BIBLE TRAINING

The Zambesi Evangelical Church is very closely linked to two Bible Colleges in Blantyre both of which receive support from Zambesi Mission.

EBCoM is an interdenominational evangelical Bible School established (as the Likubula Bible Institute) in 1964 by the Zambesi Mission, Africa Evangelical Fellowship (now SIM), Africa Evangelical Church, Zambesi Evangelical Church and the Evangelical Church of Malawi.

The college now serves these and other evangelical Churches in Malawi and Mozambique.

EBCoM, which is accredited by ACTEA (Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa), is governed by a Council which has representatives of these bodies and other invited Churches and individuals.

The Courses offered are ~

DIPLOMA IN THEOLOGY (validated by the University of Malawi) CERTIFICATE IN BIBLICAL STUDIES - in English and Chichewa CERTIFICATE IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES - one year STUDENTS'  WIVES COURSE - for wives of final year students EXTENSION PROGRAMME (see Leadership Training)

Mercy Mkwezalamba, leader the Wives Course

EBCoM is training pastors, evangelists, leaders, teachers and other workers for the evangelical Churches of Malawi. Past graduates are serving in many positions of leadership across the country.

The Campus is an extensive area on the edge of Blantyre. Presently the college can accommodate 80-90 students with plenty of room for expansion. The facilities include a developing library, offices, dormitories, kitchens and dining area, a playing field and staff housing.

A 5 Year Development Scheme for the College includes the provision of further courses, more staff and improved buildings and facilities.

Funding: EBCoM is almost entirely dependent on outside help for it finance. Most students come from families and Churches which can give them little or no financial support.

ZM's lecturers at EBCoM are ~

RUTH & ABRAHAM FOLAYAN from Nigeria	LESLEY & ROBBIE BEATON from South Africa via Scotland	KIRSTY & DAVID KANYUMBI from Scotland and Tanzania

EBCoM is grateful for help with ~

Student sponsorship - £700+ per annum. ZM seeks to obtain support for as many students as possible. Several sponsors might contribute to the costs of any one student so gifts of any size are appreciated.

Library books - With courses developing all the time, there is a constant need to upgrade the College library. Most books have to be shipped from outside Malawi and can not be obtained without gifts from interested friends.

Student book sets - ZM tries to provide every graduating student with a set of basic study books (a Study Bible, a Bible Dictionary and a Bible Commentary). £25-30 usually covers such a set.

Refresher Conferences - Since 2003 it has been possible to arrange a number of conferences during which serving pastors and other leaders are able to receive teaching and enjoy fellowship and food together. (Please see Pastors' Book Conferences)

Pastors' bicycles - Most graduates going out to pastorates will be in charge of several Churches usually miles apart and need a cycle as they start their ministries.

Facilities - Larger needs include more staff housing, further development of the married quarters and more classrooms. Do you know of any Christian/educational trust or other body which might be willing to give a grant to the College?

PRAYER !! - More important than all else is prayer support for the college and its work in these important days. The Evangelical Church is growing very quickly in Malawi and well-trained pastors and teachers are urgently needed. The work of EBCoM and similar colleges is vital to the development of the Church.

ZACOM was founded in 1997 with the aim of training evangelists and other leaders for the Zambesi Evangelical Church. It was started and is now run in co-operation with the International Centre for World Mission, based in Bonn, Germany. ICW generously provides much of the finance for the college and supports a number of graduates who have gone out into Church planting work. The college usually has around 30 students.

ZM's support has, up to now, been mainly in providing theological books for the library and supplying teachers on an occasional basis.

Willard Muwalo, ZACOM principal (left), with some of the admin staff

A fully revised training programme is now being implemented

One Year Certificate in Applied Discipleship

This course offers basic discipleship in order to achieve Christian character formation and includes Bible Survey, Discipleship Course, Introduction to Ministry, Personal Evangelism, Christian Home ethics, Bible Study methods & Hermeneutics, Foundational Studies, etc.   Students who successfully complete this course may then apply for the Two Year Certificate in Lay Ministry

Practical sessions - students learning their open-air evangelism skills at the back of the ZACOM building

Two Year Certificate in Lay Ministry

This focuses on ministry, equipping the students with basic ministry tools, in order to be able to perform lay ministries in the Church. It include Homiletics, Communication, Exegesis, Principles of Teaching, Church History, Ethics, Systematic Theology, World Religions, Academic Writing, etc. In their third year, students will specialize in one of the following ~ Church Planting & Evangelism leading to a Certificate or Diploma in  Church Planting & Missions Pastoral Ministry & Biblical Studies leading to a Diploma in Pastoral Ministry or Certificate in Biblical Studies Christian Education (Youth, Children's, and Woman's Ministry) leading to a Diploma in Christian Education and Teaching

Diploma in Theology

Students completing the two year course will have the opportunity to apply for the Diploma in Theology course, a three year programme, set by the University of Malawi, offering advanced opportunities for training and development.

Extension Courses

ZACOM aims to extend Bible education to the level of the local churches During school breaks, ZACOM lecturers travel to teach seminars and refresher courses around Malawi and Mozambique. These are held in both Chichewa and English. In the long vacation (October - December) a Short Term Bible School in English is planned at ZACOM and this will, in future, be the College admission requirement for all new recruitments

YOU can help the vital ministry of ZACOM in a number of ways

• your prayers are crucial and the ZACOM staff asked particularly for people who are willing to receive news and pray for the work;
• your gifts, however 'small', can make a huge difference as a contribution towards books, equipment, food and other much needed items to further the ministries of this young college.

We praise God for all He has done in so short a time through the work of ZACOM and the impact the college is already having upon the evangelical Church in Malawi

~ please join us if He is calling you to play a part in the days ahead.