Biblical Exposition Knows No Cultural Boundaries
Mervyn Eloff
A Short Word, March 2026
BIBLICAL EXPOSITION KNOWS NO CULTURAL BOUNDARIES
Church planter Quentin Van Rooyen was facing a challenge. Cross Central Church—located in an impoverished, urban community in Cape Town, South Africa—was drawing refugees from across Africa. Many people “were passionate about God,” says Quentin, but they “had no idea what to do with God’s Word.” He knew something different was needed, but he was wrestling with how to faithfully preach God’s Word to such a multicultural congregation. Is it even possible?Then Quentin attended his first Workshop on Biblical Exposition. “Every now and then you discover a ministry tool that transforms ministry, but more importantly, people’s lives,” he says. The Charles Simeon Trust’s “approach to handling God’s Word was a real answer to prayer for our diverse gospel community.” After the Workshop, Quentin began to teach the principles of biblical exposition to his church’s council and ministry team members. “Watching ministry leaders from DR Congo, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa grow in their ability to handle God’s Word and get excited about it has convinced me that the approach knows no cultural boundaries.”Quentin’s experience of the transforming power of faithful Word work is echoed by others who attend Workshops in South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Malawi and Cameroon. May it be an encouragement to you today as you continue to pray for the growth of training across Africa and around the world.
Church planter Quentin Van Rooyen was facing a challenge. Cross Central Church—located in an impoverished, urban community in Cape Town, South Africa—was drawing refugees from across Africa. Many people “were passionate about God,” says Quentin, but they “had no idea what to do with God’s Word.” He knew something different was needed, but he was wrestling with how to faithfully preach God’s Word to such a multicultural congregation. Is it even possible?Then Quentin attended his first Workshop on Biblical Exposition. “Every now and then you discover a ministry tool that transforms ministry, but more importantly, people’s lives,” he says. The Charles Simeon Trust’s “approach to handling God’s Word was a real answer to prayer for our diverse gospel community.” After the Workshop, Quentin began to teach the principles of biblical exposition to his church’s council and ministry team members. “Watching ministry leaders from DR Congo, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa grow in their ability to handle God’s Word and get excited about it has convinced me that the approach knows no cultural boundaries.”Quentin’s experience of the transforming power of faithful Word work is echoed by others who attend Workshops in South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Malawi and Cameroon. May it be an encouragement to you today as you continue to pray for the growth of training across Africa and around the world.
In Christ,
Mervyn Eloff
Director of African Initiatives
Charles Simeon Trust