The Effectiveness of Rubura Theological Baptist Institute's Curriculum in Equipping Pastors for the Local church Ministry in Burundi

Abstract

This study was an evaluative research, which attempted to discover the graduates' perception of the effectiveness of Rubura Theological Baptist Institute's (RTBI) curriculum in equipping them for the local church ministry in the Union of Baptist Church in Burundi The main source of data was the RTBI's alumni ministering in the local churches, which formed the Union of Baptist churches in Burundi. Three research questions, from which the researcher produced twenty-eight questionnaire items, guided the study. The eleven closed-ended and seventeen opened-ended questionnaire items were used to collect the study data. The closed-ended questionnaire items were rated in the model of Likert- scale. The responses were analyzed quantitatively with frequency count and then percentages calculated followed with the interpretations, while the informants answered the open-ended questionnaire in which they expressed their own perception of the effectiveness of Rubura Theological Baptist Institute's curriculum in equipping pastors for the local church ministry in Burundi. The analysis and interpretation of findings revealed that the training of RTBI offered an effective preparation for the local church ministry. The relevant skills and knowledge enabled the alumni ministers to serve effectively in the local church. In general, the training helped pastors to respond to the needs of church members. Based on the findings, the researcher has further recommended the following to the RTBI's administration and the UBeB as a whole: I. The program of RTBI would be re-prepared to reflect the actual realities of Burundi, considering that alumni ministers would be involved in ministries of justice and reconciliation, leading communities characterized with ethnic, social, economic and intellectual diversity and the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its consequences. 2. The RTBI's administration should provide the teaching material of first necessity, qualified personnel, building the modern library for the sake of updating the institution and its products. 3. The curriculum must have a high degree of dynamism and flexibility. 4. Rather than having one level of material in the program, it might be fair to have the certificate, diploma, and degree level in different fields of learning at RTB I. 5. Students' recruitment procedures could be examined in order to allow in students from other evangelical churches from within and outside the country. 6. Apprenticeship, at least one year, is to be introduced in order to provide a learning situation that permits students to apply theories learnt into practice before they start the ministry after graduation.