The purpose of the Ministry Training Network (MTN) is to glorify the one true God who has revealed himself in his Son, Jesus Christ. We do this by training others to honour Christ and make him known, so they will then train others to do the same.
The Ministry Training Network:
• Provides a two year (ideally full-time) training experience specifically geared for the local church context.
• Promotes an evangelistic ministry model as standard for local church ministry.
• Promotes an equipping ministry model (see Eph 4:11-12) as standard for local church ministry.
• Recognises that this model of ministry is best learnt through a one-to-one traineeship (see 2 Timothy 2:2), with the trainee also meeting one-to-one with others they are training.
• Recognises the need for holistic training through three strands:
- theological reflection (head);
- personal godliness (heart);
- ministry skills (hands).
• Provides a pathway for people considering training at theological college to explore their ideal ministry trajectory.
• Encourages a flexible approach to each individual MTN experience. Alongside core ministry tasks such as giving talks, small group leadership, welcoming/evangelism and meeting one-to-one, a trainee may focus on such areas as kids, youth, university, music, men’s or women’s ministry.
• Supports trainers and trainees through ongoing coaching support and quarterly gatherings.
Preparatory Year
The decision to enter a two-year pre-college ministry apprenticeship is a very significant one. Ideally, it’s a decision that’s made (or is already being considered) twelve months ahead. The following should be undertaken in the preparatory year:
Meeting:
The trainer and trainee should start meeting one-to-one on a regular basis and the trainee should also start meeting one-to-one with the two people they will be training.
Reading:
The trainer and trainee should read together through God’s Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts (head), Growing Yourself Up by Jenny Brown (heart), and The Vine Project by Tony Payne and Colin Marshall (hands).
Planning:
At the end of the preparatory year, the trainer and trainee should mutually agree upon two goals/outcomes for the traineeship under each of the three strands of head, heart and hands.