Faith and learning on the go

When ELM consultant Bradn Buerkle set off on a trip through Ethiopia and Malawi in July, he was expecting meetings, lectures and long days. What he found was a church full of commitment - sometimes under difficult conditions, but always characterised by hope.

In Addis Ababa, the seminary of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus may seem rather inconspicuous from the outside - the teaching staff share cramped offices, some of them in old shipping containers - but its students have big dreams. Over a cup of coffee, the "consultant for theological education and training in churches internationally" met scholarship holders who are studying the topics of leadership, mission and pastoral care. "Their energy was infectious," he says. "They are preparing to lead with courage and faith, even when resources are scarce."

In Malawi, the contrast was striking: political tensions, poverty and a fragile infrastructure are a burden on everyday life. But Buerkle discovered a different story in Madisi. There, 19 evangelists - including five women - met for intensive training. He taught together with Pastor Bertha Munkhondya, who is convinced that good training is the key to women's leadership positions in the church.

The commitment of these students left an impression. "They came to give their best," said Buerkle. "Even when some received news of the death of loved ones, the group prayed for each other. It was church fellowship in the truest sense of the word."

Outside the classroom, he visited projects run by the Evangelical Lutheran Development Service: farmers try out new techniques, women pool their savings to set up small businesses and villages plant trees for the future. "These are not abstract programmes," notes Buerkle. "They enable families to live in dignity and hope."

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi faces leadership challenges and difficult questions about the future. But the will to serve is unmistakable. For Buerkle, the lesson of the trip was simple: theology and everyday life belong together. "What I taught is perhaps less important than the fact that I was there," he reflects. "Listening, encouraging, showing that their ministry is seen and appreciated - that was perhaps the most important thing."

From Ethiopia to Malawi, the message was the same: Christ's church grows through people who are willing to learn, serve and walk side by side