The motto ‘Teach to Preach’ sums up PTI’s main purpose – helping men to preach the Word of God clearly and thoroughly. The Scriptures emphasise the importance of preaching and teaching as a means of bringing light and life in Christ to the lost, and encouragement and instruction to believers.

Pastor Training International is particularly focussed on serving rural pastors, especially those in the poorest areas who may not have had the opportunity for any structured training for ministry. But this is not a work that we could, or should, expect to fulfil entirely from the Western church alone. Therefore PTI will not only send out Western pastors to train indigenous ministers, but we will also aim to set up a network of local pastors who can proceed to equip others for their pastoral work.

To achieve its aims PTI offers in-country training courses, and regards itself as a servant of the churches whose spiritual welfare it seeks to assist. While maintaining its doctrinal standards and ethos, PTI will be flexible and adaptable to local and cultural needs.

Three types of course are currently envisaged, all of which will be introduced by expatriate trainers who have appropriate pastoral experience of their own. Normally lasting for five days, they are convened in locations that are accessible to as many local pastors as possible.

1. Pastors’ Refresher Course
The subjects include the importance of personal godliness, integrity, the nature and disciplines of preaching the Word of God, and various aspects of pastoral leadership and care. Some of the teaching is interactive, and as with each of the courses, the occasion is conducted in a spirit of worship and deepening fellowship. To achieve maximum value, the course would accommodate not more than one hundred participants.

2. Progressing to Maturity Course
This provides for a smaller group to consider in greater detail the responsibilities of a true pastor. It is an extension of the first course, with emphasis upon the principles of Biblical exposition. The preparation, structure, and application of the sermon are therefore included. The importance of the devotional life of the pastor and his example, together with consideration of contemporary Christian issues, also form part of this course.

3. Preparing to Train Pastors Course
These studies consist of training for trainers, and will therefore be available to men whose credible spirituality and gifting has been recognised during the previous courses. The subjects will be an advance and extension from courses 1 and 2, ranging from Biblical exegesis to training methodology. As with each of the PTI programmes, equipping Christian leaders to preach and teach the Word of God with passion and power remains the primary objective.

Training conferences during 2006

Training conferences during 2005