Developing a Leadership Training Model for Churches

While many formal theological institutions established and founded by Western missionaries are blessings, their limitations are revealed in the areas of cultural relevancy, including curricular content and medium of instruction. In this study, Dr. Endale G. Ousman skilfully explores the benefits of developing culturally contextualized leadership training programs that are relevant, accessible, and instructed in the mother tongue. Drawing from five decades of experience in such institutions, he details tools for how to evaluate the effectiveness of pre-existing programs through the assessment of whether it fulfils the expectations of the leader, the church, and the wider community. Directed towards formal theological institutions engaged in the training and development of Christian leaders, this work encourages evaluation of the existing Western institution’s cultural relevancy and the establishment of Christian leadership values that are biblical and culturally contextualized, redefining “Christian leaders” for following generations. Readers will come away with a greater understanding, appreciation, and enthusiasm for the necessity of cultural contextualization.