We Thought We Knew

After completing EPW’s training, a pastor in southern Nigeria stood before his congregation with a confession that should haunt us: “We thought we knew what the church is and how to build a healthy church. We did not know.”

Consider the weight of that admission. This man had been shepherding God’s flock: preaching, baptizing, burying the dead, marrying couples. He was sincere. He was devoted. But he had never been taught to rightly divide the Word of truth. His people were spiritually malnourished under his care, and he didn’t know it. Across the Global South, 85% of pastors face this same reality: leading churches with empty hands, mixing Scripture with tradition because no one ever showed them the difference.

The transformation came through EPW’s training in biblical exposition and sound doctrine. His church is now strong, grounded in God’s Word. But think of the thousands who remain where he was, faithful men with hungry congregations, unaware of how much they don’t know. This isn’t a matter of intelligence or zeal. It’s access to training we take for granted. We have 800 English Bible translations, seminary libraries, and podcasts. They have one worn Bible and no framework to understand it.