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If
you have seen the list of studies we hope that you feel excited
about the possibilities of adding a training school to your
church,
cell group or mission. It's a decision that you would never
regret.
What shall you do next ?
Here
are some of the answers, but remember that the promise of God
is that if you will acknowledge Him in all your ways,
He will direct your paths. See Proverbs 3,5-6.
We are ready to
help you to start a 2 Timothy 2.2 style training centre
because we know how very cost-effective this model of training
can be.
You may e-mail us to share your plans and ask for advice.
Your First Decision
Your first decision is whether you want SEAMIST Missions Training Center Certificates of Completion or to do the course independently. All information below still applies, but there are some differences. If you want SEAMIST Missions Training Center (SMTC) Certificates, then you will need to register your group with the SMTC office. Don't worry, it is not difficult. You simply need to request the Group Study Registration Package from rizza@seamist.org . She will e-mail you all the necessary materials.
When you receive her e-mail, you will fill out a few simple forms, recruit one or more supervisors, print out some student and supervisor materials, and decide when to start your school. None of this is difficult, but it does mean some work on your part. You need to know that the Lord wants you to lead the school and be committed to making it successful.
If you only want to use the lessons for independent group study, then you can get all of the information you need from The DCI Trust on their website. They will give you information on choosing supervisors and giving your own certificates. The full set of lessons and exams are available for download at their website. Although SMTC will not issue Certificates of Completion for your school, we always accept Missions Bible Course transcripts from any school that issues them under The DCI Trust's guidelines, and award 32 credit hours towards any SMTC diploma.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do we need
a separate Bible School building?
Many
people think that a Bible School has to be a special building
with a Cross on the top. The structure of this course helps
you to avoid such big expenses because it is designed to be
done in a home, in a hall or even under a shady tree, with
minimum expenses. This is particularly important for people
who live in countries where Christians are persecuted or poor.
Did you know that for the first 400 years after Jesus died
and rose again that the believers had neither church
buildings nor Bible School buildings, yet the church grew
very fast.
The 2 Timothy 2.2 principle is very effective.
One man teaches a small group of say 10 people, in a home.
- So 11 people know the word of the Lord
- Each of the ten passes on the learning to 10 others, in his home.
- Now 111 people have heard the word of the Lord.
- Each of the 100 meet with ten others to teach them in a home.
- Now 1,111 people have been learning, at almost no cost.
This is called Training by Multiplication, and although the figures can differ, the principle works all over the world, and succeeds. Lesson 66: A Discipling Church will teach you more about this principle.
2. Who should
come and learn?
God will
guide you as the pastor-teacher as you pray, but look for
enthusiastic, thoroughly converted men and women of all ages
and backgrounds who know that God is calling them to serve
Him. Loyalty is worth very much more than education or riches
so ask God for people who will become your friends. Pray for
people who will come and share your vision and sufferings,
joining you in the work, serving under your supervision. Say
no, or maybe next year, to people that you feel unsure about
after prayer. Trust the witness of God’s Spirit to your
spirit, He is never wrong.
Remember
that Jesus chose only 12 people to be his close disciples.
You do not
necessarily need to have more. Choose a few to begin with,
the right people and that is fine. More will come as word
spreads and that gives you time to become more proficient in
teaching and caring for them, and to raise up some of your
first students as assistants for the next course.
3. How should
I start ?
Study
these notes very carefully until you understand them in your
heart. They will teach you the simple principles that Jesus
and Paul used to see the early church grow by 'multiplying.'
- Pray to discover the best start up time.
- Meanwhile study the course yourself.
- Then like Jesus, after much prayer,
- You choose and invite your disciples.
- Agree the best time to meet.
- All of these have been tried in different countries and they work:
- Once a week for two years, that is 3 x 14 week terms with a 2 week break at Christmas, a 2 week break at Easter and a 6 week break at harvest time.
- Or 2 lessons a week for 1 year.
- Or 2 months in, 2 months back home.
