Introducing the Online World Directory of Missionary Training

In 1995, under the auspices of the WEA Mission Commission and the International Missionary Training Fellowship (now the International Missionary Training Network) Ray Windsor  published the World Directory of Missionary Training Programmes: a catalogue of over 500 missionary training programmes from around the world.  The expense of updating and printing new catalogues did not permit this book to be published as a print resource again. But 14 years later, the IMTN is re-introducing the concept. 

Ian Benson, the IMTN’s new Associate Director of Information Service, brings to us a hefty resource – The Evangelical Training Database. This collaborative effort will provide to our network a searchable collection of missionary training programs.  Dedicated missionary training programs and theological degree programs with a missiological major or minor are welcome to become a part of the new World Directory of Missionary Training

One advantage of this registry is that institutions can easily update their own information and provide as much, or as little contact information as they desire.  Even though this database offers free self-registration and maintenance of data, controls are in place to ensure that these schools exist and are properly categorized.  Although there are many schools and programs listed in the TraingforChrist.org database, the process of adding legitimate programs to the World Directory of Missionary Training has just begun.  So, spread the word and let missionary training schools and programs know that they can get free exposure to their programs by becoming part of the World Directory of Missionary Training.

To become a part of this fabulous resource, your program needs to be registered on our shared database.  To do this you must first register your training program on the Evangelical Training Database at TrainforChrist.org.  Once your program is registered on the TrainforChrist.org database (or if it is already registered), please request registration on the World Directory by completing the online form.   

Because the World Directory of Missionary Training is a recent initiative of the IMTN there are only a few programs categorized as belonging to the directory.  We want to encourage all Currents readers to share this E-zine with known missionary training programs to create awareness of this new directory and to get qualified schools registered or categorized under the WDMT.  You can spread the word by forwarding this E-zine or by going to the World Directory of Missionary Training page using the “email this page” link to send the page to your colleagues and friends.

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The European Evangelical Missionary Alliance Calls for Training

During the very well attended meetings of the European Evangelical Missionary Alliance, held in conjunction with the European Evangelical Alliance General Assembly (Spain – April 21-24, 2009), training was expressed as a significant need for incoming missionaries and ethnic church workers in the European context.  Recognizing that the changing population of Europe, coupled with the strong secularization of society, has created a unique context where many European countries are both a mission field and a mission force.  The European Evangelical Missionary Alliance encourages mission from, to and in Europe.

Many gifted Evangelical church and mission workers have come to Europe to serve the Lord in this rich intercultural environment.  Testimonies of great effectiveness were also sprinkled with anecdotes of cultural insensitivity and ineffective methodologies of outreach and discipleship.  While praising the successes, the EEMA called for better cross-cultural preparation or in-service training to help these well intentioned servants achieve greater effectiveness.

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Online Courses Reach Around the World

In September 2008 the IMTN began sponsoring an online missionary training / mobilization course based on the book Working Your Way to the Nations.  Though initiated as an experiment to understand the feasibility of offering missionary training over the Internet as a support to IMTN members, the increasing interest and growing student body proved encouraging.  May 15, 2009 marks the beginning of the third course offered online at www.mywaytothenations.org. 

Jonathan Lewis pilots this project and comments “It has not been our intention to continue offering this course directly to students. In essence, we have been beta testing the materials and Internet delivery methods in order to create a resource for our training community. We are encouraging mission agencies and churches to look into this resource as a means of cultivating and developing candidates whether or not they are specifically intending to become “tentmakers” in the classical definition of the term. The course promotes a discipleship approach to candidate development with strong emphasis on the student developing mentoring relationships as they work through the self-evaluations that are a part of the course, and take responsibility for growth and readiness for service. The IMTN is happy to host the course for interested, qualified trainers, churches and agencies wishing to utilize this resource.”

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Assessing the Potential for Online Assessments

Many excellent assessment tools already exist and can be easily adapted for online use.  One such instrument was developed by Steven Spinella called an International Values Inventory and can be used by multi-cultural teams to analyze the different cultural values of team members.  Gateway Missionary Training Centre has used this instrument for some years in their module “Understanding Culture” and together with a former student, are working with the IMTN to make this available online.  A computer based program was beta tested this past April and we are now working on phase three – making the IVI assessment Internet ready.

The Next Step developed an assessment instrument called the Missionary Training Assessment which is designed to be used by training programs or schools to assess their effectiveness in providing missionary training.  This tool was published in the book Integral Ministry Training Design and Evaluation (Brynjolfson and Lewis Eds., William Carey Library, 2007) and can be accessed for preview at www.wearesources.org or for registered users of www.theIMTN.org by clicking here.  Permission to publish this as an online assessment form was requested and granted and we hope that in the coming months this instrument will be the next to go online.

Expressions of interest in this project are welcome, especially if you have developed an assessment tool and would be willing to make that available online for other missionary trainers or training programs.  Click here to use a form to provide feedback.

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Regionalization of the IMTN

During the IMTN meetings held in Pattaya (Oct. 2008) interest was expressed to develop regional networks of missionary trainers.  South East Asia and Europe both expressed an interest in developing a regional network.  While attending the European Evangelical Mission Alliance (EEMA) meetings in Spain this subject was explored with Martin Lee and Wolfgang Beusing, leaders of the EEMA.  There is a sense of need for this network as older sending countries struggle with traditional programs for missionary training and newer sending countries are in the throes of developing new training initiatives. We are beginning to explore the possibility of an IMTN consultation for Europe in 2010 that would bring European trainers together for mutual encouragement and resourcing. . 

Do you have an opinion?  Click here to open a response form and let us know what you think about the subject.

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Ebb 'n Flow (the calendar):

• April 21-24 Jonathan Lewis and Rob Brynjolfson, who were already in Spain for other meetings were able to attend the European Evangelical Alliance General Assembly and enjoyed meeting with the European Evangelical Missionary Alliance.
• April 13-14 Rob Brynjolfson visited Cornerstone Bible College for Mission Training in Beugen, Netherlands and gave a workshop on developing appropriate learning activities that fulfill expressed learning outcomes.
• July 13-16 Jonathan Lewis and Rob Brynjolfson will be at the Campos Blancos training centre in Cordoba, Argentina to teach Integral Ministry Training Design and Evaluation for Spanish speaking trainers. Please click here to contact Rob for further details.

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