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BY CHRISTIE ZIMMERMAN
UMCONNECTION STAFF

With pencils ready and attention focused, 340 pastors gathered at Africa University in Zimbabwe in late July, eager to take part in the first session of the Pastors School. Then it happened, the power went out.

The room was dark and quiet until a simple song, led by the Rev. Sophirina Sign of the ministerial staff at Ehnes Memorial UMC in Zimbabwe, broke out.

"There is a race I must run and a victory to be won. Give me power every hour to victory."

The song continued: "There is a war I must fight, a river I must cross, a fight I must win, a test I must pass, give me power every hour to victory." And they called upon God for power.

The power outage and the pastors' musical response transformed the lecture hall, deepened the lesson and set the tone for the week.

"The song took on its own life - such literal words, but a much deeper meaning. It took the room from a lecture to a spiritual revival," said the Rev. Tony Love of Covenant Point UMC in Waldorf.

"We are always concerned about having all of the accompaniments to our worship services here in the United States. As long as they have their voices and hands, they worship," said the Rev. Wanda Duckett of Monroe Street UMC in Baltimore. Duckett explained how difficult it was for the clergy to get to the school, but how important it was to them.

"They have much more challenging circumstances than we do, yet they have so much faith and tenacity. It really taught me how privileged we are here and how we take so much for granted - just an awesome experience," she said.

The Pastors School was created to help United Methodist pastors in Zimbabwe learn about how to improve ministry opportunities in their churches and communities. The school has grown through shared learning and worship experiences since the partnership between the Baltimore-Washington Conference and the Zimbabwe conferences originated more than a decade ago.

In 2005, 265 pastors attended and in 2007, the school had grown to 322. This year there is a modest growth, but a large one in the number of female pastors attending.

While members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference were there to provide an education to Zimbabwean clergy, they too received an education. "It really provided me with a sharpened awareness as to what really matters. When you walk in someone else's shoes, you grow," Love said.