Shepherds Global Classroom

The vision for Shepherds Global Classroom (SGC) began in 2012 with a small group of like-minded cross-cultural trainers who share a burden for the world’s most underserved, undertrained pastors. With God’s blessing and favor, we have developed a unique curriculum for the multiplication of indigenous, non-formal Bible schools and seminaries.

Our Founding Story

In April 2012, I was traveling with other missionary trainers through East Africa, teaching a diverse group of pastors and laypeople in small villages. In each place, pastors and Christian leaders gathered under the shade of mango trees, improvised shelters, or tents. It was a wonderful season of ministry. These men and women who had had almost no access to theological training were eager students. I was often amazed by their spiritual depth and insight, but also saddened over their lack of resources. As we taught, it became evident that some of the pastors and leaders we were training had the heart, the capacity, and the gifts for teaching. They didn’t need us to teach. They needed us to equip them to teach.

One beautiful morning in a village in Mozambique, I sat on the porch of an old mission house with an opened Bible before me. A salty breeze from the Indian Ocean rustled gently through the coconut palms, while a farmer cultivated his pineapple garden close by. The passage I was reading was John 13. As I read, I was especially impacted by a phrase from the story of Jesus washing His disciple’s feet. “Do you understand what I have done to you?… I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:12, 15, ESV, emphasis mine).

I thought about this word and the events of the past days, the men and women I had been privileged to teach, and the strong desire God had given me to equip Christian leaders. The thought came to me that we could best serve Jesus’ disciples by providing a training resource suited to them and their context. What if we had a training curriculum that was theologically robust—but simple, clear, and concise—to put into the hands of these pastors? I thought.

Over the next few months, God affirmed this calling and providentially brought together a team of qualified, dedicated cross-cultural trainers and educators to begin the work. Within a year or so this nameless vision became known as Shepherds Global Classroom.

Since the planting of the first tiny seeds in 2012, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been invested into 20 foundational English courses and numerous translations. These courses are equipping leaders throughout the world to train thousands of men and women for the harvest.

—Tim Keep, SGC Founder and President

Why We Exist

Our South African friends at Re-forma believe that “The biggest crisis facing the evangelical, global church today is the fact that most pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders are undertrained or not trained at all.”

As Ramesh Richard states, “These pastors lack theological discernment, a strong undergirding of biblical spirituality, and a preaching method to communicate God’s Word in a faithful, deep, and compelling way.”

SGC exists because a vast majority of churches around the world are led by people with no formal education in theology or ministry. Many pastors are unable to provide systematic discipleship and doctrinal training for the believers in their care. Because of this, churches are susceptible to all kinds of deception and are not prepared to minister to unbelievers. Church leaders must be trained!

David Livermore writes, “The expansive growth of the church around the world is producing a shortage of theologically equipped pastors and church leaders.

• There are approximately 2.2 million evangelical churches in the world.
• 85% are led by men and women who have no theological training.
• 7,000 new church leaders are needed daily to care for the growing church.
• If every Christian training institute in the world operated at 120% capacity, less than 10% of the unequipped leaders would be trained.”

Clearly, as Livermore states, “There is compelling need to serve the global church with theological and leadership training.” The church must multiply training opportunities by developing informal and non-formal training programs for church leaders everywhere. SGC makes this possible.

After taking a trip to Zambia and Uganda with SGC President Tim Keep, Dr. Tom McCall of Asbury Theological Seminary, wrote:

“In much of the world, Christianity is not only surviving, but indeed is growing and flourishing. In many places, however, there is a deep need for biblical and theological training. Pastors and church leaders are hungry for it; they are eager and motivated to learn. But they are under-resourced, and the health of the church suffers as a result. Shepherds Global Classroom is taking important steps to provide much-needed resources that are biblical, orthodox, and accessible. I have witnessed first-hand how the materials are being used—in contexts as varied as universities and refugee camps—and I have no doubt that Shepherds Global Classroom will be a great blessing to God’s people around the world.”

The Mission of SGC

We exist to equip the body of Christ by providing curriculum for emerging Christian leaders around the world. 

The Vision of SGC

We envision homes, sanctuaries, cafés, and even shade trees becoming locally governed, locally structured, and locally financed theological classrooms where underserved Christian leaders are discipled and sent into the harvest.

The SGC Curriculum

Our curriculum reflects biblical, orthodox teaching and a heart for evangelical unity. The free 20-course curriculum is being made available in over 30 major languages. Our motto is
Christ-centered. Training. Everywhere.

