Churches Raising Up Pastors—Ministry Training Strategy
February 25, 2010
February 25, 2010
9Marks wants to see more churches and pastors taking responsibility for raising up the next generation of pastors. To help our readers catch a vision for what that might look like, we asked several organizations closely tied to one or several local churches how they fulfill this mission. With one exception, each of the following organization answers the same 18 questions.
Unlike the other programs listed here, this presentation of Australia’s Ministry Training Strategy, authored by Colin Marshall, does not follow the 18 question format.
* * * * *
Ministry Training Strategy (MTS) grew out of the ministry of Phillip Jensen in his role as Anglican Chaplain to the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. In 1979 he began employing University graduates for two years to work and train with him in the student and local church ministry. His aim was to prepare these apprentices for formal theological education.
Ever since, the vision of MTS has been to train ministers of the gospel to declare the saving work of Christ to the world and so build his church. It is not a quick-fix program, or a silver bullet for the struggles and pressures of ministry. It’s a long term multiplying strategy—challenging Christians to make gospel work their life’s passion.
MTS specifically involves local churches in a number of ways. It equips pastors through a series of workshops, conferences, and ongoing coaching by MTS staff. It provides training resources for churches through its website. The MTS Challenge Conferences, held for pastors and their potential apprentices, challenges men from the Word of God to make gospel preaching their life’s work and to consider their suitability for this calling. MTS also conducts regional training intensives for apprentices that focus on the godly life of the pastor as well as their theological, exegetical, and preaching skills.
At the heart of MTS is the invitation to potential gospel workers to participate in a two-year apprenticeship before entering theological education. Apprentices are paid a training scholarship to enable them to experience what it is like to be in full-time ministry. They minister alongside older, wiser gospel workers to learn what it means to preach the truth and live for Christ.
Since 1979, over 1200 apprentices have been trained in churches and campus ministries throughout Australia. Of these, 197 are currently engaged in theological study in various colleges, and another 366 men and women have completed their formal studies and are now serving as full-time ministry workers worldwide.
One of the big questions we are often asked is “Why bother with the apprenticeship?” Given that we send our apprentices on to formal theological study, why is the apprenticeship needed? It’s a big sacrifice for ministry candidates to spend an extra two years training and it’s a big task for pastors and churches to provide mentoring and remuneration for apprentices who are often raw and untested. What benefits have we seen for those who do a ministry apprenticeship? Here are a few reflections.
The apprenticeship is not a formal program or curriculum. The paradigm is not an educational method but rather a parent raising a child. Paul, with great warmth and affection, repeatedly describes Timothy as his son. “But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the Gospel” (Phil. 2:22).
Paul was a model for Timothy not only in his teaching, but also in the whole of life, especially in suffering. “You, however, have closely followed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them” (2 Tim. 3:10-11).
Apprentices need to see into the heart of their pastor-trainers—the sins and confession, the fears and faith, the visions and realities, the successes and failures. Trainers need the humility to honestly share their lives. This happens as they serve together in the work of the gospel, but also in the home, where they are no longer the public preacher and ministry leader, and the professional persona has dropped away.
MTS is all about passing on the gospel baton to the next generation of runners. In God’s kindness he has raised up many runners who will pass the baton on to many more. We give him thanks and praise.
Colin Marshall is the national director of Ministry Training Strategy. For more on the Ministry Training Strategy, read Colin Marshall’s book, Passing the Baton, or go to www.mts.com.au.
©9Marks
Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way, you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction, and you do not make more than 1,000 physical copies. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be explicitly approved by 9Marks.
Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: ©9Marks. Website: www.9Marks.org. Email: info@www.9marks.org. Toll Free: (888) 543-1030.