Lord.”
“I thank God for my wife who was saving for my transport, she made sure we sometimes miss some meals so that her husband could attend such a wonderful training. The lessons themselves were excellent,I wish many people from my church could have attended. I want to thank Dr Bruce for travelling all the way from the USA.”.
“It was ineeded a great experience through the Lord to have an opportunity to come to Zambia for a conference. The journey was not easy due to financial constrains. In our country we use multi currency and to raise that i worked for 2months to serve for my journey. Final i managed. I was doubting to make it, by his grace it succeded. We had great teachings and practical.”
This week, classes began in Tanzania and Western Rwanda. The Rwanda class has 157 students. Fidele added the story of one of the students in Rwanda: This week one of the men in our GBTF Western Rwanda had to pay someone to make sure that his one cow 
is protected for him to be absent at home and be present at GBTF class. He paid $8 for that person to take care of his cow so that he will be able to attend class. Then he waked to the class site for 6 hours. Glory be to God.
Next week, there will be classes in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries. Look for updates to come on those classes. Our next update will be about the third quarter reporting, and you won’t want to miss this one!
We are nearing the end of the year. Would you consider a one-time gift to help us continue offering this training in the ever-increasing number of countries. We will be in Chad, Niger, and Madagascar before the end of 2025. Visit www.globaltrain.org to be part of all that is ahead.
Videos:
Dr Bruce Greeted at the Airport in Zambia
Fidele Introduces GBTF and Dr Bruce
Eschatology in Zambia
Bruce and Grace Snavely
Global Baptist Training Foundation