Possible BTCP Applications

After a decision has been carefully and prayerfully made to begin BTCP, it will be necessary to take the following steps:

       Students can be secured in a number of different ways:

At least 2-4 months prior to the expected starting date a student screening committee should be established consisting of 3 or more men who are qualified and knowledgeable concerning local church pastoral ministry. The screening committee will:

    Teachers should be selected who ate able to teach and are familiar with the local culture and pastoral ministry and who are faithful, reliable men who are committed to making disciples and training pastors using the BTCP program. Teachers are chosen individually and do not necessarily have to possess particular academic credentials. While the content of BTCP is "academically sound" the approach is not "academically oriented". BTCP teachers are usually missionaries or national pastors.

Teachers must:

In appropriate circumstances teachers may receive an agreed to honorarium, expense allowance, or other compensation.

Teacher training will depend on the experience and qualifications of the potential teachers and the specific needs of the local situation. Training will usually consist of 1-3 days of intensive equipping, attendance in existing BTCP classes where available and personal instruction when required. Some supervised "practice teaching" and observation may be included. A Teacher Training and Orientation Manual will be supplied which includes hints on teaching each individual course.

"Sample" class sessions may also be conducted as a part of teacher training. Teacher training will normally be accomplished within 1-2 months prior to the start of classes. The teacher-student ratio should be kept to a maximum of 1 to 20 whenever possible, with 1-15 being preferable. Where a BTCP teacher who cannot stay more than 6 weeks starts a new program, the goal will be to identify and train a local teacher to carry on the program after that first 6 week term.

In order for the teacher to be able to personally evaluate the progress of each student at least 2 personal interviews and review of course manual assignments are normally required. These evaluation interviews are usually conducted at the halfway point of the term and at the end. The teachers will personally evaluate the ability of the students to grasp the basic concepts, principles, and truths and to practice the skills. Where "grades" must be given, they can be based on attendance, classroom performance and the manual assignments.

The actual number of teachers will depend on the number of students and streams or tracks of study offered.

This approach will work well in areas where there are English speaking national pastors. Where language is a problem the planned strategy will be to first teach bilingual national pastors and teachers all 10 courses so they can then teach non-English speaking persons via translation or otherwise. Those nationals so trained will become master-teachers to train the national pastors. It may also be possible to arrange for translation of the manuals along with an "NIV Study Bible Study Helps Manual" for use with a national language text Bible. This supplement is now complete and includes introductions and outlines, study notes, a simplified cross-reference system, a concordance and index to study notes.

The BTCP training is transferable. A teacher who has taught one or more courses can easily orient and train other teachers and at least 25% of the students should be capable of becoming teacher/trainers.

Any number of different class schedules can be designed to meet the needs of the local site.

       Normally the most desirable schedule for teaching BTCP is a full day time program which consists of teaching 2 courses in each of 5 six week terms with 2-3 week breaks between terms. In this event, all 10 courses can be completed in less than 1 year. A suggested daily schedule is found on p. 11 of each course manual. The number of pages or sections covered per class session (or day) will depend on the length of the course manual and the number and length of each class session. (See p. 10 of each course manual.) The Teacher's Training Manual has specific hints for teaching each course.

       However, the schedule and pace of teaching can be modified and adapted to fit the needs of a particular BTCP site.

For example:

Based on existing BTCP programs each course will require the following number of class hours:

The students will also read through the text of The NIV Study Bible on a scheduled basis.

Course manuals range in length from 100 to 300 or more pages, with a total of 2244 pages plus the Appendix. The actual number of hours for each course and the pace at which particular courses are taught will vary depending on the skill of the teachers and the ability of the students to understand and assimilate the content.

In addition, for each class session 1 to 1-1/2 hours of reading, review and assignments must be set aside. Normally this directed study time should follow immediately after the class session (or day) and will include only the material (number of pages) covered in the just completed class session.

The BTCP program is very intense for both teachers and students and will require both "getting in shape physically, mentally and spiritually" with regard to study and discipline.

In order to maximize learning, properly selected, arranged and equipped classrooms must be provided. Also space will be needed for an assembly/ chapel time with room for combined classes if there are more than one.

Classrooms should be set up with the following:

The BTCP site should be strategically and conveniently located near public transportation. A neutral site which does not have too close an association with a particular church or denomination is preferable. This will insure that the location itself is not a hindrance to trans-denominational training.

If at all possible the BTCP facilities should be located in existing buildings which can be used for little or no cost.

Although BTCP is normally a non-resident program, kitchen facilities may be desirable in a full time schedule.

The cost of BTCP will vary depending on the following factors:

The total cost of the BTCP training year should be reflected in a carefully prepared budget which is then allocated among the number of students. It is highly recommended that each pastor/student or his sponsoring church or the supporting organization pay at least a portion of the required fees. Those who benefit directly or indirectly should bear the costs.

Current experience indicates that costs vary from $250-1000 per man for the complete training depending on the location and whether full-time paid teachers are required. Without full-time paid teachers the cost is usually less than $300 per man.

At the present time, the cost of the NIV Study Bible is U.S. $8.00 each plus shipping from the U.S. The cost of the manuals is U.S. $10.00 each $100.00 for the entire set) plus shipping from the U.S. The total cost of materials (Study Bible, manuals and shipping) is normally $150 or less.

It is possible in most instances to secure some subsidy and funding for the training year or for individual students. No pastor should be denied training because of lack of money. Both promotional and descriptive brochures of the BTCP program are available.

A separate bank account should be established into which both local and outside funds can be deposited and paid out.

Any BTCP bank account must be maintained with proper integrity and security procedures. An annual accounting should be provided along with status reports for each term.

Normally, BTCP will produce and ship at its expense the course manuals to any specified U.S. address via U.P.S. It is the responsibility of the local BTCP site to arrange and pay for shipping course manuals from the U.S. to the overseas site.

NIV Study Bibles can be obtained directly from the International Bible Society, PO. Box 62970, Colorado Springs, CO 80962, U.S.A. Phone: (719) 488-9200. Fax: (719) 488-3840. (U.S. $8.00 currently for use in training pastors outside the United States.) IBS will usually ship at its expense to any specified U.S. address. It is the responsibility of the local BTCP site to arrange and pay for shipping NIV Study Bibles from the U.S to the overseas site.

A time schedule for ordering Bibles and manuals should be established to insure their timely arrival at the local site.

BTCP can be established in a number of contexts:

       as a pastoral training program sponsored by a local church overseas or in the U.S.
       as a pastoral training program sponsored by a mission agency or parachurch organization for a group of churches or in a designated location.
       by a missionary or national pastor who needs to train a limited number of national pastors.
       as a program to train church leaders in a church planting situation or missionaries before they leave for the field.
       as a one year certificate program or an extension class or a separate track or stream of study for pastors and lay pastors within an existing theological training institution, Bible College or seminary.