Pentecostal Theological Education: Shiloh Bible College China
When a congregation accepts this teaching, they will no longer follow the house church leader, but will weekly put on Stephen Tong’s DVD in the meeting to teach the people. But he is not there, cannot pray for the people, answer questions and relate to the people. And the teaching is far too deep for most ordinary Chinese to understand whereby they can apply it to their lives. Thus bored church members stop attending meetings, and many churches have closed.
It goes without saying that such teaching which a large following only results in tremendous division in the Chinese church – between those who uphold the work of the Holy Spirit and those who hold on to reform theology.
PneumaReview.com: What major themes do you stress as you train students for ministry?
Dennis Balcombe: In addition to basic Christian doctrine (including the Pentecostal doctrines), we emphasize training on worship and praise, evangelism and church planting through the power of the Holy Spirit (what used to be called Power Evangelism), ecclesiology and principles of leading small groups (house churches or cell churches).
PneumaReview.com: What fruit have you seen in the lives of those who have prepared for ministry at your school?
Dennis Balcombe: During the past ten years, some 800 have graduated. The vast majority are in full time ministry leading churches all over China. Many are doing church planting and/or evangelism, and quite a few churches have been started due to their efforts. Several of the former students who have graduated with a degree are also teachers in our school or other schools.
Dennis Balcombe
Revival Chinese Ministries International
Hong Kong
Category: Ministry, Summer 2016
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