In Bolivia, the Quechua Pastor Book Set Project is equipping church leaders with Bible study resources. New books written in their heart language are enabling Quechua pastors to better serve their churches.

For more than a century, Quechua pastors have only had Spanish Bible study books available to them. However, nearly 75% of the Quechua people in Bolivia are monolingual. Without resources written in Quechua, the pastors are left to rely on oral teaching, and many times, they lack the depth needed to help a church grow to maturity.

Study Resources and Training

In contrast with the African Pastors' Book Set projects, the Quechua book set is smaller, and is being distributed one book at a time. Because of the great need for teaching, project designers have chosen to run the project as an on-going training program, instead of a one-time literature distribution. This will aid Christian workers in more effective use of the Bible study tools.

The set includes four books:

• Bible Handbook
• Bible Dictionary
• Bible Atlas
• Concordance

The books are distributed at training sessions. Gathering together with other church leaders is an encouragement to the pastors and church leaders. Together they learn how to best use the new resources to strengthen their Bible knowledge and teaching. Miguel, the trainer and a Quechua church leader, is traveling to various parts of the Bolivia Quechua homelands to offer courses on using the books.

Project Outcomes

• Training: Over 300 church leaders have received resources and training in the first two books. The leaders have been challenged to teach members of their congregations how to use the resources, multiplying their effect even further.
• Learning and Teaching: Christian workers have shown a greater interest in studying the scriptures and they are now preaching and teaching in Quechua at their churches. This allows their congregations to understand better.
• Partnership: New Tribes Mission has donated some of the books. Recently, Food for the Hungry and World Vision have also partnered in this vision. In August 2006, personnel from each organization received training so that they can strengthen the church in their area of influence.

Pray

Currently Miguel is the only trainer. This is a difficult job with much travel and responsibility that takes him away from his young family. Please pray that God will provide another trainer or two to help.

Give

Christian workers pay $12.50 for the four training sessions. For these church leaders, most of whom are subsistence farmers, the cost is a sacrifice. Funds given to the project will be used for training trips to equip other pastors. Your gift of USD $80 will sponsor one training session. Thank you for your partnership with us to equip the Quechua church.

Go

Is God calling you to Bolivia? Are you willing to learn Spanish and then Quechua language and culture? Will you invest your life to strengthen the Quechua church? Get a taste of Quechua ministry on a short-term mission