MAF-LT Program Overview

Computer technology has changed the face of education and training in industrialized nations. Since 2000, MAF-Learning Technologies has used this same technology to help partner ministries train emerging church leaders in developing countries. 

MAF-LT is unique in the mission world, and fills a critical void in five distinct areas:

• Overcoming Isolation—MAF-LT overcomes isolation caused by geographical, cultural and spiritual barriers.
• Contextual Challenges—Because educational traditions differ around the world,MAF-LT assesses needs and provides customized learning tools and solutions.
• Cooperative Partnerships—MAF-LT collaborates with ministry partners on every project to both meet immediate needs as well as multiply the created resources.
• Enabling National Leadership—MAF-LT provides tools and counsel to enable indigenous people to develop independent, self-sustaining educational programs.
• Multiplying Effectiveness—With the assistance of MAF-LT, indigenous pastors and ministry partners extend their reach and multiply their impact.

MAF fills a key leadership role in providing distance learning tools and technology to help meet the critical need for trained Christian leaders. MAF-LT helps establish training centers, provides consulting services, collaborates with, and trains, other groups such as Moody Bible Institute and Greater Europe Mission (GEM) in developing digital courses and resource materials. In partnership with other missions and organizations, MAF enables the development of foundational courses in Bible study, theology, and ministry.

MAF-LT has developed a number of software tools to facilitate distance learning in places where Internet connections are either expensive or unreliable, and where commercial software is cost-prohibitive. To date, these tools include …

• DigiStudy—Bible study tool on CD. DigiStudy features 19 versions of the Bible in multiple languages, as well as four dictionaries, three Greek-Hebrew lexicons and three commentaries.
• DigiResources—A digital training library equivalent to 800 CDs. Originally introduced as the Russian-language Bibliologia Pastors Library CD, this resource is now is 800 times larger and encompasses articles, books, courses, entire curriculums, audio, video, graphics, and web materials, as well as Bible training notes and Islamic study guides. DigiResources materials are available in 12 languages: Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, French, Indonesian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, and Vietnamese. Some additional items are available in other languages.
• DEScribe—A tool that creates, collects, and organizes course content in an easy-to-use, multilanguage format for developers of distance education courses.
• DEViewer—A tool that allows students to experience the benefits of online learning without the necessity of continuous connection to the Internet. Beyond online delivery, in remote areas where connections are typically slow, DEViewer also delivers courses on CDs or from servers in remote learning centers.

Most recently, MAF has partnered with the God’s Story Project (GSP) to train church leaders in the orality method of sharing the Gospel through Simply the Story (STS). This unique approach mimics Jesus's method of teaching through stories, and has proven highly effective in bringing the salvation message to people who are illiterate or are part of cultures with oral traditions. 

Today, MAF-LT partners with 39 ministries in 25 countries. Requests for assistance in new course development steadily increase every year.

Building on the proven effectiveness of its learning tools and technologies, in the past 12 months, MAF-LT…

