On our mission trips to Uganda, Malawi, and South Africa, each of the host missionaries told us that the greatest need in Africa was to provide theological training for pastors. Since his first trip to Africa, Rick completed 26 courses at the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University earning an M.A. in theology with highest honors (3.9 GPA). Bonnie has extensive teaching experience and has completed 13 courses at Talbot.
Our heart's desire is to utilize the equipping and spiritual gifts with which we have been blessed to equip pastors at an African seminary or Bible college. We enjoy teaching together and especially want to teach 1) "Hermeneutics," 2) "A Biblical Theology of Discipleship," 3) "Understanding Your Muslim Neighbors," and 4) "Bible Survey." Rick also wants to teach "A Biblical Theology of Leadership and Community" and "Early Historical Theology." Bonnie has taught "Women in the Bible" and "Spiritual Formation" (Spiritual Gifts & Spiritual Disciplines) in India and wants to teach them again.
We hope that this web page and its links will familiarize you with our Background, Rick's professional experience, Rick's courses at Talbot, Bonnie's professional experience and her Talbot courses.
Having been to Africa three times, we understand that your culture is different from California's culture and that culture varies substantially within Africa. Because we understand that your time is just as valuable as ours, we have identified a few items that may concern you or someone on your selection committee. We want you to know this information before you spend time considering us.
Bonnie married young and her divorce occurred before she became a follower of Jesus. Rick married shortly after becoming a disciple of Jesus, then eleven years later, his wife divorced him. Bonnie speaks in tongues, but Rick doesn't. While we may learn a bit of another language, we are unlikely to become fluent in another language. After being active members and leaders at Hope Chapel for over ten years, the senior pastor asked Rick to join the governing board, then decreased the church's commitment to missions, and changed his approach to discipleship & his financial priorities. Since he was unable to listen to Rick's thoughts on these matters, we left Hope Chapel and have just joined Grace Brethren Long Beach, http://gracelb.org.
We have the desire to equip African pastors and hope that you think we have the qualifications. We hope to find an African seminary or Bible college where we can commence teaching around August/September 2007. If, after you've review the links, you think that the students at your seminary or Bible college would benefit from our teaching, please contact us at: rick.oakes@gmail.com. Thank you very much!!
Return to: Home Page of Rick and Bonnie Oakes