By CBF field personnel Matt Norman
During August and September, I had the privilege of leading a course called Teaching for Transformation with the Institute of Learning and Leadership at Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary (UBTS) in Lviv, Ukraine, in partnership with IBTS in Amsterdam.
For five weeks, 10 teachers gathered online with my co-teacher Sara from Portugal and me to explore how we can create learning experiences that transform rather than simply inform. Together, we explored participatory learning, beginning with people’s lived experiences, asking open questions, practicing what we learn, and reflecting on how learning shapes ministry and mission.
But the most meaningful part of the experience was hearing the stories of these teachers and the ministries they continue to lead in the midst of war. Their faithfulness was a powerful reminder that ministry and learning do not stop in difficult circumstances. God continues to work, often in ways we cannot see.
Our materials were translated into Ukrainian, and our conversations were translated live—a beautiful example of how technology can connect people across borders for the sake of God’s mission.
Please pray for these ten teachers as they teach, serve and accompany others in the midst of war. God is working, and transformation is happening.
Learn more about Matt and his wife Michelle’s ministry in Barcelona, Spain here.