International Theological Education Network (ITEN)

1. Who You Are – In a few sentences, tell us about yourself and/or your ministry and what you do to serve pastors.
I am the director of ITEN. I worked in ministry for 28 years in the Middle East. ITEN is part of the mission agency of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. We serve in theological training in both formal and non-formal settings, working closely with national partners. Our desire is to train new leaders of emerging churches among least reached people groups.

2. Why Pastoral Leaders Matter – Why is training pastors a priority in your ministry or work?
Pastoral leaders carry forward discipleship and the Great Commission. Limited access to formal training in many parts of the world moves us. We know that many around the world are responding to the gospel, but the development of leaders who are Biblically grounded and gracious in their pastoral ministries appears to be an urgent need in the global church.

3. Developing Pastor Trainers – How are you helping raise up new trainers of pastors where you serve?
We partner with national ministries and churches to offer theological training. We help new leaders understand how they can understand and teach the whole Bible as one unified story that leads to Christ.

4. Better Together – Why does collaboration across pastor-training sectors matter to your work?
We need the global church more than they need us. Our mission agency originates in the US. We go to the global church to be blessed by them and also to share what God has entrusted to us. We know that many other agencies and ministries are involved in this task, each of us bringing our own distinctions and points of emphasis. We feel the Reformed tradition with our evangelical proclivity offers historic rootedness combined with a passion for Biblical truth in equipping global leaders.

5. Join the Work – How can others connect with you or get involved in what you’re doing?
Check out our website at ITENglobal.org. We’d be happy to hear from you.