Report on my second trip to train pastors and Beth’s first trip to train children’s ministry leaders in Peru, and my upcoming trip to Haiti.
Timothy Two Project International
Training Pastors and Leaders in Peru and El Salvador
Read about my first teaching trips to these countries.
Training Pastors and Children’s Ministry Leaders in Cuba
Read about our continuing work in Havana, Cuba and our new work in Palmira-Cienfuegos (central Cuba).
Training Pastors and Church Leaders in Belize
Read about my second and third workshops in Belize.
Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 4
Pastors and ministry leaders in Havana, Cuba completed Timothy Two Project International’s Workshop 4, “Serving God: Living Life in Response to Grace” in which we studied and discussed what the Bible teaches about serving God in the church, the community and the world.
Having also completed three previous workshops in our “Growing in Grace” series earlier this year, they each received a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Foundations.
On this trip, my wife, Beth, accompanied me for the first time to teach classes for children’s ministry leaders and music ministry leaders. She is pictured below with her students and some of their children.
See my full report (with more photos) on our teaching trip to Cuba during June 2017.
See also:
- Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 1
- Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 2
- Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 3
For more information about our work in Latin America:
For more information about the work of other Timothy Two instructors in Africa and Asia:
Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 3
These Cuban pastors and ministry leaders recently completed Timothy Two Project International’s Workshop 3, “Trusting God: Practicing Kingdom Living” in which they studied and discussed what the Bible teaches about trusting God in relationships, social issues and personal issues. See my full report (including more photos and videos) after this teaching trip to Cuba during May 2017.
See also:
- Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 1
- Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 2
- Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 4
For more information about our work in Latin America:
For more information about the work of other Timothy Two instructors in Africa and Asia:
Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 2
“You would be amazed at how quickly the materials you bring here are copied and distributed throughout our towns and cities and nation.” – Cuban pastor
These Cuban pastors and ministry leaders recently completed Timothy Two Project International’s Workshop 2, “Loving God: Transformed from Darkness to Light” in which we studied and discussed the work of Christ to accomplish salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit to apply salvation in the lives of believers (Christology, pneumatology, soteriology).
And I was thrilled to hear that several participants had already begun teaching the material from Workshop 1 to the next generation of students in their churches and neighborhoods.
Watch the videos below to hear their stories.
We asked the coordinating pastors to share their vision for the work of Timothy Two in Cuba. The pre-revolution National Capitol Building can be seen in the background. Here is their story.
See and hear the sights and sounds of a street corner in Old Havana.
Listen to congregational singing at a Cuban house church.
This group is highly motivated to complete the training. We have been invited to return as soon as possible to teach Workshops 3 and 4 before the beginning of hurricane season in the Caribbean. I am scheduled to teach Workshop 3 the week of April 30 – May 5.
See also:
- Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 1
- Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 3
- Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 4
For more information about our work in Latin America:
For more information about the work of other Timothy Two instructors in Africa and Asia:
Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 1
We recently made our first trip to Havana, Cuba to equip a group of 10 pastors and ministry leaders by teaching and discussing Timothy Two Project International’s Workshop 1, “Knowing God” concerning the attributes and works of God (theology proper). These students from various denominations and various cities and towns throughout the region, are now prepared to teach these 21 lessons to those in their local churches and communities using the biblical content we provided, as well as culturally relevant illustrations and study questions they developed in group discussions together with one another throughout the week.
Timothy Two instructors equip pastors in the majority world who do not have access to formal theological training. And we do so, not using a lecturer-listener format, but in a small group teaching-and-discussion format. This not only trains pastors in systematic and practical theology, but also equips them to train others.
Watch participant testimonials. Watch a video filmed while walking the streets of Havana in the morning. See a video of congregational and small group singing in Cuba. See my full report on this trip.
See also:
- Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 2
- Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 3
- Equipping Pastors in Cuba, Part 4
For more information about our work in Latin America:
For more information about the work of other Timothy Two instructors in Africa and Asia:
Why We Serve with Timothy Two
The ministry of Timothy Two Project International began in 2011 in the hearts of a group of elders and leaders from Myrtle Grove Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, NC.
