THE MISSION
ITEM equips and empowers church leaders in the majority world to bring gospel transformation to their churches and communities.
9 out of 10
THE CRISIS
pastors in the Global South – Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania – have received no formal Bible training.
1 for every 450,000
The U.S. has one trained pastor for every 230 people, while the Global South has one trained pastor for every 450,000 people.
The lack of trained leadership has severe consequences: heretical teaching, weak discipleship,and churches struggling to make a meaningful gospel impact in their communities. As the number of churches in the Global South is expected to double in the next decade, the urgency to equip pastors with solid biblical training has never been greater.
THE VISION
ITEM exists to confront this crisis by equipping and empowering church leaders in the Majority World to advance the gospel through healthy and vibrant churches.
5,000 leaders in 10 years
Our vision is to accelerate the spread of the gospel by graduating 5,000 high-capacity church leaders from our Ministry Training Centers over the next ten years. These leaders will act as catalysts for gospel transformation in their churches and communities, with the potential to impact millions of lives.
Ministry Training Centers
Our Ministry Training Centers serve as mobile training sites where students gather biannually for 3-4 days of intensive training over a period of three years.
Throughout this program, six training modules are delivered by highly qualified instructors with extensive cross-cultural teaching experience. Each module includes over 100 hours of live instruction, covering essential topics such as Christian doctrine, spiritual formation, biblical preaching, biblical interpretation, church planting, and church leadership. Best of all, this training is completely free.
WHAT WE TEACH
The goal of our training is to equip pastors to lead their congregations more effectively and to reach their communities. To achieve this, we have partnered with Reforma, which has developed a comprehensive list of 37 outcomes that every pastor should demonstrate.
Module One
Bible Intake, Understanding the Story of the Bible, Calling
Module Two
Prayer, Biblical Preaching, Character
Module Three
Worship, Major Doctrines of the Christian Faith, Equipping God’s People
Module Four
Evangelism, Missions and Church Planting, Shepherding God’s Flock
Module Five
Stewardship, Church Administration and Church History, Developing Leaders
Module Six
Serving, Family Ministry, Biblical Counseling, Mentoring
OUR FOCUS
Relationships
We believe that true empowerment starts with building strong, intentional relationships. Our commitment to the leaders we train goes beyond formal programs or structured sessions. We develop deep connections with them, walking alongside them in their real-world ministry settings.
Encouragement
Through ongoing support, we offer the encouragement leaders need to persevere in their calling. Trained leaders are essential to fulfilling the Great Commission, and they are often able to access places where Westerners cannot or will not go. Sometimes, these leaders just need encouragement to fully step into their potential and advance the gospel in challenging regions.
Mentorship
Mentorship is central to our approach, as we invest in the personal and spiritual growth of leaders, ensuring they are not only knowledgeable but confident and wise in their leadership. This relational, hands-on approach fosters lasting impact, empowering leaders to transform their churches and communities.
WHERE WE WORK
Currently we are working in 15 countries across Africa and Asia. If you would like to discuss launching a Ministry Training Center in your location, please email us.
