World Evangelical Alliance 175th Anniversary

175th Anniversary Uniting Evangelicals For Prayer Mission & Justice Since 1846

Special Interview III: Ian Benson from Evangelical Training Directory on WEA’s Impact on Fostering Unity and Belonging

To commemorate WEA’s 175th anniversary, we have conducted special interviews with leaders working in various areas in the WEA, exploring the history of her diverse engagements. The third interview features Ian Benson, the director of Evangelical Training Directory. He speaks about the importance of the directory and how it contributes to the global evangelical community.

In what ways does the Evangelical Training Directory (ETD) represent WEA? 

The ETD represents the WEA by seeking to bring into one place and showcasing all the training that is offered by all members of all National Evangelical Alliances, Evangelical Accrediting Agencies and linked Evangelical Missionary Alliances round the world – all parts of the WEA – so that God’s people can find the type of training they need to serve the Lord and fulfil His purposes in the world. Its basic service is offered free of charge to all training bodies which are part of the WEA – and they can further add more information on many training courses as they wish, photos and videos, for a modest subscription. The ETD represents the WEA by offering their own training search pages to every National Evangelical Alliance. The training search pages can be personalized and linked to the website of the National Evangelical Alliance member. This enables them to integrate all training bodies in the country to their alliance.

The ETD requires every training institution to join a WEA body – with the aim of integrating them into the WEA sphere, thus strengthening the evangelical work throughout a country and internationally. The only way of making sure that valid organizations are going under the directory is to check whether they are affiliated with the WEA. It is impossible for us personally to check out training organizations in every country. The National Evangelical Alliances and Accrediting Agencies already exist and know what is happening on the ground. The ETD is not a small independent charity located in the UK. It hosts an enormous database linked to the WEA.

Can you share a little bit about your personal background and history with WEA?

The Evangelical Training Directory was launched in the context of the WEA when in the early 2000s I met with Geoff Tunnicliffe, the then WEA Secretary General, and Jonathan Lewis, then Director of the International Missionary Training Network of the WEA Mission Commission, who gave their blessing to the project. The WEA later officially endorsed the ETD as a central database of evangelical training worldwide. The WEA Mission Commission had published two hard copies of its World Directory of Missionary Training Programmes and it was decided that this would be combined and integrated into the ETD in an online format. The WEA fully adopted the whole ETD project as its own in the year 2021. This enabled a long-term future for the ETD. I am still involved in the ETD and provide guidance to the new representative.

There used to be hundreds of training programs and a lot of competition among the different organizations who were trying to recruit students. However, how do we make it accessible? How does everyone know what exists? Christians need training in all areas. It is the work of God to equip people. How can people find out what training is available? We need to work together. God has given everyone unique gifts and talents. The ETD combines these opportunities in one directory and shows people which ones are accredited. It offers training in all aspects of society and life, not just missiology or preaching. Whether it is business, agriculture, or aviation, these are all areas where people can be trained in godly principles. The ETD is a universally fully encompassing entity that enables Christians to find the training they need to serve God and others. It is a complex website that functions in 20 languages and contains around 900 organizations.

How would you describe WEA and its work?

The big bonus of the WEA is that it seeks to unite all evangelicals worldwide in promoting the cause of Christ. We are so much more effective when we work together. I believe that the united biblical stance has the potential for great effect and testimony. The WEA can show that God cares for the world, offering a reasoned showcase for the Gospel, and that evangelicals are informed, sensible, with a coherent worldview, a message of salvation to all, and effective for good in so many spheres as they pursue their calling as Christ’s ambassadors in the world.

How has WEA’s work impacted you personally and professionally?

The WEA has given the essential context for my work both in the ETD and when I was Associate Director and Secretary of the International Missionary Training Network. Being able to draw together training bodies in the WEA sphere is of great value. The WEA provides a unique platform for cooperation between evangelicals. The International Council for Evangelical Theological Education, part of the Global Theology Department of the WEA, performs a great service in enabling evangelical theological educational establishments to share and work together.

How has WEA shaped your thinking?

The WEA provides the concrete expression of the united body of Christ which seeks to follow the Bible alone. The existence of the WEA has meant that I have concentrated on the contribution of evangelicals to the training of God’s people. Organisations that join in the worldwide evangelical cause embodied by the WEA make themselves and the whole evangelical cause much stronger. I pray for God’s continued and increasing blessing on the WEA – which I truly love.