The calling of Timothy Two comes from 2 Tim. 2:2, where Paul wrote to Timothy, “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
The mission of Timothy Two is to train indigenous pastors and ministry leaders in the essential doctrines of the faith and to equip them to train others.”
I began working with Timothy Two in March of this year when I interned in Vietnam (fig. 1) with Steve Curtis, International Director, by observing him as he taught the group.
Then we traveled on to Burma (fig. 2) where I taught the group most of the week by myself. Read my report on the Vietnam and Burma trip. Continue reading
Participant Questions During Timothy Two “Knowing God” Workshops in Haiti and Colombia
I recently taught a workshop in two developing nations entitled, “Knowing God” which is the first of four in Timothy Two Project International’s Growing in Grace series for indigenous pastors and ministry leaders.
Small group discussion is one of the priorities of our teaching method. During each of the twenty-one lessons in the workshops, we take time to discuss participants’ questions and to develop culturally relevant illustrations and responses for each topic. Below is a sampling of the many questions raised by participants under the various topics during these two workshops. Note that some questions do not necessarily pertain to the particular topic, but apparently came to mind during that discussion.
My purpose in this article is not to to answer or debate the stated questions, but to illustrate for the reader the need for biblical and theological training among ministry leaders in developing nations whose access to such training is severely limited by distance and/or finances. This is the need that the ministry of Timothy Two seeks to meet. More info at TimothyTwo.org.
On Knowing God
- Can we know about God also by the image of God in us?
God Is (Being)
- How do we explain that we won’t get old in eternity?
- Did those who went to heaven without dying (Elijah/Enoch) do so because they were sinless? Did Christ have to die for them?
- What is the biblical evidence that people gained immortality?
God Exists in Three Persons
- Would it be more correct to say that God exists or subsists in three persons?
- Did people speak of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the OT (Old Testament)?
- Are the three persons of the Trinity sometimes one person or always three?
- Some people say Jesus is not God, why?
- Referring to the verse “no man can come to the Father except through me” seems to prove that Jesus is not God. Does it?
- In Acts 2 it says the Holy Spirit is a power, and if a power, can we pray to the Spirit as we pray to the Father and the Son? Prove this in the Bible.
- Compare angels to the Holy Spirit.
- Where does the Scripture say that we should worship the Holy Spirit as God?
- May I pray to the Holy Spirit?
- Are the three persons of the Trinity the same or different, and does God work as the Holy Spirit sometimes, as Jesus other times?
Timothy Two Curriculum: “Growing in Grace” Series Table of Contents
Timothy Two Project International equips pastors and ministry leaders in developing nations who have little or no access to biblical or theological training. Timothy Two instructors utilize a series of four workbooks developed by International Director, Steve Curtis. Below are the titles and tables of contents of the workbooks. More information at TimothyTwo.org.
Growing in Grace Series Summary
Workbook 1 – Knowing God
Workbook 2 – Loving God: Transformed from Darkness to Light
Workbook 3 – Trusting God: Practicing Kingdom Living
Workbook 4 – Serving God: Living Life in Response to Grace
Workbook 1 – Knowing God
Table of Contents
Introduction
- On Knowing God
The Person of God
- God is (Being)
- God Exists in Three Persons
- God Is Self-Existent
- God Is Infinite
- God Is Eternal
- God Is Unchanging
- God Is Self-Sufficient
The Power of God
- God Is All-Powerful
- God Is All-Knowing
- God is All-Present
The Perfections of God
- God is Great
- God Is Sovereign
- God Is All-Wise
- God Is Good
- God Is Loving
- God Is Gracious
- God Is Jealous
- God Is Just
- God Is True
- God Is Holy
Equipping Colombian Pastors and Church Leaders with Timothy Two Workshop “Knowing God”
Eight pastors and leaders of three local churches gathered together with me and several translators in Barbosa, Antioquia, Colombia for four days last week to study and discuss the attributes of God.
Some comments from participants at the conclusion of the training:
“The material puts things in the right place, it helps me see the differences between God and us, and it’s good for discipling other people.”
“Knowing God gives me security and peace and motivates me to be diligent.”
“The method of meeting in a small group helps us because many questions arise in our minds. Many passages are harder to understand, but by talking together in the group many things are clarified.”
