The words in Matthew 28 are often quoted. Before Jesus ascends, He gives His disciples a particular command:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
This command to make disciples and preach all that Jesus has commanded in His Gospel is at the heart of our Mobile Messenger program. At Open Eyes, we believe there is no one better equipped to reach the underserved and unreached peoples of our world than those who live and work in those specific communities. Our heart and mission are to come alongside these men and women in countries in Africa, India, and Nepal with resources to help them minister Jesus and His Gospel.
The term, “Mobile Messenger,” comes from the resources we provide and the precious message they carry into their world. Through motorbikes, bicycles, and sometimes SUVs, these men and women can extend the reach of the Gospel by entering remote villages often long distances away, and sometimes, only accessible by smaller vehicles.
Becoming A Mobile Messenger
The exact definition of a Mobile Messenger is someone who is a pioneer of the Gospel and is passionate about the spiritual welfare of their people. They have the heart for evangelism. They have an intimate knowledge of their own culture, language, geography and specific needs of their people. Our ongoing investment is to increase their access to unreached areas and accelerate the timeline and effectiveness of their work.
So how does one become a Mobile Messenger?
There are a few steps required for training consideration. These measures ensure that those who enter into the program are called, recommended, and ready for the training they are about to enter.
First, candidates for training must be recommended by the Mobile Messenger Leader/Coordinator in their country. Candidates are men and women who are currently in ministry and are currently in the process of being mentored by the leader or coordinator. Once recommended for training, candidates are reviewed by Open Eyes, and if accepted, an orientation into all the training begins.
Once we have enough people in an area for training, our training coordinator in Kenya works to find a teacher in the area who will be introduced to the class and the area they are teaching. This teacher is familiar with the curriculum used. They have also studied in a recognized theological seminary, OR have completed the Bible training curriculum.
When these details are in place, the students get ready to dig into their studies.
From Student to Minister
Open Eyes uses Bible Training Center For Pastors curriculum to train Mobile Messengers. It was developed by Dr. Dennis Mock from Atlanta, Georgia in 1988 and has been a huge blessing and resource for us.
When a student begins his training, he is going to be locked in for 16 months to two years, depending on the pace the class decides to take. During this training, trainees tackle various classes, both practical and spiritual.
Courses include Old and New Testament Survey, learning how to read and interpret the Bible, and learning how to preach and teach people under their spiritual care. During their studies, trainees will read through the whole Bible. They will also learn how to be dedicated to personal study of the Word and equipped to minister the Word in their communities effectively.
Completion of the course means they have trained 540 hours in their classroom. The students also dedicate an additional 300 hours to personally studying and reviewing the Bible. They receive a certificate equivalent to a one-year mini bible school or college.
Go Into All The World
Currently, training has started in Kenya and Tanzania. Soon we will have graduates in Rwanda and Uganda. Earlier this year, we began outreach in India and Nepal as well. We can’t wait to see what the Lord does in these new countries. Each step has been a step of faith and trust in the Lord. It’s the heart of Open Eyes to fulfill that great commandment of Jesus we stated at the beginning: “Go into all the world and make disciples…”
We are grateful for the men and women who step forward and decide to undertake this training to spread the Gospel of Jesus to their communities. The training needed is no small undertaking. And they need all the support they can get.
The cost of training a Mobile Messenger is $1,000 per person. Would you prayerfully consider giving to help them reach their full potential in training to be ministers of the Word? Also, please commit to praying daily for men and women to raise their hand and boldly follow Jesus into their communities to bring glory to His name and people into His kingdom.