The Glissmanns have been in Malawi since 2010. From 2010-2018 with TEEM and now working remotely for the Theological Education by Extension College (TEEC) in South Africa while based in Blantyre, Malawi. In 2010, Volker was seconded to work for a Malawian church-based theological education programme called Theological Education by Extension in Malawi or simply TEEM.
For the last number of years, Volker has been involved in a special form of theological education called Theological Education by Extension (TEE). TEE is an alternative leadership training system, bringing theological, biblical and practical leadership training to people right where they live and worship. Today, TEE programmes are widely used in many countries around the world. They are particularly important in churches who rely heavily on lay people to preach and teach in local prayer houses and congregations.
TEEM is TEE in the Malawian context, providing self-study course material on basic biblical, doctrinal, practical and ministerial subjects. From 2010 to 2018, Volker was the Director of TEEM (Theological Education by Extension in Malawi) and but was also involved in TEE consultancy in southern Africa and globally.
In the summer of 2018, Volker handed over the leadership of TEEM to his successor as the plan was for him to move to South Africa and join the Theological Education by Extension College (TEEC) there. However due to visa issues, the Glissmanns have remained in Malawi, where Volker continues to provide consultancy to TEEM by developing grassroots training courses. However, the main secondment for Volker is to work in conjunction with his South African colleagues in developing, designing and writing a new Bachelor in Theology programme as well as updating some older courses. TEEC is a unique theological college in that the majority of its students would traditionally be unable to access theological training. TEEC offers courses to those unable to attend residential training but who continue to minister in their communities.
JinHyeog works as a full-time music teacher at a primary school in Blantyre.
Volker writes, “The strength of the church depends on well-trained ministers, as well as on fully-equipped church leaders and members. Not everyone can leave their jobs and study full-time. Decentralised training like TEE provides good quality and relevant theological education locally to people enabling them to be better equipped to fully participate in God's mission.”
Volker was born in Germany and JinHyeog in South Korea. They served with Operation Mobilisation in Russia from 1997 to 2000. Out of this experience they developed a strong desire to continue to serve Christ's church. JinHyeog was privileged to serve in their home congregation Harmony Hill Presbyterian Church in Lisburn as Music Director for a few years before the family left for Malawi. Volker and JinHyeog have three children, their oldest daughter studies in England while the boys are at school in Blantyre.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Volker and JinHyeog have continued to serve in Southern Africa and have adapted their work and witness to comply with local restrictions.
Prayer Points
- Pray for wisdom and openness to the Holy Spirit while planning, designing and writing course material for the Malawian and South African context.
- Pray for wisdom for Volker as he balances the work in Malawi and South Africa with being available with advice for other TEE programmes in other parts of the world.
- Pray for JinHyeog as she teaches and that she will be able to continue to inspire the children.
- Pray for good health and daily protection for the Glissmann family; and that in all they do, say and are, their witness will bring glory to God.
Volker and JinHyeog have recorded two film clips (a short 3 minute clip and longer 15 minute clip) which can be downloaded and used in church services, prayer meetings or events to raise awareness and prayer for what God is doing across the world, as we seek to go deep and wide in global mission involvement.
(For previous Digital Dispatches video clips click here)
Latest Report
April 2024
The Glissmanns are living in Malawi. Jinhyeog is involved in a local primary school as a music teacher. Volker works off-campus as a programme developer for TEEC, the Theological Education by Extension College in Johannesburg, South Africa, and does grassroots theological training in Malawi.
TEEnet – Theological Education by Extension Network
Over the last few months, Volker has been working on something behind the scenes.
As all of you know, I am very interested in theological education by extension (TEE), which, in a nutshell, is all about theological education (extended) for everyone-everywhere – TEE. The greatest need to access quality theological (which includes biblical, spiritual, and practical) learning material is in the developing world. Back home, specialist departments of our church provide training material, or one could go to a bookshop to buy learning material for a few pounds. However, the infrastructure described here does not exist in the developing world. Yet, the need to access learning material is still there.
Over the last year, a discussion with a friend involved in TEE in Uganda blossomed into us starting something new in our spare time: a network of TEE practitioners to support TEE programmes worldview. We spent a few months refining and consulting with others, which included our desire to see more TEE learning materials shared. We started TEEnet, which is the Theological Education by Extension Network. TEEnet is not a replacement for existing programmes or regional networks. Instead, it is about enhancing collaboration. TEEnet also has a publishing wing in which we will publish TEE-related books. In the March bulletin, I introduced a course we are preparing, which will be available through TEEnet afterwards.
By mid-April, we hope to launch our website (www.teenet.org) and then slowly build up the website and start reaching out to see how we can best work together over the next few months. There are also publications ready to be launched as e-books on the TEEnet website. Someone just donated a set of TEE courses used in Ethiopia, and we will make them available via TEEnet soon.
Prayer Points
- Give thanks to God for how he brought people from diverse backgrounds together to start projects to build up the capacity of TEE programmes.
- Pray for us as we overcome the last technical challenges to make our projects work.
- Please continue to pray for the health and safety of the whole family.
To download a printable PDF of this bulletin or for a previous bulletin visit the Mission Reports listing at the top or Global Mission monthly bulletin archive.