Equip Pastors for the Trials Ahead
When pastors are trained in God's Word, they are strengthened to endure suffering in Christ's name. Across the globe, pastors are stepping into ministry in regions where proclaiming Christ is unsafe and costly. Political pressure, religious hostility, surveillance, and imprisonment are real threats for many of the pastors TLI trains.
Our goal is to raise $25,000 by April 30 to expand our support for leaders in areas hostile to the gospel. Will you join us in this work of equipping pastors to stand firm—wherever they are sent and whatever they may suffer?
Omar's Story
Training for Trials
God is using TLI's training to prepare pastors for real, often costly, ministry in some of the hardest places on earth. Pastor Omar (name changed for security) is one of those men.
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."
— Luke 9:23–24
TLI has been co-laboring with a local church in Omar's region for nearly a decade to equip men like him for gospel ministry. After completing his training, Omar went on to serve in a church internship abroad. Afterward, he returned home, married, and recently welcomed his first child. In God's providence, he has now been called to pastor a small church in one of the most politically oppressed and gospel-illiterate regions of his country.
This church has been led by an elderly pastor and supported by a foreign missionary—until recently. That missionary was expelled by the government. For Omar, the consequences could be far more severe. In this region, preaching Christ can lead not just to hostility or surveillance, but to arrest and even long-term imprisonment.
And yet, Omar goes—joyfully, humbly, and without hesitation. His quiet trust in his Sovereign Lord and willingness to suffer for Christ are a great encouragement—and a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. We praise God not only for the privilege of training men like Omar, but for the grace at work in those who are willing to risk everything for the sake of the gospel.
At TLI, we are committed to equipping pastors like Omar—men called to serve in hard places. By God's grace, your gift will send teachers to strengthen pastors for the trials they will face.