Ushirika — learn to preach the Word
Training · First Sunday of the month
Learn to preach the Word
« Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. » — 2 Timothy 2:15
Dear brothers and sisters, we are opening the ECA Ushirika to every adult member of the chapel who would like to learn to preach. No experience is needed — only a willingness to work at the text and to be taught.
The English Chapel of Antananarivo is part of Langham Preaching, the training founded by John Stott for pastors and lay preachers. The seminars teach; the Ushirika — Swahili for fellowship — is where we keep practising between them, month after month.
The way it works is simple and demanding. Every member prepares the same passage, one or two actually preach it, and everyone else gives structured feedback on how the text was handled. Because we have all wrestled with the same passage, the feedback can be about what Scripture says and not only about delivery. Each session also reviews one lesson from the Langham course material.
Who it is for
Adult members of the chapel, men and women alike. You do not need to be a preacher already, or to hold any office. If you want to handle the Bible more faithfully — in a pulpit, a small group, a Sunday school class or your own home — this is for you.
When
The first Sunday of every month, straight after the service · about two hours
Bring a snack to share — we move straight in and eat as we go
The 2026–2027 cycle · preaching the Old Testament
6 September 2026 · Genesis 26:12–31
4 October 2026 · 1 Samuel 16:1–13
1 November 2026 · 2 Samuel 12:1–23
6 December 2026 · Leviticus 18:9–14
7 February 2027 · Deuteronomy 15:1–15
7 March 2027 · Deuteronomy 19:14–21
4 April 2027 · Jeremiah 18:1–12
2 May 2027 · Hosea 11:1–11
Every member prepares the passage, whoever is preaching it. That is the whole point, and it is why a year in this fellowship changes the way you read your Bible — whether or not you ever stand in a pulpit.
To join, or to ask a question:
church@english-chapel-antananarivo.org
Read more about the Ushirika
The full cycle and our free library of the Langham training manuals are on that page — no account, nothing to pay.