World Bible School Ministry to East Africa

What is World Bible School?

It is an evangelistic ministry that helps every-day Christians (You) share their faith (Jesus) with people around the world who are looking for what the Gospel offers.  That is done by volunteer teachers, either alone or in their congregation’s program, either (a) buying the WBS study books and mailing them to their students, or (b) registering as an online Study Helper and teaching the lessons to online students.  Thousands are being taught and are finding Jesus!

WBS has been a powerful tool in evangelizing East Africa, especially Kenya.  The four nations of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan were targeted for a WBS recruitment campaign from 2014 to 2017. The current work is a continuation of the campaign.  Annual new enrollments in the four countries now run at about 160,000 students a year, and baptisms number in excess of 1,500 a year.  Each country has a national WBS Service Center which Phil oversees.  He is involved in planning, developing, reviewing and implementing strategies and outreaches for all aspects of the WBS ministry in East Africa—from training recruiters to getting new students to follow up for those who are ready for baptism.  Phil’s goal is for WBS to enhance the progress of the Kingdom in every way possible, providing an effective evangelistic tool that unites and matures national Christians, congregations and church leaders while engaging American Christians in fruitful soul-winning.

What Do the Palmers Do?

While in the USA, Phil communicates with hundreds of volunteer WBS workers who are on the ground in Africa recruiting students year-round.  He plans two or more trips each year, each between 2 and 6 weeks in length.  A typical trip to Africa will see Phil and Elaine visit 6 or 8 places to hold WBS Campaigns and teach WBS Followup Seminars.  Local church leaders in an area cooperate to plan the venues.  A three-day campaign may see 20 volunteer Christians go out in teams to public places and enroll 300 people in WBS.  Classes offered have seen from 15 to 85 in attendance.  Campaigns almost always result in baptisms – so far, from 1 to 36 people during the time of the campaign, and often with others following later.  Because these outreaches are done by the local churches, they are there for incorporating the new Christians and following up the enrolled students.

Church Relations

Beginning in April, 2018, Phil began officially to have a role in Church Relations for WBS.  He contacts congregations in the USA (especially Texas) and sets up Seminars to inform, encourage and assist existing WBS programs, and to help churches to set up new programs.