Open Air Campaigners
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OACI Update 1998

Training à la carte in France

One of the barriers stopping Christians from being more involved in effective evangelism is a lack of training. This is certainly the case in France, where less than one per cent of the population describe themselves as evangelical. As a result, the churches' attempts to evangelize are often unfruitful, which saps the motivation of the believers.

To address this need, MEPA - the French branch of OACI - has opened its own training centre, offering courses covering a variety of subjects relating to evangelism. The teaching takes place in a building in the heart of a small provencal village, which has been renovated over the last three years.

Many of the speakers are 'in-house', but the programme includes seminars by groups such as Arab World Ministries, Jews for Jesus, Agape and France Mission. The long-term aim is to create a centre of excellence where Christians can master a range of evangelistic techniques, as well as learning what it means to be an evangelist.

During its first year of operation, the training courses have attracted interest from a wide range of churches. Most of the participants belong to local churches in the South-East of France, but a few people have travelled from the other side of the country in order to attend a weekend seminar.

The training centre is part of MEPA's strategy for equipping the Church to proclaim the gospel. Projects like Festival Outreach in Avignon - through which up to forty team members present the gospel to thousands through music, mime and sketchboard preaching - are also an ideal place for people to learn to speak about their faith.