Information Evening Date Friday July 29 Time: 7pm At: ChristLife Church Training for Life ChristLife Ministry Training Centre
Our goals at ChristLife Ministry Training Centre are to equip you for gospel ministry in a variety of areas, to give you practical experience in conjunction with a variety of settings and within a particular congregation, and to open up future pathways for further ministry and/or extra training. Initially we would anticipate a 2 year commitment to training and practical work. The practical work will consist of fortnightly assignments, as applicable and oncea-month Sonday work in a local congregation putting into practice the skills and knowledge learned through the lectures. Opportunities for ministry continue to open up in rural and semi rural areas. While demand is high, supply of ministry minded and ministry capable people is lagging somewhat behind. Here at ChristLife Ministry Training Centre we aim to train up and equip people for gospel ministry in an holistic environment that nurtures and blesses the students while also blessing various congregations. Growing a servant heart
Each fortnight on Monday evenings, lectures will be held on a specified subject. Each subject will run for the length of school term, approximately 10 weeks. There will be four subjects per year. During each fortnight you will be given a practical and/or theoretical assignment to be completed for that fortnight and to be submitted at the next lecture. On the 4th Sonday of each month, it is envisaged that you will be actively involved in a local congregation putting into practice the skills that you have learned during the lectures. These practical exercises will be assessed by your supervisor and/or peers in the local congregation. Given that you will be gaining practical experience within a congregation for the length of the program, it is highly possible that future doorways to ministry will open up. It is also possible that some graduates from the program apply to various Bible colleges for further ministry training. Some may even apply to the Queensland Theological College to be considered for ministry candidacy should the Lord so lead. More blessed to give
Even though the Bible was written by many different authors over approximately 1500 years, there is one central thread tying all 66 books of the Bible together. As you grow in understanding of this meta narrative, your preaching and teaching of the Bible will deepen and mature. Your grasp of each section of the Bible and each book will grow and blossom. Rather than grasping at application, you ll be able to see Christ more clearly throughout the entire Scriptures, both Old and New Testament. Delve deeper into the structure and the story of the Old Testament, learning how it all fits together and more importantly how it points to and predicts the coming of Yeshua, the promised Messiah. Many people teach the Old Testament simply as moralising fables, much like Aesop s fables. As you grow in your understanding of the the Old Testament your teaching and preaching will come alive. Your quiet times will be richer and more meaningful than ever before. Rather than simply flipping open the New Testament to a particular page and reading one or two verses, a deeper understanding of the New Testament will allow you to reflect and spend precious quiet time hours consistently working through the New Testament. Rather than ignoring the more difficult passages, you ll be able to contextually analyse them and bring out a never-before experienced depth of meaning for yourself. Making an impact
Whether you are preparing for a Bible study, a children s talk, Sonday school or even for a sermon you need to understand the passage before you. By approaching the passage systematically you ll be able to draw out depths of the passage and make it come alive to those you are teaching. You ll understand the main point of each passage and how the sub points fit into that main point. You ll be able to illustrate and apply the passage in ways that you never dreamt were possible. Imagine being able to speak clearly and confidently about the Scriptures, even to the most hard hearted non-believer. Imagine being able to share Christ and to invite people into the kingdom. Imagine the thrill of seeing people come to Christ for salvation because of the message you shared with them. Learn how to use every day conversations and even social media to share your faith with an ever increasingly connected world. Is there a difference between pastoral care and just catching up with friends? Does God expect more than just chatting to people over coffee or lunch when we are responsible for their pastoral care? Is shepherding a gift or is it something each one of us can learn to be good at? Learn some secrets of effective biblical care. Reaching the community
Even the best church in the world won t grow if new comers aren t quickly and seamlessly integrated into the life of the church. Everyone has a role to play and everyone can be the vital link in encouraging new comers to stay at your church. As you sit through your local church service, have you ever wondered how it s all put together. What are the principles that have been put into practice? Why were certain songs/hymns chosen? There s a lot more that goes into preparing a service than you realise. Children in our churches should never be seen as a group that have to be removed before the real teaching happens. Our role is to nurture them and to grow them. A good kids talk engages the children, teaches them and grabs the adults as well. When you understand the historical accuracy of the Scriptures and the fallacy of the most common arguments rallied against Christianity, you ll be equipped to defend the faith and, more importantly, to challenge people to come into the faith. Equipped for ministry
Learn the principles that stand behind effective youth work and youth discipleship. Get a new youth group up and running or revamp an existing one. You ll be primed and ready to launch after this subject. Most churches run men s and women s ministries but have you ever considered what goes into planning these ministries and how a biblical gender specific ministry can be put together? Able to bless
My brother/sister in Christ, God s plan for the Christian church is that each person use their gifts and abilities to bless others and to edify them. 1 Corinthians 12:7 makes it exceedingly clear that each person has a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. With adequate training and support you can develop your ministry potential and bring out your best so that God is glorified and the saints are edified. You can be a key link in the growth and maturation of other believers. You can be a source of blessing and enrichment to countless others. By enrolling in this program you are taking a vital step in reaching the world for Christ and ministering for His glory. May you be greatly enriched as you serve. Pastor Esa Hukkinen. Bring out your best Equipped for Kingdom Ministry.