BTCP/L
BTCP = Bible Training Centre for Pastors
Is a systematic, church-based, trans-denominational training program designed to provide foundational theological and ministry training for pastors and church leaders without removing them from their ministries, families, or cultures.
BTCP’s Focus
- Bible knowledge
- Ministry skills
- Spiritual growth
BTCL = Bible Training Centre for Church Leaders
A lay leadership version that uses 8 of the 10 courses for training church leaders that are not pastors.
Beginnings of BTCP/L
BTCP/L is a curriculum written by Dr. Dennis Mock. Here’s the story:
What do pastors need to know?
Dr. Dennis Mock asked himself this question on the plane home from Mombasa, Kenya, in 1988. He had just finished leading a conference for 93 pastors, none of whom had any formal training. How could the pastors be equipped for the work to which God had called them given the distance and expense of seminary?
From the burden that developed during his time in Kenya, Dennis spent 16 months writing a comprehensive curriculum of the irreducible minimum” in Bible knowledge and ministry skills. Those 3,000 hand-written pages became over 2,000 printed pages that in turn became 10 separate course manuals centered on the NIV Study Bible.
Dennis returned to Kenya in 1990 to teach the course to 20 pastors. His plan was to teach 20 African pastors a year. To that end, BTCP was almost called KBIP, Kenya Bible Institute for Pastors! However, the Lord has expanded the ministry through enthusiastic partners in more than 70 countries around the world.
The Need
The US Center for World Missions estimates that there are 2 million untrained pastors leading churches in the world today.
The Answer
CCI‘s BTCP tool has been used in many countries, especially in developing nations and have shown positive results in church planting and church growth. In Asia alone, the BTCP curriculum is used in Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, Fiji, New Zealand, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, and India. Other countries outside of Asia use the curriculum as well.
Why does BTCP / BTCL work well in developing countries?
Although the curriculum can be taught in developed countries such as in the United States, it is particularly beneficial in places where the leaders of the church are actively serving but have not yet been equipped.
Churches in many places in Indonesia are led by leaders who do not have sufficient knowledge of the Bible. This results in syncretism in the church, where Christian beliefs are mixed with traditional local beliefs not supported by Scriptures. Additionally, untrained leaders struggle to know how to best serve the members of their congregation.
BTCP/BTCL is easy to conduct because of these concepts:
Concepts
- Bible centered – primary text is the NIV Study Bible
- Non-formal – students are motivated for ministry, not academic credentials
- Comprehensive – covers the basics of a Bible college curriculum
- Transferable – qualified graduates are encouraged to train others
- Economical – the 10 course curriculum costs about $100 per person. In Indonesia, the 10 courses can purchased for Rp. 500.000 (~$50 US)
- Accessible – can be taught in most any setting over 1 to 2 years.
These concepts allow the clergy to receive the educational equivalent of theological seminary without a high cost and without having to leave their ministries and families.
The Philosophy of BTCP
Mission – Therefore go and make disciples…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Means – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful…so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped… (2 Timothy 3:16,17)
Method – It was He who gave some to be…pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service… (Ephesian 4:11,12)
Multiplication – And the things you have heard me say…entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others (2 Timothy 2:2)
