Local Online: A Global Strategy

COVID-19 brought disruption, loss and trauma to every community around the globe, but a lesser-known impact is the massive change it brought to theological education in the Majority World. Strangely, the pandemic lockdowns created a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lift the learning experience of hundreds of thousands of Bible college students through online education.

The demand for such programs in the Pacific, Asia, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe is at an all-time high. Our Bible college partners quickly transitioned to e-learning in 2020. Now, they have moved forward and are creating high quality online education programs that will serve their local contexts and greatly extend the reach of their campuses. It would be unhelpful for these regions to be flooded with Western online content. Local Leaders is working with our affiliates to help our partner colleges develop robust online education programs that are sensitive to each region.

Over three years, Local Online: A Global Strategy (LOGS) aims to assist over 200 key Bible colleges and increase the number of online theological students by more than 10,000.

Your support will help our partner colleges change the landscape of online theological education for the Majority World. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the current LOGS Projects that you can contribute towards.

Note: Local Leaders has already received donations and pledges for over $5mil towards the total $10mil target for Local Online: A Global Strategy.

THE STRATEGY HAS THREE PROJECT COMPONENTS

1. Capacity

Capacity development for 125 colleges by providing hardware, software and connectivity to assist with online delivery of courses.

2. Competence

Lift the competence of faculty by creating new ‘ICETE Academy’ courses and running workshops for hundreds of faculty members globally.

3. Content

Content creation through a new ‘ICETE Online’ platform, making videos and other resources available to assist local faculty to create high quality courses suitable to their context.

OUR AFFILIATES

We are working with multiple mission organisations and dozens of experts in education and theology from the Majority World, including:

  • The Overseas Council Network: Overseas Council USA, Overseas Council Europe, Beacon Partnerships (New Zealand), reSource Leadership International (Canada).
  • International Council for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE)
  • Horizon Education Network
  • Theological Book Network
  • DECIBEL Training
PROGRESS OF LOCAL ONLINE: A GLOBAL STRATEGY

Since launching in October 2021, significant progress has been made in assisting our partner colleges with their technological capacity and competence. Watch our 7 minute video highlighting the numerous advancements that have been made so far.

GOOD NEWS STORIES

Read the editions of Local Leaders’ Prayer Alert magazine dedicated to telling the stories of how Local Online: A Global Strategy has progressed. You’ll love hearing from Bible college leaders in the Majority World about the challenges they have faced and the real difference LOGS has made to their faculty and students.

STORIES FROM THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

Spring 2023 - This edition gives an update on the progress of Local Online: A Global Strategy (LOGS). It is a joy to report that after just two years of the strategy, we have assisted the creation of over 8,500 new positions for students to study God’s word and train to be leaders for the church and society.

Prayer Alert Summer 2021 - 2022

WHO’S WHO? KEY PEOPLE IN LOCAL ONLINE: A GLOBAL STRATEGY

Summer 2021/2022 - This edition tells the story of cooperation that is happening around the world and the potential for thousands of faculty members to be upskilled through online education.

MORE INFORMATION

If you would like to discuss how you or your church can support Local Online: A Global Strategy, get in touch with us.

YOU CAN DONATE TOWARDS THE LOCAL ONLINE PROJECTS BELOW:

LOGS: Capacity

IT HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND CONNECTIVITY

GOAL: $200,000

Aim: To build on the IT capacity of our partner Bible colleges, allowing them to upgrade equipment and make online education programs possible. New enhancements will enable colleges to link with students enrolled in distance education programs with greater ease and accessibility. Local Leaders assists the colleges to upgrade IT, cameras, online books and journals and student IT capacity.

LOGS: Competence

TRAINING FOR ONLINE TEACHING METHODS

GOAL: $50,000

Aim: To develop pedagogy training courses for faculty to learn excellent online teaching methods. In partnership with ICETE Academy, new courses are being developed and regional workshops will be run. Bible college faculty from around the world will be able to access training that is sensitive to their context. The content will be translated into 10 languages. Local Leaders assists the colleges to access courses and provide coaching on e-learning methods.

LOGS: Content

DEVELOPING FRESH CONTENT SENSITIVE TO EACH REGION

GOAL: $50,000

Aim: To create extra resources for faculty to use when they create their online education courses. This will include a repository of video and other material hosted by ICETE Online. Key colleges will be invited to contribute to this repository, with the aim of producing 1,000 new video resources and extra material. All resources will be translated into 20 languages. Local Leaders assists colleges to develop new online training programs for social disruption to help mobilise leaders and churches.

DONATIONS CAN BE MADE BY:
Direct Deposit

DIRECT DEPOSIT

(PREFERRED METHOD minimal transaction fees)

Acc Name: Local Leaders International
Non tax deductible BSB: 083 088 Acc No: 452 795 000
Tax deductible* BSB: 083 088 Acc No: 754 112 017

*Only available on select projects

Cheque

CREDIT CARD

Click the ‘DONATE NOW’ button to pay by credit card.
You can also set up regular giving using this method.

Credit Card

CHEQUE

Please make your cheque or money order payable to Local Leaders International and post to PO Box 346 Springwood, NSW 2777