In the village of Nukubolu, pastor and community leader Veresa understood the rhythm of the land. He knew that no harvest could be expected without first digging deep into the soil. Yet as he looked at his congregation, he realised they were spiritually hungry, and his own “digging” into Scripture was barely scratching the surface. He saw his people struggling to find their footing in faith, and he felt the growing weight of responsibility to guide them well.
Everything changed when he connected with Langham Preaching, a ministry known across the Asia–Pacific for strengthening local pastors. The training transformed not only his leadership but also the way he related to God. Every morning, long before the sun rose and the village began to stir at 4.00 am, Veresa woke to study the Bible. In the stillness of those early hours, he no longer simply read the text; he applied the practical tools he had gained from Langham Preaching to dig deeper and understand Scripture faithfully.
The training gave him a clear, biblical framework that reshaped his entire approach to ministry. Instead of “just focusing outside,” he learnt to focus closely on the passage itself and allow the Bible to speak. As he grew in confidence and clarity, Veresa became known as a Person of Peace within his village. He served as a vital bridge between the Word of God and everyday life, taking the deep biblical truths he uncovered in the early mornings and guiding teachers, students, and families with wisdom rooted in Scripture. His journey became a powerful example of how biblical leadership development can strengthen an entire community.
Across the Asia–Pacific region, there are many leaders like Veresa who long for the same “digging tools” to help their churches grow in biblical understanding. Through its focus on expository preaching, Langham Preaching continues to equip pastors to be faithful to the text and to let the Bible speak for itself.
This story was originally published by Langham Australia https://au.langham.org/news-and-updates/veresa-colata-story/
