Langham Partnership International (LPI) and its US branch, John Stott Ministries, have announced Steve Hardy as the new International Programme Director of Langham Scholars.

"What a privilege to work with the quality of people, scholars and training programmes that are involved with Langham Partnership, many of whom I have already known for many years," Hardy says.

Steve is from the United States, but he has lived many years in the Majority World, almost entirely involved in theological education at various levels.

He received his master of divinity degree from Bethel Theological Seminary in St Paul, Minnesota, and his doctorate in missiology from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois. He is ordained and licensed for Christian ministry by the Baptist General Conference, with current membership in the Evangelical Free Church.

After some years with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship ministry in the 1970s, Steve worked in Brazil, Mozambique, and South Africa, where he contributed to teaching, leadership training, church-planting and developing curricula for church-based theological training.

Later, Steve worked for Overseas Council International, and is now a mission partner with Serving in Mission. As the advocate for theological education, he serves other SIM personnel involved in that field around the world. He has worked with SIM since 1985 as theological education advisor, missionary and leadership training facilitator.

Steve, who lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, is the author of Excellence in Theological Education: Effective Training for Church Leaders, which was designed for Bible school and seminary leadership in the Majority World.

"He joins LPI with a wealth of experience and wisdom to bring to the Scholars programme," said LPI.