- You decide what is best for you.
4. How do I run a class?
- Prepare your lesson in advance. If you do not, they will all know! Allow two hours for each session.
- Photocopy the lesson notes in advance, or students must take their own notes if they can write, or work hard to remember if they cannot.
- Be a House of Prayer for All Nations. Always begin with worship, praise and prayer. Psalm 100.
- As part of your worship and training make time for intercession for the nation that is given in each lesson. A different student each time can come prepared to lead the prayer and give more information about the nation.
- Then learn the memory verse together. It’s a good habit.
- Take turns to practice reading the Bible passages out loud.
- Teach the lesson in your language always taking time to find and read the Bible verses referred to. See the notes on how to teach.
- Afterwards let the people discuss what they have learned. Be careful to only guide and never dominate the conversation. A suggestion to start the talking is contained in each lesson.
- Explain the practical assignment to the students. Graduation in this course is by achievement not by academic ability or memorisation of the teaching.
- Do not allow any student to go on to the next lesson until they have done their practical work, unless they have a very good reason, such as illness. Each student must keep a record in a notebook of what they have done, the date, and the result, always initialled by you each week when you see it.
- The meditation is to do at home to unlock the treasures in God’s word.
- Explain the written homework for the students who want to qualify for the diploma. You should mark and return the work which should then be kept safe and clean for later use.
- Above all enjoy the Lord, enjoy being with each other and enjoy learning God’s word. Don’t be too serious and sober. Laugh a little, eat and drink together as friends.
5. How much
should the people pay?
This
course comes to you free, so, as Jesus says, "Freely you
have received, freely give." Matthew 10.8. Of
course the students should pay for expenses and their notes
but please do not sell the Word of God.
6. Will this
kind of training work?
In 1983,
Miguel Diez and his wife prayed, and began to preach to
street people in their town in Spain. Drug addicts,
prostitutes and criminals were saved and Miguel then taught
them these same principles of Discipleship, Evangelism,
Serving God, and Kingdom Economics. The new disciples worked
to bring in money for their group, witnessing day and night.
Today when many Spanish churches still have only 50 members,
Miguel has over 15,000 people, with missions in 42 nations.
John Joseph in India is seeing the beginnings of similar
results as his young men take the lessons back to the jungles
and the rural villages. Does it work ? After over 500,000
hits on this website since 1999, there are now many schools
springing up all over the world. The testimonies are many. It
works, and it will for you as well.
7. How do I teach the people ?
- The worst thing you can do is stand at the front and speak for an hour.
- When a person only hears a lesson he remembers very little of it, maybe 25%, and often less. When people see something that interests them, they remember maybe 50%, or more. When a person learns by doing something themselves, they remember nearly everything, and never forget it.
- Concentrate on this!
- People generally cease to concentrate after about twenty minutes, so have regular pauses and breaks. Ask people to tell each other what they have just learned. Get them, to stand, pray, stretch or walk about to restore the concentration level. Creativity is crucial.
- Enjoy your time together
- Have breaks after each session to talk and have coffee, soft drinks or tea. Find some biscuits, give out some sweets during the lesson. You will soon make friends.
- Vary the teaching methods
- Outrageous examples are never forgotten. Involve the people to the maximum. Let the students do drama sketches, sing or mime to illustrate your points. Use a blackboard to draw lots of diagrams, pictures and charts. Draw maps, pictures and bring objects to illustrate your lesson. Use music from cassettes, video, slides or films if you can. Get the students to work in small groups or to debate topics.
Above all, practice 2 Timothy 2.2 and arrange for those who have learned from you to go and repeat the lesson to another group, and encourage that group to go and tell others. In this way the word spreads widely and grows in power.
More Information about schools, supervision and diplomas
- This page is modified by SEAMIST from the original page with permission
- © Dr Les Norman |
www.worldchristians.org, UK
Permission is granted to provide copies at cost price for study purposes - but not for sale or commercial purposes. Freely you have received, so please freely give.