- History

Entrust History

In 1979 a historic meeting was held in Vienna, Austria to discuss the opportunities for training the next generation of Christian leaders in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

Key leaders from 20 different missions and several nationals from Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania and Russia attended. After three days of discussion and prayer, an inter-mission effort was launched. BEE International (Biblical Education by Extension) was formed to help national churches develop systematic training for their present and future leadership. In the 1980s, four departments evolved: training, publishing, distribution and women’s ministries.

BEE International began in the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. When communism fell, we changed strategies and organization to match social, cultural and ecclesiastical developments. Residential schools, church-based training centers, and publishing efforts have grown out of the main extension-based education efforts. Curriculum has been adapted to be culturally relevant and address current needs. We continue to work in these countries—with Central and Eastern Europeans and Russians owning more of the ministry—as well as develop new leadership training in other countries.

As we watched the growing needs for training in other parts of the world, we felt it was time to change our name to reflect our expanding worldwide commitment to the next generation of church leaders.

And so BEE International became Entrust.

“Entrust” means to pass on something of great value with total faith in the recipient’s care and commitment. It is a word filled with energy, action and emotion. Entrusting local leaders with the gospel message and the tools to spread that message is at the core of our ministry. Success will be the replication of at least four generations of teachers and trainers, as seen in 2 Timothy 2:2.

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

Thirty years of ministry has uniquely equipped Entrust to respond to the historic opportunities throughout the world today.

Studies indicate that over 90 percent of the world's theologically trained church leaders live in North America and Western Europe. Statistics suggest that over three million pastors and church leaders outside this area have not had any Bible training at all.

Entrust reaches out to church leaders where the need is greatest. We currently serve in Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and are pursuing opportunities in East Asia, India and Latin America.

The need for trained leaders is paramount as we move into an era of unprecedented growth of Christian believers. Now is the time to take seriously the need to exponentially expand servant-leader training for the church.