MTS (Ministry Training Strategy) is a two-year ‘hands on’ program in church ministry. It is on-the-job ministry training based on prayer, Bible study and practical ministry. The Training Strategy outlined below is a generic standard and must be appropriately adapted to each individual intern.

Broad Aims Encourage growth in the word of God and godly living

1. Provide a biblical framework for Gospel ministry
2. Identify strength and weaknesses in ministry and assess suitability for future training and ministry roles
3. Develop a broad base of teaching, evangelistic and people skills
4. Develop theological thinking skills about ministry.

Training Objectives – An MTS graduate should be able to:

· Bible study

- Persist in daily Bible Study.

- Be able to construct a time line showing the flow of Biblical history.

- Explain the meaning of a specific passage within its context and the whole of scripture.

· Theological thinking

- Explain the gospel of God’s grace in terms of the elective purposes of God, the nature of sin, God’s righteous judgment, the person and work of Christ and justification by faith.

- Explain basic doctrine of (God, man, Christ, the church , redemption).

- Explain the ‘Christo-centric’ nature of the whole of scripture.

- Explain the elements of evangelical ministry and critique alternative views.

· Prayer & Holiness

- Persevere in daily prayer – reflecting God’s concerns.

- Lead their families in Bible study & prayer encouraging them in Christian faith and maturity.

- Consciously submit to the word of God – making specific changes in thinking attitude and actions.

· Service

- Volunteer for unattractive jobs or work outside their area of responsibility

- Go the extra mile in serving people

- Be reliable in big and small matters

- Take a long term interest in people

- Work cooperatively with others

- Submit own interest to the good of the team

- Submit to leaders and be loyal

- Listen to others

- Speak the truth in a gentle but firm manner

- Respond to feedback in a teachable manner

- Resolve conflict with people

- Respond to criticism in an open, non-defensive manner

- Be aware of how their manner and personality affect others

- Build rapport with people from other age groups and backgrounds

· Evangelism & World Missions

- Build Friendships with non-Christians

- Explain the gospel clearly

- Able to answer questions and objectives

- Follow up new Christians

- Cultivate a vision for local and world missions

· Teaching the Bible

- Exegete and explain a passage of the Bible

- Help individuals make progress in the Christian life by applying the Bible to their lives

- Read the Bible one on one

- Lead a Bible Study Discussion

- Give a Talk from a passage of the Bible

- Apply principles of learning to Bible teaching

- Lead in church meetings by:

· Reading the Bible

· Leading in prayer

· Leading the meeting

· Interviewing people

· Training Others in Ministry

- Discern the gifts of individuals and guide them towards appropriate areas of service

- Train a personal evangelist

- Train a personal discipler

· Leadership

- Organize how to use their time make plans and implement them

- Identify their own leadership style

- Recruit others onto a ministry team

- Develop and implement ministry plans

- Delegate responsibilities and follow up

- Resolve conflict

- Raise money for ministry

- Start a new ministry

Training Method

 

• Weekly Staff Meeting

- This meeting provides insight into the workings the church and leadership and also involves prayer, review and pastoral critique.

 

• Weekly Training Session

- This is a two hour meeting which includes Bible exposition and discussion, doctrine training and or a practical ministry discussion paper and prayer.

 

• Training Weekends

- Interns must attend all Leadership Training Weekends. These weekends provide training in exegetical skills and practical ministry skills and provide an opportunity for interns to practice team leadership.

 

• Involvement in Core Courses

- Interns will attend and learn to use all core courses. These courses include Two Ways to Live, Just For Starters, and Six Step to Encouragement. These courses will help them in areas of Evangelism and discipleship.

 

• Observation of Eldership meetings

 

• Personal Coaching

- Interns will meet at least monthly with their trainer for one on one coaching sessions which can include:

· Prayer and Bible reading

· Help with ministry prep

· Dealing with personal issues

· Guided reading

· Preparing and reviewing a Coaching Plan

· Observation and feedback exercises

* Core Observation and feedback Exercises:

- Over the two years, a Trainer may observe an Intern in these ministries

and give feedback.

- Walk up evangelism

- Visit new contacts

- Pew ministry

- Leading a Bible Study discussion

- Giving an Evangelistic talk

- Giving a talk on a Bible passage

- Reading the Bible in a formal meeting

- Leading prayer

- Leading a meeting

- Organizing a ministry activity

- Training an apprentice in evangelism or Bible study