Almost 30 years ago, when our School's Theological Education by Extension (TEE) Department started to promote theological training for lay believers, we were faced with skepticism. One such question was that after attending such courses, lay believers might challenge their pastors or the traditions of their churches. But now, such suspicions have dissolved completely. Some churches now even request that our School cooperate with them to start theological courses. This reflects that, not only are pastors more confident of themselves, at the same time, churches are also more aware of the importance of theological training for lay believers. This has deepened their understanding of our vision to help train not only future church leaders, but also lay believers grow in their faith.

In this era of information explosion, we can easily gain access to vast amounts of information on Christianity via the internet. However, it is not as easy to discern whether such teachings are biblical or relevant. Therefore, what is of vital importance in this day and age is no longer ‘where can we find information', but ‘how to discern whether such information is reliable or applicable'.

Last year, a first-year student at our School downloaded some material from a so-called Christian web-site without knowing that it was actually heretical! Such situation are becoming increasingly common, as many pseudo-Christian web-sites are lurking on the internet, waiting to devour any approaching prey. Hence, systematic and holistic education in biblical truth is a most urgent task on hand.

Theology is not the privilege of pastors or of a small group of intellectuals. Theology helps Christians understand what they believe, integrate their faith and religious experience, as well as defend and proclaim the truth. It provides important guidance not only to individual Christians, but also to lay leaders who do collective reflection in the church. Without such a framework, most Christians would borrow perspectives or strategies from the commercial field without deliberating whether such concepts were biblical or applicable to the church context.

In the first two chapters of I Corinthians, Paul points out that the message of the cross might not be marketable. That is exactly what the problem was with the church at Corinth: in order to gain popularity, the church had adopted the value systems and strategies of contemporary society¹, whereas the ideology and way of life of the church and believers should be constantly moulded by the story of the cross. Paul taught Christ-centered theology of the cross to the believers of Corinth, knowing that any theological deviation would exert far-reaching influence on the life of individual Christians and the church.

In this post-modern age that hails sentimentality, rational reflection is ignored or slighted. If every believer does what she/he thinks is right according to her/his feelings, not only will individual Christians suffer, the church will also lose its direction. Consequently, theological education for lay believers is of vital importance.

Our School has made a variety of attempts in the past in developing theological education for lay believers, providing different courses for grassroot believers, women and Christians in the market place. These courses endeavor to cater to their needs, emphasizing theological reflection and application of biblical truth in their contexts.

Since our School started Lay Training of Christian Women and Marketplace Theological Training, there is a growing general consensus about the needs of individual target groups. Apart from this, in order to overcome the limitations of time and space, our School has launched Theological Education Online (TEOline) by internet. This project is at an early stage, to be further developed.

It is our hope that “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28) To God be the glory.