Africa Inland Mission Planning for Missionary Training Program in Chad

AIM is planning for a prospective two year program designed to train future missionaries in the area of cross cultural ministry.

By Kenneth Chan, Saturday, April 23, 2005

With reports of encouraging growth in its Chad outreach, a mission agency serving in Africa is planning for a prospective two year program designed to train future missionaries in the area of cross cultural ministry.

Africa Inland Mission’s (AIM) 'Training In Ministry Outreach' (or TIMO) is a two-year, on-the-field, hands-on, missionary training program in which participants learn and minister within a team context among one of Africa's unchurched, preferably, unreached people groups. The ultimate goal is to actually plant and establish a working and ministering church.

Established in the mid 1980’s, TIMO has already graduated 16 two year teams and three more are in progress. These teams, consisting of six to eight students each, have so far operated from 13 different locations in six African countries.

According to AIM, TIMO organizers are constantly breaking new ground by seeking out new thirsty lands and areas, where teams can be placed and churches established.

Plans for TIMO in Chad is reportedly the culmination of a vision begun in 1988 when AIM began work in Chad. Their goal was to reach unevangelized peoples through linguistics, community health and leadership training.

In addition to TIMO, AIM will be opening doors in medical work and children’s ministry through the addition of two new team members – Dr. Ann Fursdon and Angela Godau – according to a recent report by Mission Network News (MNN).

Meanwhile, AIM reports that there is a good spirit of cooperation with others working in Chad including Action Partners, WEC, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Mission Aviation Fellowship and World Vision.