Scholars

A new mission situation is developing in today’s world that demands a revolution in our traditional thinking. The churches of the Majority World (MW) are growing more rapidly than in the West, where the gospel first took root. Many of these MW churches are vibrant and vigorous, and their missionaries will soon outnumber those sent out from the West. Already a majority of the world’s Christians are non-Western and nonwhite.

The question is what we in the West may be able to contribute (with a love that is genuinely fraternal and free of paternalism) to the continuing growth toward Christian maturity of the burgeoning churches of the Majority World.

Many Majority World Christian leaders would reply that the greatest need is for more pastors who take their teaching and preaching responsibilities with due seriousness. If it is true (as Jesus said, quoting from Deuteronomy) that human beings live not on bread only but on God’s Word, it is equally true of churches. Churches live, grow and flourish by the Word of God, and languish and die without it. It has been observed that ‘the decadent eras and periods of the church’s history have always been those in which preaching has declined’. Conversely, whenever the Word of God is faithfully expounded and applied, congregations grow in both size and depth.

If the great need is a rise in the standards of biblical preaching, how can we help to ensure a steady supply of better preachers? Although many answers could probably be given to this question, the JSM-Langham Scholarship Program has felt led to focus on the seminaries where pastors are trained.

Here is the logic as we see it.

First, churches depend very largely on their pastors.

Second, pastors depend on their seminaries, where they are either made or marred, equipped or ruined.

Third, seminaries depend on their faculty members, who influence their students for good or ill by their teaching and example.

Fourth, these faculty members need to be well qualified, both in academic ability and in spiritual maturity.

In these four simple steps we have traced the welfare of local churches back to the quality of seminary teachers. Hence the JSM-Langham Scholars Program. Since the beginning of our operation in 1974, nearly 100 JSM-Langham-supported Scholars have successfully obtained their doctorates and are now exercising scholarly roles of increasing influence in their home countries. In the coming year, over 80 JSM-Langham Scholars will be studying in the Program.

Of course there are other organizations that make grants to post-graduate theology students. But we venture to claim five distinctives relating to the Scholars in our JSM-Langham Scholars Program.

1. Their Selection
   It is no longer possible for any Western group to select the students they intend to support. Nor is it wise to respond to students who propose themselves. Instead, we give priority to those who are strongly recommended by MW church leaders (e.g., bishops, superintendents or seminary principals) and who are being groomed as future theological teachers.
2. Their Research
   We encourage applicants to choose a research topic that is relevant to their home situation and that will help to equip them for their future teaching role. Once the research area is agreed, we work hard to find the best supervisor.
3. Their Personal Growth
   Good seminary teachers are not qualified by academic excellence alone. They also need to be people of mature Christian character and personal godliness. So we are determined not to allow the JSM-Langham Program to degenerate into a purely grant-making body. Instead, we establish a personal relationship with each JSM-Langham Scholar from the beginning of their studies. We arrange for each to receive pastoral care, as well as be a member of a good local church. The members of our Scholar Care Teams meet with Scholars on a regular basis for prayer and fellowship.
4. Their Return Home
   One of the major problems faced by grant-making bodies is the steady leakage of church leaders who study in the West but do not return home after graduation. We ask all our Scholars to sign an agreement that it is their firm intention to return to their home country after they’ve completed their degree, and all have done so with the exception of two who are in positions of international leadership.
5. Their Aftercare
   When students return home, we do not forget them. We offer them membership of the Fellowship of Langham Scholars and make sure that they are members of their continental evangelical theological fellowship. We make sure that they have been enrolled in the JSM-Langham Literature Program’s annual book grant. We encourage them to write and to be involved with our JSM-Langham Preaching Seminars.

This growing JSM-Langham Scholars Program undergirds Majority World seminaries and churches with pastors who embrace and excel in Biblical preaching and teaching.

Please see the Scholars program area of the Web site for more specific information on the current JSM-Langham Scholars and how to apply for the Scholars program.