IFES Worldwide Training Consultation Ghana - The Way Forward Regionally

These are some ideas exposed by the regional delegations for the way forward in their different regions worldwide:

1. Make a general plan of training and integrate it that will include a process of evaluation.
2. Work on how to handle pedagogy.
3. Produce courses in relationship with the pedagogy. Actualize the competences at the different level.
4. Reorganize the training program: through online training.
5. Pursue the use of technology.
6. Help our NM to stop and reflect.
7. Fashion development to the different levels of staff: new staff, etc.
8. Curriculum for staff to take from training that will benefit students. Different areas identified.
9. Encourage NM to build a component of training into their staff meeting. Build also in GS consultation, board consultation, etc.
10. Help National Movements with self-assessment.
11. Include students into the discussion we had here.
12. Partnerships with other regions in staff training and development.
13. Connecting students worldwide.
14. Making resources available for the use of students.
15. Creating awareness of the need for transformational training.
16. Offering intentional mentoring.

The IFES worldwide Training and Staff Development Consultation took place in Ghana May 7th-15th 2012.

IFES Worldwide Training Consultation Ghana - Day 7 (and last)

Some thoughts on Colossians 1:28-29 by Uncle Tibi

What was Paul’s goal in ministry to be able to present everyone perfect (mature) in Christ.

Not focus on one, but all. Paul was not interested in numbers.

Marks of maturity

• Character, because there is “infancy”, there is jealousy, etc.
• Stability in our faith. We are not blown out by any new teaching. Understanding of Christian truth. Hebrews 5:11 Solid food is for the mature.
• Able to teach others. 2 Timothy 2:2 

Means

• Proclamation, we proclaim Him. And Christ crucified 1 Corinthians 2:1-2.
• Admonishing. Warning (RSV). Acts 20:31.
• Teaching. Apostles teaching. Acts 11:25.

We have no job in transforming the church in a business school. We need to teach the Word.

Not only becoming a student leader but becoming mature for the service in the church.

How he did the work

·       Hard work:

o   Labour

o   Struggle

o   Teach

o   Admonishing

This includes suffering 2 Cor. 11: 26-29

Ephesians 3:20

Ephesians 1:19

·     Prayer

Colossians 2:1

He prayed for people in meaningful ways. So that they will be encouraged. He will teach them in their presence, he will wrestle in prayer in absence.

Small Group Discussions on training gaps - some insights

Gaps in Staff Training

• Lack a culture of developing staff
• Organization is too flat, no long-term strategy for staff roles
• Staff initiative in personal development 
• Training to supervisory staff/Gen Sec/board/Administrative is a big need
• On job training missing 
• Too traditional overlooking the right medium (technology & pedagogy) 
• Staff training too event oriented 
• Most training are not practical
• Need for modular training
• Student contribution into staff training
• Evaluate training
• No pastoral care 
• More theological training

Gaps in Students training

• We put things in a box and the whole is not comprehensive. 
• Gap and/or inconsistency in the whole process: curriculum development, content, delivery.
• No defined curriculum.
• No Training in self-formación.
• Too much confidence in programmes and events, but not enough investment into informal relations.
• No intentional training.
• Training programs are not tailored to students’ needs. We design them based on what we think students need.
• Evangelism as priority – training neglected (in pioneering situations).
• Afraid to lose content so we stick to old ways.
• We think that by changing methodology we are changing contents.
• Gap between doing things and effectiveness. 
• Too much information transfer in trainings.
• Inconsistent training methods.
• Being creative and creating space for exploration and reflection what is taught.
• Training not relevant enough.
• Theologically heavy teaching. No change of attitude. No relationship in how to impact the world. 
• Gap between the biblical teachings and our culture. Lack of critical thinking in how we need to change the culture with Biblical patterns. 
• Fostering effective practices, not just techniques.
• Involve students at all levels.
• Staff should be facilitators than rather than being lords.
• Not enough prayer.
• Multiplying the good thing we are doing.
• Networking to be improved for sharing best practices.
• Reassessment of what we’re doing in training.
• Follow-up.
• Teacher-disciple model .
• Use of new technology.

IFES Worldwide Training Consultation Ghana - Day 1

Expectations (from Daniel Bourdanné, GS IFES)

• May this consultation give us back the passion to training.
• Think of the content of our training: So that students become more like Jesus.
• Training form: Becoming creative, explore new paradigms.

Some memorable quotes

• This is the danger when we become experts: We do not open our intelligence to other realities that may not be possible yet but could be possible tomorrow, can even become the norm.
• We can become prisoner of our training methodologies, forms.
• God often uses people from the periphery to bring a change of paradigm. 
• If we want to change we need to face our insecurities. 
• Change of paradigm may imply that we need to get rid of some things radically.
• This is precisely where the change of paradigm is: What people thought was impossible becomes possible.
• The OT is the oldest program of theological education.
• The teaching in the NT is for the church as a whole. 
• This community together learns about the divine program of education.
• Christians invented theological education, converting the educational system of their contemporary time.
• Christian understanding is developing continually as it interacts with the world around.
• Theology is about thinking in interesting ways, making decisions in a Christian way. So there are always new questions that arise as we interact with the world.
• A change of paradigm will not happened if you are satisfied with the status quo, without critical reflection, a critical judgement of the assumptions.
• We look at history to move forward.
• We read history to see where we are going in the future. Our history is who we are.
• Two things that give IFES strength and that create an environment where paradigm shifts can happen easily:
• Rock solid commitment to Scripture.
• Commitment at the grass-root (student initiative).
• God has used very young and ordinary people.
• Acts 1:8 – the vision is to share until the end of the earth.
• We need to give the glory to God. At the end of the day is through the power of His spirit.
• Counter cultural: even if we are the only people in this place we will do it. How do we create that passion? Because, yes, it is possible.
• Principle of student leadership is very important.
• There are seasons and we need to adapt the work in and out of seasons.
• We need to tell our stories and we need to tell it with passion. We need to celebrate what God has done.
• Questions come from context but answers don’t: we have to go to Scripture to get answers.

Provocative Questions

• What is worthy of study?
• What will be the order in which you ask the following questions?
• What enduring or eternal truths should the curriculum provide?
• What essential skills and knowledge should the curriculum provide?
•  What problems or experiences of the learner and his/her context should the curriculum address?
• What do learners need to grow to their full potentials? What threats should the curriculum help them to remove?
• What is curriculum? What does it include? What does it have to achieve? How do we go about it?