The Trainers of Pastors International Coalition (TOPIC), explores possibilities for concerted, cooperative action among pastoral training agencies to significantly resource this great need.

Preoccupation
In the past 25-30 years, the Body of Christ has emphasized evangelization and the planting of churches. These plans have resulted in great advances, but many of these efforts conclude at the end of 2000. Unfortunately, during this same period of time we have not had a similar emphasis on equipping pastoral leaders. As a consequence, we are 25-30 years behind when it comes to pastoral leadership development. And on it's own, the church has progressed in many regions through its own evangelistic efforts.

Necessity
In global terms, it is estimated that about 2 million pastoral leaders are lacking in some aspect of essential pastoral training. Currently, approximately 4,000 new churches are born each week. It is projected to reach 12,000 per week, within three years. The number is growing exponentially and on a daily basis! Today, there are thousands of sheep without a shepherd and multitudes of churches without at least one fully equipped pastoral leader.

Possible Solutions
Historically, we have concentrated the training of our ministerial leaders in Bible Institutes, Seminaries and other formal systems of "in-residence-education." Even when these are effective and bring great blessings, they do not meet the great need due to their high costs and the investment of time, money and geographic relocation. Dr. Ralph Winter says, "Those million* keen, humble, godly men running two million of the churches in Africa, Asia, the former Soviet Union and Latin America CAN’T be educated by setting up schools which they cannot attend." (Mission Frontiers Bulletin March-April, 96). We need to create and develop other systems that are easily transferable, transportable and less costly in order to meet them where they are.