What makes a good teacher?

TID-BIT ON TITUS PROJECT

In Titus Project (the name of my 3 month training/ministry) I have four weeks of training where I am learning how to teach different cultures the word of God. Then I will go for 6 weeks to train pastors in bible overview as well as teach them how to study the bible for themselves. This will bring tremendous discipleship as the pastors will be disciples and handed the tools to continue being a student of the bible and teach others in Uganda. On top of daily training seminars for many different churches, I will be giving sermons in different churches to continue to bring discipleship to the people of Uganda.

WHAT GOD IS TEACHING ME

What makes a good teacher? I am learning just how challenging being a teacher is going to be and how much I am going to need to grow. I am learning just how much I need to learn to die to self, lay down my rights, and leave my comfort zone behind. This counting others better than myself, counting all as loss.

When being a teacher, I must not only have a good presentation of truth in word, but my life must be a model of Christ. So much of American mindset is a lackadaisical Christianity. We pick and choose how much we will sacrifice to serve God. We put on a front that looks good, but our heart is not to serve others before ourselves.

Loving and serving as Jesus does. This is a hard thing to learn and model. When I first arrived, I felt I had no strength to serve any more. I was so weary that I did not want to be out of my comfort zone any longer. I realized that I needed to step out and serve but did not even desire to be in Africa at this time (and not confident in public speaking). I did not want to step out and serve out of works, but grace in faith as an expression of worship to God and a reflection of his servant hood and love. I wrestled with God of how to serve without my natural works oriented mind taking over. I did not know how to receive grace. God showed me that because I was at the point that I said “I have nothing to give”, God’s grace will meet me in that point. By taking the first step of faith to choose to serve and have a good attitude, God will meet me with grace so I could continue.

I did this and God proved to be faithful to meet me with abundant grace and strength. I am enjoying my time in Uganda much more and am getting excited for what is to come. I do not so much mind sleeping on my dirty foam pad with bugs crawling on me, eating rice and beans for lunch and dinner (1bread roll for breakfast) every single day. I am learning to understand the people of Uganda better and building relationships. God is teaching me how to love like he loves (although I am far from being an example).

PRAYER REQUESTS

• I am learning soon where I will go on outreach. There are going to be two teams. I don’t know much yet. Pray God will guide me to the right place and the right team members.
• Pray for continued grace and strength to serve and learn to love, sacrifice, and serve as Jesus has done. That I would step out of my own comfort and find a new comfort in laying down my rights and following Christ.
• Pray God would mold me into a great teacher not just in the classroom/church but in modeling Christ through my actions.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I know they are helping me tremendously and being a source of strength. 

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