
Connect October – December 2020
What has changed in 125 years? Missionaries from the early 1900s would not recognise much about the AIM of 2020. And today’s missionaries might not recognise the AIM of 2050. Or even 2030.
We long to see African churches communicate the gospel in all its fullness, responding to the lies on offer, and building up believers who will in turn, reach out to their communities. There is a great need to equip African church leaders, preachers and evangelists so that they can serve their churches well and be apart of reaching the unreached through biblical teaching and Christlike discipleship.
“Wherever theological and biblical training exists, it should always seek to serve the church to participate in God’s mission in this world.”
Equipping African church leaders often involves teaching at Bible and theological colleges. The Institute of Bible and Ministry at Sanga Sanga, Tanzania aims to enable, mobilise and inspire pastors and evangelists into a deeper relationship with God so that they can effectively lead their churches. Christian universities such as Shalom University in Bunia, DR Congo, teach theology as part of courses in other subjects, training students in applying what they believe to their professional work.
Wherever theological and biblical training exists, it should always seek to serve the church to participate in God’s mission in this world—it is about following Jesus, learning from him, growing to be like him, and so becoming fishers of men wherever he sends. Could you play a part in this important work?

What has changed in 125 years? Missionaries from the early 1900s would not recognise much about the AIM of 2020. And today’s missionaries might not recognise the AIM of 2050. Or even 2030.

The Psalmist wrote ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him’ (Psalm 34:8). As Peter Root, AIM Europe’s Personnel Director, reflects how God was at work over his 13 year period in Mozambique (1993 – 2006), he shares, “I can only say, ‘the Lord is good’”.

Adam Willard, AIM’s Unit Leader for Uganda, has lived with his family in remote places in three different countries over several years. He shares that one similarity they have seen in each of these places is the struggle to educate church leaders in contextual and reproducible ways.

John Piper addresses some of the questions raised by Romans 12:1-2, about what it means to ‘not conform’ and how we should understand this verse in the light of other verses about how we should live.

Amos grew up in Kenya. After finishing University in September 2018, Amos decided to go to Dukana in northern Kenya for a year, to serve the Gabbra people.

Jan, Mat & Katy chat to us about their experiences of short term mission.