• Trained some 35 indigineous people and 27 expatriate missionaries worldwide in course design, development and deployment. 
• Assisted 39 existing partner ministries in developing and deploying distance education courses or methods.
• Haiti: Completed conversion of two additional distance education courses into French for use in the DEViewer. To date, 10 French courses and eight Creole courses have been converted. Completed phase one of course usability testing, and began phase two testing.
• North Central Asia:
  • Advised on, and provided oversight for, three physician-designed medical courses. Six of 12 courses have been completed and are available for distance delivery.
  • Trained 12 seminary students in computer basics as well as the use of the encrypted USB stick.
  • Taught an "Instruction Design" course to 19 students from six countries in the region.
  • Began a multiyear project to create six distance education classes for a local seminary. These classes will teach master’s level content to students throughout Central Asia. Created a website and initiated distance education programs for the organization. Commenced work on the first course, "The Synoptic Gospels."
  • Created and hosted websites for six ministry and/or humanitarian organizations.
  • Completed the EP3 qualitative survey and presented the results at several local and foreign conferences. Provided custom mapping software, compiled survey data, conducted research and analysis. This is the most comprehensive and detailed study ever completed on evangelicals in North Central Asia. The material significantly assists the worship center planting movement by combining ethnic group information, worship center information and census data. Began phase two of the research project, evaluating the health and vitality of local worship centers.
  • Took initial steps towards the creation of a Greenstone digital resources depository. When completed, this will provide an electronic library of out-of-print and rare materials, as well as current Christian resources. This initiative is global in scope and encompasses multiple languages.
  • Began assisting with the distribution of Scripture software in three local languages over cell phones and PDAs. 
  • Initiated a project to provide pastors with encrypted USB sticks, containing everything needed to keep email and web browsing secure. MAF developed the encryption software and trains pastors in its use. Some 40 USB sticks were distributed in 2008.
• Thailand: Updated and published maps and statistics of Thai churches and Christians for 2008. Disseminated some 600 thumb drives containing the digital library and other useful programs to Thai pastors and Christian leaders.
• Nepal: Established a DigiResources gatekeeper and provided MP3 players to share training. The MAF-LT center in Thailand is also developing a secure memory stick library for Nepal.
• India: Partnered with GSP to present orality training workshops in Mumbai and New Delhi, India.
• Uganda:
  • Provided consultation services to Pastor Tony Okullu as he began a church leadership development ministry in northern Uganda, utilizing DigiResources, STS, and audio MP3 activities.
  • Provided a digital resources hard drive for the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations—Africa (AFLC) team in Uganda.
• Zambia: Conducted a highly successful pastoral training conference in March 2008. Trained 43 pastors and a DigiResources gatekeeper as well as a coordinator of audio training.
• Spain: Established a gatekeeper for digital resources in Spain and North Africa. Conducted STS orality training to prepare Spanish church leaders to reach North African immigrants. Three instructors were trained in Madrid, and 29 others practiced STS storying.
• Kenya: Consulted with Africa Nazarene University (ANU) regarding distance education. Created an Africa-specific section in the MAF-LT online learning library for the use of ANU and other African ministries.
• Lesotho: Developed initial plans for sharing the Gospel with the people of Lesotho via STS orality training. The God's Story Project materials will be translated into the mountain Lesotho language and played in health clinics. DVD players will be provided to clinics, and three solar-powered DVD backpack units will be utilized in isolated communities and churches.
• Africa:
  • Established a relationship with AFLC. Discussed the development of an Africa-specific leadership training curriculum for pastors, written by Africans, with a focus on intense mentoring.
  • Partnered with More than a Mile Deep (MMD) to explore contextualized theological education. This includes research and discussion of learning models and courses that fit the local African situations.
• Latin America:
  • Supported the Latin American training network, ProMETA, by developing courses for online delivery to Latin pastors. Mauricio Sanchez of MAF-LT now serves on the ProMETA board.
  • Continued partnership with Extension Seminary to the Nations (SEAN), assisting with creation of a biblical study system in the DigiStudy tool.
• Middle East:
  • Conducted training and distance education consultation for the Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary (JETS).
  • Trained the staff of a wide-reaching Arabic radio and church ministry in instructional design and the use of video resources for believers from a non- Christian background (MBB).
• Worldwide:
  • Began indexing the MAF-LT DigiResources hard drive using Greenstone. This involves putting resources into Greenstone libraries in English by making multiple small libraries in multiple languages covering specific training areas.
  • Initiated the SaltLightCenter project to give online access to Christian resources in more than 6,900 languages. The project will take five or more years to complete, involving many ministry partners. MAF is currently sharing the concept with potential content contributors and modifying existing tools for use in the project.
  • Provided support to Living Oasis Ministries, which develops Islamic outreach training for North American churches. Assisted in development of materials for a training DVD.
  • Provided training and consultation services to DAI. Introduced Elluminate as a solution for course planning and review of remote course writing teams.
  • Established a relationship with the Biblical Counseling Foundation (BCF). Consulted with organizational leadership on course content and technical options for distance education.
  • With the assistance of GEM, provided course design and consulting services to the e-learning MBB Discipleship Alliance (eMDA). Reviewed, modernized and broadened existing training materials for a non-Christian audience.
  • Conducted an exhaustive review of GEM’s facilitator training. Supplied extensive instructional design input for the redesign of the course so that it can be customized for presentation to diverse ministries.
  • Began discussions with the MAF Aviation Resources division on ways to improve the delivery and completion levels of quarterly maintenance quizzes for overseas staff.
  • Provided instructional design assistance and technology recommendations to the MAF Aviation Safety department for the "Inside Out" safety program.
  • Conducted ongoing research into solar, audio, video, cell phone, multimedia, and other platforms for training delivery in remote regions.
  • Built an online learning library in the LT Moodle site, drawing together analysis documents, educational philosophy research, best practices, design processes, and culturally relevant materials. This is an excellent resource for other ministries and clients who seek information about distance education.
  • Trained 2,057 participants in various LT workshops:

