The PASTORAL TRAINING INSTITUTE is designed as a “church-based” equipping and training ministry, not a formal educational institution. The training we provide can be described as “non-formal” equipping for ministry. Practical understanding and implementation of Bible knowledge and ministry skills is the objective—not academic knowledge, credentials, or achievement.

The focus of the PASTORAL TRAINING INSTITUTE manuals is on biblical principles, truths and concepts, not facts and the accumulation of knowledge. An underlying premise in developing the materials is that the content has been reduced to an “irreducible minimum” taking a “bottom line” approach, i.e. if in practice pastors and leaders do not need to know something or cannot use it, then that has been omitted. Obviously, subjective selectivity was involved in the process.

The basic teaching/learning process utilized in the PASTORAL TRAINING INSTITUTE is best described as an “ongoing process of assimilation” of knowledge and skills in a relational/interactive context without the use of traditional testing/measuring devices (i.e. – exams, term papers, etc.). The students hear, see, study and personally practice what they are learning via class time, review and re-statement, the study/reading periods and their ministry involvements. Question and answer times at the end of individual class sessions or the day are often used to confirm learning. The first 11 pages of each manual should be referenced for further guidance on how to approach teaching each course.

Student motivation comes not from grade point averages, or fear of failure on exams, but instead from a of personal desire to be biblically equipped and trained for effective pastoral ministry.

Without written permission the PASTORAL TRAINING INSTITUTE program cannot be taken in part but must be accepted in its entirety with course manuals, an approved Study Bible, philosophy, concept and methodology. Material cannot be deleted or added nor can other educational/academic requirements be imposed. No other textbooks, handouts or library resource materials are used in the PASTORAL TRAINING INSTITUTE. These restrictions are necessary to ensure the integrity of the program, the purity of the teaching, and the transferability of the content.

The PASTORAL TRAINING INSTITUTE is the full course of study of all ten manuals, which is designed for men who are called as pastors, lay pastors, church planters, missionaries, evangelists, elders or deacons. The curriculum makers will not allow pastoral level teaching for women, so this course is for men only.