Growth and Collaboration

SGC is equipping pastor-trainers from many evangelical denominations (Baptist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Methodist, and more) to launch non-formal training programs around the world. Through this webpage and our mobile app, the SGC curriculum is being accessed by thousands of trainers and students in over 100 countries.

We collaborate with missions organizations and with a broad spectrum of like-minded training ministries. (Please see our partner ministries page for a full list.) We eagerly sign free printing and distribution agreements with churches and organizations (large and small) all over the globe. While anyone may download and print SGC courses for free, we prefer to create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with pastor-trainers who plan to print and distribute courses to a group, because it allows us to assist trainers, track growth, and share stories.

The SGC Curriculum and Why It Is Different

At the heart of the Shepherds Global Classroom mission is our unique curriculum—a theological curriculum that is Christ-centered and adaptable to various contexts; a curriculum that makes training reproducible. We realize that there are many great ministries producing curriculum for underserved pastors and leaders, but we are also sure that SGC’s curriculum is unique: 

1. Because of how it is written. SGC curriculum is thorough but is written in clear and simple language. Each course has been developed by credentialed, experienced, cross-cultural leaders and trainers with a passion for God’s Word. No other textbooks are required, and tests and answer keys are provided. Courses are full of illustrations, stories, quotes, character sketches, discussion questions, maps, charts, and timelines. Each course is focused on practical application for people in ministry.
2. Because of what it provides. SGC curriculum provides 20 foundational, 15-week courses, covering a broad range of biblical theology, for a robust 2-3 year training program. We are not a training institution, but we provide excellent training tools so that informal and non-formal training institutions can be established where they do not yet exist. With this curriculum, classes can be structured to fit any context.
3. Because courses are being translated into over 30 languages. Translation of our curriculum began with languages representing some of the world’s largest populations. All 20 SGC courses are already available in English, Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, French, and Russian. Curriculum translation into many other languages continues. (See all translations.)
4. Because of whom it serves. The SGC curriculum serves the diverse body of Christ everywhere by emphasizing evangelical truth without denominational distinctives. SGC seeks evangelical unity in its approach to theological training. We promote the well-known saying, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity.”
5. Because of whom it equips. The SGC curriculum makes possible the multiplication of theological training. SGC equips local Christian leaders, pastors, and missionaries to be trainers who establish their own training programs. In these programs, Christian leaders are prepared as pastors, teachers, and ordained elders.
6. Because it is free! SGC offers all curriculum to trainers around the world for free in digital format here and on our mobile app.
7. Because we allow printing and distribution. SGC courses may be copied and distributed freely in print and digital format but may not be altered in any way or sold for profit (although printing costs may be charged). Educational institutions may use SGC courses even if they charge tuition fees.

Testimonials

Zambia

Zambian pastor-trainer, Allegri Parmigren writes from Mayukwayukwa, the oldest refugee camp in Africa, where he has already started a second training center, “The courses are doing wonders by changing and transforming people, some of whom are even forsaking some of the sinful practices that they once practiced, to the point where they are not even embarrassed to publicly confess and repent… I have never seen anything like this among leaders.”

Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea, Pastor Roger, a Christian brother in his early forties, shared his deep appreciation for Shepherds Global Classroom. “SGC has changed my life. Thank you for your ministry.” Roger went on to explain that though he’s been pastoring for many years, he had never had the opportunity to attend Bible college. Then, two or three years ago when missionary Shirley offered classes using the SGC curriculum, Roger eagerly enrolled. “Every Saturday, I’ve traveled four hours one way from my village to study with the group,” he said. “I’ve already completed 15 SGC courses, and these courses have taught me so much. The teaching has changed my life!”

Mexico

From Mexico, missionary Brennan Muir writes, “SGC was instrumental in helping us to start Ezra Biblical Seminary. Since 2019, attendees have included pastors, church leaders, laypersons, and professionals. As we have grown from only a few students to more than 60, we have seen the value of SGC for making disciples of Christ, no matter the level of one’s education.” Ezra is training students in multiple Central American countries.

Kenya

In 2017, Pastor Silas in Kenya discovered our courses online and began training a group of leaders each week. As this training program has continued, trainers have been sent into surrounding East African countries including Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, South Sudan, Zambia, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Uganda

Eli Fader, a missionary in Uganda, states, “Northern Uganda is a strategic place for pastoral training right now. Many of the pastors in this area have not had the opportunity to study the Word of God, and yet they faithfully serve their communities of believers.” Eli and his wife Bethany serve in the refugee camps where south Sudanese have fled their war-torn country. They are using SGC to train 50 church leaders who return to their own congregations each week to teach what they have learned.