The Need for Cross-cultural Leadership Training:
Why FEBInternational is developing
the CLTP program
“We no longer need ‘general practitioner’ missionaries here.” This comment from an experienced FEBI missionary points to an important reality in missions today: the need for quality personnel who can provide “value added” ministry. A guiding principle to validate the expense and sacrifice of cross-cultural missions is that the missionary be able to contribute to the advancement of God’s kingdom in significant ways that are not presently evident among the believers in a particular people group. Commitment to Christ, spiritual passion and ability to communicate the gospel are prerequisites to any missions endeavor, but without appropriate preparation and training, the result can be redundancy, ineffectiveness and frustration.
During the time my wife and I spent as evangelists and church planters in Pakistan (1985-1995), several people came to faith in Christ, but we were unable to plant a church. A primary reason for this failure was the inability to recognize that our concept of “church” required significant adjustment within that unique cultural setting. While we were frustrated by our failure to guide a group of believers into an identity as a local body of Christ, God worked apart from us in the life of one believer who now leads a “church” within his family structure. Through appropriate preparation, training and guidance we may have been able to recognize such potential earlier and our period of ineffectiveness and frustration could have been avoided.
The CLTP program is the preferred means to equip people from our FEBCC churches for cross-cultural ministry with FEBInternational.
Through CLTP and in conjunction with Northwest Baptist Seminary, qualified individuals have the opportunity to become productive and effective ministers of the gospel through a mentored, experienced-based program of study that is missiologically and theologically sound.
CLTP means Experience-based Holistic Training.
CLTP takes place within a cross-cultural ministry setting for most of the three year program, including eight months on a FEBInternational field. Besides the necessary academic disciplines and concern for spiritual growth, language and culture learning skills are developed along with proficiency in teamwork and interpersonal relationships. Effective and transforming ministry begins with a training program that integrates relevant teaching with real ministry. Theory is wedded with hands-on experience to ensure the missionary intern truly develops those skills required to provide “value-added” ministry.
CLTP means Financial Viability.
Through acceptance as a FEBInternational intern, the opportunity not only arises for the student to complete the master’s program debt-free, but they are guided in developing a support base that facilitates rapid transition into full time ministry.
But more than anything else, CLTP means Synergy in Partnerships…
…with Churches
An important characteristic of CLTP is the insistence upon local church involvement in the student’s development. Missions is the activity of the local church and this program allows FEBInternational to facilitate the missional vision of our churches through the training of those dedicated church members who have potential for cross-cultural ministry. FEBInternational is not just looking for candidates to join our mission, but seeking to enter into a true partnership with churches who want their best people at the forefront of worldwide gospel transformation.
…with Northwest Baptist Seminary (www.nbseminary.com)
Situated on the TWU campus at Langley, B.C., NBS provides the academic support structure for CLTP which includes program development, oversight and implementation leading to the completion of a Master of Arts in Christian Studies (NOTE: Students desiring to enter CLTP must have two years of formal post-secondary education or its equivalent as evaluated by NBS).
…with Ethnic Ministries in Canada and Internationally
Appropriate cross-cultural environments with viable ministries provide the context within which a variety of skills are developed. The language and culture of the people group for which the student is being trained will play a part in determining the setting.
…with Experienced Mentors
A key element to the success of the CLTP paradigm is the experienced cross-cultural ministry leaders who will be involved in mentoring the student through the process of integrating the academic learning to the challenges of real ministry.
…with Specialized Training Ministries
Organizations, such as Gateway (www.gatewaytraining.org), provide expertise in evangelism, interpersonal relationships and developing ethnographies.
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- If you or someone in your church could benefit from this program, or if you require further information, please contact Mark Naylor, Coordinator of International Leadership Development for Fellowship International and Northwest Baptist Seminary, via the form below.