The Master's Academy International
Training Church Leaders Worldwide
When equipped men are faithful to teach the truth of scripture, it transforms individuals, which in turn will begin to change and mature entire church bodies.
And the TMAI training centers’ commitment to the centrality of the local church means that this transformation is not limited to men who will one day pastor churches. It will affect pastors, counselors, college students, retirees, mothers, and whole families.
Why does TMAI operate the way it does? Why is one of its ministry distinctives focused on equipping indigenous leadership? What has occurred in its history that has solidified these convictions? To answer these questions, one must go to back in time to the Bush of South Africa.
From the beginning, GBS knew that they needed to be prepared to serve in the aftermath. This meant developing and implementing ministries and counseling for those injured, abused, displaced, grieving, and fearful. The seminary distributed several hundred tons of humanitarian aid, food, clothing, and medicine to civilians and the military, but GBS knew a much greater need must also be met: the need for the truth and hope of the Gospel.
The students of TMAI training centers will one day lead their own churches, shepherding flocks God entrusts to them. Their proper training and discipleship are vital.
It is essential that these pastors are trained by men who understand and live out that responsibility. Men whose knowledge is not theoretical, men who are active in church leadership, and who understand the needs of their people. Men like Tan Molina.
It’s difficult for one who has believed a misrepresentation of the Bible to be convinced to travel hours for training at the CAPA campus. Though the men were responsive to the truth, it is hard for them to see the need for true pastoral training.
How much training is really necessary to shepherd a church? What does a man need to plant a church and preach the word? A man in Guatemala answers: more than he thought.
Meet Mazwi Mlambo, a pastor in Zimbabwe and student at Christ Seminary (CS) in South Africa. Like nearly all TMAI students, Mazwi’s training was made possible by our donors’ generous support. “The Lord has been gracious since day one,” Mazwi shared. “The challenges come and go, but all I can learn is His faithfulness that endures forever.”
When a trained man is shepherding his church—teaching them sound doctrine and living out this truth in his own life and ministry—it transforms communities. The truth of the gospel preached causes churches to mature, saints to be equipped, and sinners to be saved. This is the efficacy of the gospel message and a trained pastor with a shepherd’s heart.
The truth of Scripture’s sufficiency is timeless and immutable, yet it is being set aside for what is more convenient for the sake of innovation. However, there will always be an inseparability between the Bible and missions. You cannot have God-honoring and truly effective missions work that isn’t directly derived from the Bible.
When we look back on this past year, we rejoice in the ways God has used men trained at TMAI training centers to strengthen their local churches and transform communities. And as we look forward to 2024, we see the urgent need as more men are seeking this training for the sake of this purpose.
In the words of the Christmas hymn, “a thrill of hope” is being proclaimed, and “a weary world rejoices.” Steadfast men, faithful to their churches, are enduring through bombings, invasions, and occupations, continuing to shepherd and preach to those who remain. And more men like them are being raised.
Around the world, souls are starting to hunger for the truth. The lies of the enemy have catapulted our world into a dark and disastrous agenda—all to lead us away from what is beautiful and true. This has been a reality since the Fall, yet in our modern day, we feel it even more keenly. Confusion is the weapon of choice. Many have fallen victim to these poisonous influences, and have become fatigued, weary, and deceived.
A believer named Robert shared how he saw a post about the Bibles on Facebook weeks before they arrived, and specifically prayed that God might provide one for him. A week later, his pastor told him their church would receive some. With a MacArthur Study Bible now in his hands, God used your giving to answer prayer.
Recognizing the present need, churches in Myanmar reached out to TMAI, inviting the head of the Pastoral Training Seminary (PTS) in India to train men in expository preaching. By the ministry and labor of PTS—along with likeminded ministries like Children’s Hunger Fund—many key faculty members in Myanmar were equipped, and a new training center for the nation was formed.
What are the means that God uses to transform someone who does not believe that they are a sinner? Who actively reads the Bible, but only for the sake of affirming a homosexual lifestyle? How actively is such an unruly adversary pursued by the local church?
The story he shares surrounds what God has done in the small church of his friend named Konstantin. Konstantin is a student of TMAI’s school in Ukraine who pastors a small church in the north of the country. His war-time ministry was first mentioned in TMAI’s August 2022 prayer email, and now his friend shares more of how God enabled Konstantin’s church to weather the war.
TMAI currently operates schools in various countries throughout the 10/40 Window, and the influence of these training centers extends well beyond their physical location. Not only can students from across the 10/40 Window join our programs, but, once trained, they can also go back out to spread the gospel among their native people and throughout neighboring countries, where Christ is rarely known.
Early this year, a ministry partner of TMAI in Croatia received an email that read like an SOS. Through his internet connection on his home island, 17-year-old Luka* reached out asking where he could attend a faithful church. And as Theological Biblical Academy (TBA) began to correspond with Luka, they discovered just how spiritually isolated he is.