    Kenya—573 Uganda—55 Nepal—252 Mumbai, India—125 Barcelona, Spain—16

    Sudan—450 Zambia—473 North Africa—63 New Delhi, India—27 Madrid, Spain—23

1. Engage in 27 projects, as per schedule and budget.
2. Impact 1,500 pastors and church leaders through MAF-LT learning centers, consulting and training services, distance education courses, and digital resources.
3. Assist 24 partner ministries in developing and deploying training programs for pastors and leaders in remote areas. Partners could include such groups as Living Word Ministries, BCOK, ANU, AFLC, eMDA, GEM, DAI, European Nazarene College, PM International, INCREASE, Kingdom eLearning, and the GSP.
4. Train 40 to 50 indigenous and expatriate missionaries in course design, development and implementation.
5. Develop Bible resources in French, Arabic, Spanish, and other languages as requested by client organizations.
6. Expand online training and resource tools to include ...
   • Easy-to-use course authoring
   • Online facilitator training
   • Bible resource cataloguing and research
7. Expand the MAF-LT presence in Latin America by initiating strategic partnerships in Brazil, Argentina, and Columbia, as well as developing appropriate LT tools.
8. Present two training workshops in Central Asia, empowering national seminary students and teachers to incorporate and model contemporary adult teaching methods in all instruction, including distance education courses.
9. Continue sharing the SaltLightCenter concept (online access to Christian resources in all languages) with potential project participants, as well as modifying existing tools.
10. Continue to provide training services for other internal MAF departments.
11. Continue developing technology and educational tools to meet the needs of isolated pastors and church leaders.
12. Continue to develop and offer training in computers, secure communications, business and English.
13. Continue  to provide learning technology services that allow Christian workers in North Central Asia to effectively build God’s Kingdom.
    
    • Continue providing quality private email service and HelpDesk services for more than 400 clients, supplying the capacity for growth, reliability and security.
    • Continue training course developers, designers, and constructors to produce quality medical and seminary courses.
    • Continue consulting with Abt Associates Inc. and local seminaries to maintain course development deadlines and expand MAF services to these programs.
    • Recruit a new instructional course designer as workload necessitates. Train an indigenous staff member in instructional course design.
    • Continue supporting the EP3 church planting efforts, including data gathering,mapping, and analysis.
      • Create a qualitative survey database, input screens, and analytical software.
      • Initiate program code changes to convert the mapping software to a global application. 
      • Obtain high quality maps and census data for the remaining North Central Asian countries.   
      • Continue to dialogue with church leaders to ensure that the surveys are initiated in the remaining countries. 
      • Train users in the qualitative survey input software.
    • Continue enhancing DigiResources for use by pastors and church leaders with little or no training or resources. Enhance the next version of Bibliologia with additional materials and Bible translations. Upgrade the software to be fully Unicode compliant.
    • Provide ongoing Web design and hosting services to several ministry partners, and train them in the use of website tools.
    • Continue monitoring trends affecting the security of Christians in North Central Asia. Continue developing encrypted software and hardware to allow pastors and missionaries to work safely in "restricted access" countries.
14. Continue providing tools and technology to support the church in Thailand in its vision to advance God’s Kingdom.
    • Plan two trips to Thailand to consult with church leaders who wish to pursue the use of distance education courses in leadership and discipleship training.
    • Create new digital resource libraries for use by missionaries and pastors working among tribal people groups (e.g., Hmong, Karen, Lahu, Lisu, Akha, etc.).
    • Collect and publish the results of the annual nationwide church survey.
    • Provide distance education software to two national Bible training centers to enable them to train students.
    • Create up to four digital libraries specifically for the use of Christian educational institutions. 
    • Begin work in Cambodia to help Cambodian Christian leaders fulfill the Mission Kampuchea 2021 vision. The goal of this movement is to plant a church in every village in Cambodia. MAF will provide the knowledge and software to maintain church statistics and produce strategic maps and reports.