The Essence of GJI’s Training Program
Gospel Joy trainings are intentionally designed to cover foundational Christian teachings, encourage them in their faith, and equip them to lead an audio Bible study.
Our trainings are generally two days- we start in the evening of the first day with worship and a Gospel presentation. We have found that while the participants in our trainings are leaders in the church not all of them truly understand the Gospel. On average, about half of the women who go through our trainings claim they never truly understood what it meant to have a personal relationship with Christ. This is key to the success of our work and we don’t shy away from sharing the Gospel.
The following day we gather for breakfast, worship, and teachings. Topics include the consecrated life, the importance of the word of God, why memorize scripture, and how to use the Bible studies. Our goal is to not only equip leaders in how to use the studies but also prepare them to continue in ministry. Encouraging leaders in their walk with Christ while emphasizing the importance of a relationship with God through the study of scripture is the core of what we do.
Our final training is both a graduation and hands on training that walks each leader through the mechanics of the audio Bible studies and the solar radios that play the studies. Tasks such as how to press play, how to pause, rewind, etc. are included in the demonstration. We want our leaders to be experts in knowing how to use the materials we provide them so that when they are leading a group, they feel confident to facilitate the Bible study.
Many of the women who go through our trainings are subsistence farmers, meaning that their sole income and food source is from what they plant and produce on a small plot of land. The majority of the food grown is consumed themselves and not sold to market. There is struggle and real need to survive day to day. Therefore, in addition to spiritual food we provide hearty meals during the training and a small gift of basic rice and beans as they leave. In the book of Ruth, Boaz repeatedly provided for the physical needs of Naomi and Ruth and we are convicted that we need to do the same. While Boaz was also a redeemer, we point participants to Christ to be their redeemer while offering the small provisions of a few days’ food.
At the conclusion of our training, the leaders leave encouraged in their faith, equipped to facilitate audio Bible study groups, and physically provided for the next few meals.