TOPIC, in partnership with the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and member bodies of the International Commission for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE), announces the launch of a multi-lingual online database of training courses.  After careful development incorporating input  from a number of sources, the database went online in May.  The website address is www.trainforChrist.org. 

Currently available in English and Spanish, the database will provide the opportunity for training organisations to post their offerings.  Evangelical theological colleges, Bible Colleges, non-formal training programmes and missionary training organisations will be able to input information about their courses online, and these will then be immediately searchable world-wide (eventually in all major languages).

The database will provide pastoral leaders the opportunity to find offerings in their general location, and contact organisations directly.  Training organisations can also find complementary organisations for networking, partnership, etc.  By working together, organisations can save much time and effort and make information accessible for prospective trainees.

The database is free for anyone to search and free to post information on courses (donations are being accepted to support the project). 

TOPIC, the WEA and the ICETE are liaising with as many training associations and organisations as possible so that all can partner together in this project to maximise our efforts.

Training institutions fill in the details of their courses directly onto the site and can update their entries as needed through a password.

All courses will be promoted world-wide, through various portals.  Links are provided to training organisations' sites so that those searching can go directly to them.

Paul Landrey, International Director of TOPIC, stated,  “Fortunately, many effective training tools exist and are being created by leaders in Africa, among other places.  Through the Evangelical Training Database, soon pastoral trainers may access this information by way of the Internet.

"Thanks to Ian Benson (Missionary Training Services/UK), Mark Orr (International Teams/Middle East) and their creative webcrafters, this wonderful tool is  available to all pastoral trainers around the world."

Please post your organisation’s offerings as soon as conveniently possible. We believe this site will be a foundational part of our training efforts in Southern Africa. 

What do you believe will be the greatest training needs expressed by pastoral leaders in South Africa?  The TOPIC Leadership Development Research Project is already formulating an answer to that question.

In 2006, the Leadership Needs Questionnaire was administered to pilot groups of leaders, to test the survey tool and the research process.  The findings from those pilot groups?  The number one area where pastoral leaders want to grow the most was in the area of self esteem.  More than any other subject or area, leaders expressed the need and desire to grow in their self confidence.