BAO introduces a new book
BAO has just translated into German and is getting ready to distribute “The Leadership Baton: An Intentional Strategy for Developing Leaders in Your Church”.
This book provides a great foundation for church based training and some practical steps in how to implement this in your church. There are a few events planned this year to highlight this book and encourage intentional discipleship in the church. One of the authors, Bruce Miller, will be here in November and BAO is also planning to host a few training days in different parts of Austria.
Developing church leaders is crucial, especially here in Austria where there is less than .03% Evangelical Christians. The churches are relatively young, about 30 years, and very small. Church leaders are mostly lay people or at most part-time. Not that there is anything wrong with this only it poses special challenges when they want to do more.
This is where church based training and BAO come in. BAO already has courses designed, over 30, to train people in the church for the work of the ministry.
Making Progress on the Christian Education Training Program
I am feeling pretty good about my work today. I have been trying to carve out some time to work on the Christian Education training that has been sitting on my desk within arms reach but have not been able reach over open it up and type away.
Today however after cleaning out my inbox, responding and writing a few emails I completed a rough draft of one of the lessons on using teaching methods. While it is just a draft it means that others can read through it and provide valuable feedback and input to make it better. I have a small group of children’s workers with years of experience which their insights almost always make imporvements on what I have first written.
Next Tuesday there is a curriculum committee meeting and we will be talking about a previous lesson on “needs of students” that was handed in. Even though the process is good and makes the product better I always feel like I have just gotten into a boxing ring with 3 other guys and I am not allowed to defend or hit back and have gotten the living day lights punched out. This writing thing can be brutal!
Also an update on those who are curious about our previous land lord situation. We have heard nothing yet. Our attorney write a nice letter listing the inaccuracies and asking that he respond within 14 days. He has until this coming Friday the 20th. We are praying he will respond appropriately. If he neglects to respond then our attorney will ask him to appear in court to address the issue. I just wish this whole ridiculus thing would be over.
Bible Training on Location (BAO) celebrates 25 years of ministry!
This past weekend BAO celebrated their 25th annivesary. It was exciting to hear how BAO started from one man’s vision, Wili Giefing, and with a small group working hard to provide leadership materials that are biblical.
At the celebration a few former students gave testimony of how BAO has been vital in their spiritual formation and how it has practically helped them in their ministries. It was neat to see BAO’s part in reaching and teaching others in view of 2 Timothy 2:2.
The main thrust of BAO is to support the local church in training leaders for ministry. These first 25 years the Lord has blessed tremendously and BAO is looking forward to the next 25 years and seeking God’s guidance on how to better support the local churches in their task for equipping the church leaders to accomplish the great commission.
BAO’s training materials now helps over 1,000 people each year in German speaking countries. It also has many translated some of their materials in other European languages and has begun to network with other likeminded training organizations check out their database of courses that are taught in different languages and different countries here.
BAO Curriculum Meeting
What do two Swiss missionaries an Austrian pastor and a professor of veterinary medicine and me have in common? This sounds like the start of a joke my father-in-law would tell but this is not a joke. 
Last Tuesday the five of us were in one of our meetings for the BAO (Bible Training on Location) curriculum work group. We meet three or four times a year to review current training courses and discuss what if any new projects need to be started or revising older courses.
BAO has been around for over 20 years and has been one of the leading sources for training leaders in the Austrian church. With Austria being less than .5% evangelical there is not a high demand for good quality Christian training resources. So being able to help in the process and production of resources for Austria, Switzerland and Germany is quite a strategic ministry. One of which I am excited to be a part of.
Right now we are involved in two main projects. One being the Christian Education course I am writing, I will write on that at a later time. The other being a set of one time lessons that centers on the Worship Service.
We have come up with a series of 5 lessons (stand alone or they can be taken together) that intend to help the small churches and their leaders think through the main aspects of what it means to lead worship. We are targeting this for both knowledge and praxis (putting to use what one knows). The five areas we are addressing are 1. Theological foundations of worship 2. The Leader and leading the worship service 3. Worship and Church growth/health (the meaning gets a little watered down when translated into English from German) 4. Music and Arts in worship 5. Communion.
One thing that is exciting about this series is up until now BAO has primarly borrowed articles from published books. We always have to ask for permission to translate and print these articles. But these lessons are written by the people that minister in this culture and context. It is quite a step. Not an easy one by any means but we are learning a lot through this process.
These modules are not yet finished but know they will help the church think about these things and we pray will make them healthier, and stronger in as they worship God and live for Him.
