The North West Ministry Training Course
When the Bible is taught God's voice is heard. Teachers who 'rightly handle' the Word of truth are essential in today's church. Whether in the congregation, home group, children's club or youth group, indeed wherever the Bible is taught, we need people who can teach God's Word in the power of the Spirit.
For some years the Cornhill Training Course in London and the Northern Cornhill Course in Sheffield have offered a course that seeks to train men and women for this task. In September 2003 a course following a similar programme and using 'Cornhill' material started in the North West of England. Currently there are 110 students doing the course.
Since it began the course has developed a second year and in September 06 started an evening training course for those who would love to receive training to equip them to teach the Bible but can’t take a day out to do it.
About the daytime course...
The North West Ministry Training Course runs for three terms of ten weeks and will be run in two venues for 2011-2012:
Thursday's at St Andrew's Church in Leyland from 10am - 4pm.
Tuesday's at 2 Blackburne Place, Liverpool from 10am-4pm
The first year consists of 4 strands:
• Biblical Theology
Over the first two terms an overview of the whole Bible will be taught. In the third term we will look at how to think theologically about a range of topics from the perspective of the whole Bible.
• Exposition
After covering the basic tools of interpreting and applying the Bible passage there will be worked expositions through a number of Bible books. We will seek to work out how to teach a Bible passage from different types of Bible literature as well as learning how to understand whole books of the Bible.
• Practical Ministry
Visiting lecturers will bring their own expertise on a whole range of practical aspects of ministry. From 'how to put a church meeting together' to 'how to explain the gospel to other people'. This strand will anchor what we learn in the real situations we find ourselves in teaching God's Word.
• Hands-on Training
Each week we will teach the Bible to one another. Each student will have opportunities to teach Bible passages and receive encouragement and feedback.
The second year
There is an optional second year that builds on what is learnt in the first year. In the place of Biblical Theology, we look at Systematic Theology. Further, we take the students in an in depth study of Romans through the year. Expositions and Hands-on training seek to look at less familiar parts of the Bible, and also seek to show how to teach 'evangelistically'. The second year will be held on Thursday's at St Andrew's Leyland.
Course Leaders
The course is led by Justin Mote. Justin taught on the Cornhill Training Course in London for a number of years and is known as a Bible teacher. He has had twenty years experience of pastoral ministry in a variety of churches, most recently on the Wirral. Justin is supported by Andrew Evans, Minister of Christ Church Liverpool.
There are a number of other 'regular' lecturers, including Danny Rurlander, Bob Marsden, David Gibb, Daf Merion-Jones, Andy Greenhough to name a few. Julia Marsden, and Jo Mote help lead women's workshops.
The Students
The course is open to men and women of evangelical conviction of all ages who want to be better equipped to teach the Bible in a variety of contexts. It is ideal for those serving apprenticeships, youth workers in local churches and those considering full time Christian ministry. However, it is ideal for others who have opportunities to teach the Bible and who have a desire to be better equipped for it. Currently our students range in age from 20 to 70!
Taking it further...
The cost of the course for the year is £480. This covers all course material
The next intake will be September 2012.
About the evening course......
The daytime Ministry Training Course has proved a useful means of training people to teach the Bible. However not everyone set aside a full day a week to train in this way. The evening course opens up the training provided to a much wider group of people. The evening starts at 7.00pm and finishes at 9.45pm.
The venues for 2011-2012 are:
Monday's at Holy Trinity, Oswestry 7pm-9.45pm
Thursday's at All Saints, Preston 7pm-9.45pm
What happens?
Each evening consists of three strands:
• Biblical Theology
Over the first two terms an overview of the whole Bible will be taught. In the third term we will look at how to think theologically about a range of topics from the perspective of the whole Bible.
• Exposition
After covering the basic tools of interpreting and applying the Bible passage there will be worked expositions through a number of Bible books. We will seek to work out how to teach a Bible passage from different types of Bible literature as well as learning how to understand whole books of the Bible.
• Hands-on Training
Each week we will teach the Bible to one another. Each student will have opportunities to teach Bible passages and receive encouragement and feedback.
The cost of the course for the year is £300. This covers all course materials.
Please send all completed application forms to
Lou Hunter
North West Ministry Training Course
St. Andrew's Parish Office
Worden Lane
Leyland PR25 3EL
01772 422266
Lou@northwestpartnership.com