In June 2025, the Pew Research Centre published its report into the dramatic changes in the global religious landscape that took place between 2010 and 2020. The report reveals that Sub-Saharan Africa is now home to the largest number of Christians in the world (700 million approx). This growth is projected to accelerate such that by 2050 there will be around 1.3 billion Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa, creating an urgent need for many more trained pastors and gospel workers.
To maintain or improve the current church-to-population ratio, the required number of new churches by 2050 likely stretches into the hundreds of thousands, creating an urgent need for many more trained pastors and gospel workers.
Through our relationship with George Whitefield College, St Barnabas Bible Church has become a recognised intermediary or bridge between international gospel patrons and African pastors and gospel workers. As this aspect of our ministry continues to grow, we have recognised the need to help Bible College students manage the transition from formal theological education to the practicalities of leading sustainable gospel work in their home countries.
For this reason, we are launching the Partnership Training Course.
Course Details
Intensive 1
Contextual Mapping. Students will be encouraged to develop a detailed report on the context in which their ministry will be located. This will take account of all relevant political, social, economic, demographic and religious trends in the location.
Date: Friday June 26th
Intensive 2
Ministry Plan and Budget. This will include a church planting strategy that reflects the context. It will set out the mission, vision, values, goals and three-year budget for the ministry together with a realistic timetable for achieving essential landmarks in establishing the work.
Date: Saturday June 27th
Intensive 3
Skills, Resources and Partnerships. This will identify the essential skills and resources needed to deliver the plan and budget. Key outcomes of this work will be identifying strategic partnerships offering relevant experience, content, buildings and technology and a focussed communication strategy with all stakeholders.
Date: Friday September 4th
Intensive 4
Ministry Resilience and Leadership. This will equip students with the personal, spiritual, and leadership skills needed to sustain long-term ministry in challenging contexts. By the end of this intensive, students will have a personal resilience plan (spiritual, emotional, and practical), be equipped with leadership tools for building and sustaining teams, understand how to create accountability and sustainability structures and be prepared to engage communities with wisdom and humility.
Date: Saturday September 5th
Venue
GWC Auditorium
Payment Information
The total cost of the course is R400 for those requiring lunch to be provided during the course.
For those not needing to be catered for, the total cost is R150 . This is to cover the necessary learning materials.
Please make clear on the form below whether you will require lunch or whether you are already catered for by the college.
Please also confirm with your church that they are happy to cover the cost of your attendance BEFORE you register.
Churches should pay for all students attending in one payment and use PTC [Church Name] as the reference. POP to alice@sbbc.org.za.
Bank: First National Bank
Branch Code: 255355
Account Number: 63127521557
Account Name: St Barnabas Bible Church NPC
sign up here
Please note that if you have selected the catered option, the total cost of the course is R400 . For those not needing to be catered for, the total cost is only R150 .