The Ankole Bible School ("ABS") is the main avenue of formal teaching and training that we give our church leaders. It has grown into a very effective and exciting tool for this mission, and the men are always looking forward to the next course. Jay Baker is the teams ABS administrator, and he teaches the bulk of the courses as well. The following is an interview with Jay that we hope will give a glimpse into what it is like to work out those ABS!
Q: What is the purpose and use of the Ankole Bible School?
Right now the primary goal of ABS is twofold: 1) to train and prepare the most gifted teachers in our churches both by giving them material to teach and by helping them nurture their teaching gifts; and 2) to train the leaders of our churches in all issues related to church life and leadership.
Q: How often does the team teach an ABS course?
Our aim is to hold 10 courses each year. That has yet to happen, though we're getting closer. Each course spans parts of 4 days, involves about 15 hours of lecture, a special project, a test, and a lot of informal discussion and training.
Q: What kind of preparation is involved in teaching an ABS course?
This depends on the type of the course and probably who is teaching it, but for me personally, I generally spend about 100-150 hours in preparation for a course. This includes preparing the lessons, translating them into Runyankore, writing and translating the test, checking my translation work with a Ugandan, and preparing all of the logistics for the course (meals, photocopies, facility needs, etc.).
Q: Who is invited to ABS?
Again, this varies based on the type of the course as explained in the question about the purpose. If it's a course on materials to teach or other issues related specifically to teaching, then we invite only those who have shown a significant aptitude for reading and teaching (that group is currently about 20). If it's a more general, leadership-focused course, then we'll invite up to 35 of our main church leaders. This number could easily be 60, but our current facilities don't allow for that.
Q: What do you think have been the most helpful and effective courses so far, and why?
The course that seems to have been the most significant to the men based on what I'm observing was the course on "How to Study the Bible" taught in January of 2005. That one course seems to have given them a different perspective on their entire approach to scripture and their teaching. That said, I feel certain that, if asked, these men would not be able to isolate any 1 or 2 courses that they enjoyed the most. They seem to really love these courses, no matter the subject, as it is another opportunity for them to expand their knowledge and understanding of their work as leaders and teachers.
Q: Other than the pure learning aspect, are there any other benefits to the ABS courses?
This, perhaps in the long-run, will actually be the most effective thing that comes from ABS. The courses are spread over 4 days in order to allow a lot of time for informal discussions and sharing. People of this culture thrive in the "big event" format, and to spend 4 days in lectures, sharing meals, sleeping in the same room, playing soccer during breaks, and swapping stories of struggles, triumphs, frustrations, and concerns in their work as church leaders has immeasurable value to the morale of each of these men. Certainly we hope that the content of each course will enhance and bless each man's work and ministry; however, we're beginning to see that simply getting them together for extended periods of time is reaping great benefits in the churches they represent. Also, the relationships they're building through sharing the events of these courses is carrying over into their work with their churches, especially as the various congregations encounter difficulties. They are quick to enlist the advice and assistance from their fellow ABS students in working through those issues. I believe that this alone will prove ABS to have been a success, as they will rely on those relationships much more heavily in the future when the missionaries have returned to the U.S.
Q: What have you enjoyed, personally, from administering and teaching the various ABS courses so far?
I love to teach, and to have a group of such eager learners is very rewarding. The moments here-and-there when you really see someone grasp it are so fulfilling. The joy for me is that this happens every course. It is the motivation that these men bring with them to the courses that challenges me and envigorates me. I also really enjoy the aspect of envisioning that this ministry allows. Trying to set a curriculum and direction that will both provide these men with what they're wanting in terms of ministry needs as well as guiding the direction of the future of this work for years to come is an exciting challenge. Andrea is always amazed at how energized I am, in spite of the typical long hours leading up to and during a given course. I do thouroughly enjoy the work and look forward to every moment that I get to share with these men.
