To avoid misinterpretation of the Scriptures, poor pastoral ethics exercise, false doctrine presentation and others, which is a nightmare for Christianity today, the Head of Patriot Bible University’s Extended Program to Liberia, Dr. Wallah Wilsitoe, has publicized that pastor’s biblical knowledge requirement is a matter of must for ministry standard.
“You cannot have somebody who says God called him but is not trained,” Dr. Wilsitone said. “If you are not trained, you will mislead the congregation.”
The Patriot Bible University (PBU) is designed by pastors who are accredited by the State of Colorado, United States of America, for pastors who are in different countries to have distant education through textbooks.
The Biblical University has been in Liberia for several years and has put out several graduates since its coming into the country through Dr. Wilsitoe’s arrangement to train pastors, especially Pentecostal pastors.
“I did all my education in the United States, and when I was about to come back I requested for an extension of the program in my country, so that pastors in the villages, towns, and even in rural and urban areas would be able to have access to the training materials to be qualified and certified,” Dr. Wilsitoe said.
Recently, the Patriot Bible University Liberia’s extension held its 7th commencement convocation program at the St. Paul Baptist Church, St. Paul Bridge New Community, Lower Virginia. The university granted bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees to the graduates.
Speaking at the program, the Council for Churches in Africa Continental President, Bishop Dr. Rocky Moyo, challenged graduates to conquer the world for Jesus with the Biblical knowledge they have obtained, adding that knowledge is power, especially spiritual one.
“Do not buy a degree, as it is done in Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and even here in Liberia and elsewhere. What is properly learned is dependable,” Bisshop Dr. Moyo said. “Prove yourself for God’s Kingdom glorification.”
However, as the Methodist, Baptist and Catholic churches often provide scholarships for their pastors and ministers to obtain Biblical knowledge before ordination and subsequent ministry operation, it is alleged that Pentecostal churches cannot boast of doing the same in Liberia, but harbor the belief that, as long as God calls a person, He guides him or her with knowledge—a situation that has allegedly caused more Pentecostal pastors to be grammatically impotent before their congregation and their Methodist, Baptist and Catholic counterparts.
“As a leader, you have to be a learner. The problem with many Liberian pastors is that some of them do not read,” Dr. Wilsitoe noted. “I am not judging or condemning anybody, but if you start reading, you start learning.”
According to Dr. Wilsitoe, the Patriot Bible University Extended Program and textbooks are meant to build the capacity of pastors and church leaders.
“The teaching materials will make you have control over the Queen’s Language when you are speaking to your congregation,” Dr. Wilsotoe disclosed, noting that current church congregations contain bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree holders who critique pastors’ sermons and grammar.
PBU’s authority used the 7th graduation ceremony to call for mass pastors and church leaders’ enrollment for next academic year, announcing that the university offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in Pastoral Ministry, Christian Education, and so on, for affordable fees.
“The university is not solely concerned about pastors to be fluent in English Language or becoming Bible scholars, but to be positively accountable to God after death.
“Your soul, after acquiring all the wealth of the world, and after life is over, God holds us accountable for what we do,” Dr. Wilsitoe said.
Patriot Bible University was founded in 1979 at a Baptist church in Dallas, Texas. It moved to Colorado in 1984 and PBU has been a ministry of Hilltop Baptist Church for 40 years, merging with American Christian University under the then direction of Dr. J. Mark Hollingsworth in 1985. At present, Dr. Lonnie Skinner, one of Patriot’s founders, directs all External Studies programs from Del Norte, Colorado offices.