“We already know many things about God, but we have ignored many other things about him. Because of this teaching it is much easier to ‘fall in love with God’ now that I know him better. I can now see one God, all-wise, all powerful, yet loving and merciful – that blows my mind.”
“I give thanks to God for sending people from other countries to teach and preach his word to us.”
Click here to read my full report including more participants’ comments about the workshop, photos and videos, and my visit to the Latin American Reformed Seminary in Medellin.
For more information about Timothy Two Project International, click here.
Equipping pastors and ministry leaders in developing nations who have little or no access to Biblical and theological training – so that they might teach others also.
Equipping Haitian Pastors and Ministry Leaders with Timothy Two Workshop “Knowing God”
Ten young pastors and ministry leaders, including two translators, gathered together with me for four days in Jacmel, Haiti to study and discuss the attributes of God.
Click here to read my full report, see photos of the group and watch video testimonials of two participants of this workshop.
To learn more about the ministry of Timothy Two Project International, click here.
Equipping pastors and ministry leaders in developing nations who have little or no access to Biblical and theological training – so that they might teach others also.
Upcoming Teaching Trips to Haiti and Colombia
Click here to see the details of my upcoming trips with Timothy Two Project International to equip pastors who have little or no access to theological training in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Vietnamese & Burmese Pastors Complete Timothy Two Workshop “Loving God”
Read about our recent trip to train local pastors in Vietnam and Myanmar (Burma) in the doctrines concerning the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit in salvation.
To learn more about our ministry with Timothy Two, click here.
Teaching pastors and ministry leaders who have little or no access to Biblical and theological training – so that they might teach others also.
Preparing for Vietnam & Burma
My trip to Vietnam and Myanmar (Burma) with Timothy Two International begins in just 20 days.
Teaching pastors who have little or no access to Biblical and theological training – so that they might teach others also.
Praise reports:
- Sufficient funds for this trip had been received by Jan. 13.
- All airline tickets have been purchased.
- My new passport arrived a couple weeks ago.
- All overnight accommodations have been secured.
- All visas have been received.
Prayer requests:
- Click here for my Prayer Calendar which I’m updating with new requests as I get closer to departure.
- Pray for Beth’s continued recovery from hip replacement surgery. She’s doing very well, but it takes 6-12 months for full recovery. The surgery was on Dec. 15.
- Pray that our fundraising and painting efforts will enable us to move out of Beth’s mother’s house and back into our own house by April 1.
- Pray for the many final pre-trip preparations.
- Pray for my departure from Myrtle Beach airport Feb. 24 and return Mar. 12. See the Calendar for travel details.
- Pray for safety and wisdom for Timothy Two President Steve Curtis as he travels to Bogota, Colombia this week seeking to set up my next teaching trip in South America for May or June.
Information about the Church in Vietnam and Myanmar you might find helpful as you pray:
“…what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also…”
– 2 Timothy 2:2
 |
Dan Sonnenberg Instructor Timothy Two Project International phone 419-265-1405 web TimothyTwo.org/Dan blog DanSonnenberg.com |
Beginning with Timothy Two Project International
Early last year after resigning from the church in Ohio, I heard from Steve Curtis who invited us to consider joining him and his wife Rissa as teaching missionaries with Timothy Two Project International. Through translators, Timothy Two instructors equip pastors and ministry leaders in developing nations with the fundamentals of the Christian faith so that they, in turn, can equip others. Timothy Two missionaries seek to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission to make disciples in areas of the world where there is little or no formal biblical or theological instruction available. Continue reading
Teaching Local Pastors in Southeast Asia
By Daniel L. Sonnenberg
Looking forward to teaching pastors in Southeast Asia in March 2016 as an Instructor with Timothy Two Project, International.
Timothy Two Project, International exists to serve a critical need around the world. We are committed to equipping and training indigenous pastors and ministry leaders with the foundational truths of the Christian faith that they may then be able to train others. In this way, the mandate from Christ in the Great Commission to “make disciples” can be realized in areas of the world where there is little to no formal biblical and theological training available.
“The things you heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men that they may be able to train others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).
