GAAMT encourages that each church or network develops its own training program in response to its context. At the same time, it often helps to see how other groups have structured their training. For this reason, GAAMT presents the curriculum of the Global Training Equipping Network (GTEN) as one reference model. GTEN shows how curriculum design and assessment can work together with implementation in local churches.

GAAMT offers the GTEN curriculum for study and reflection. Partners are free to develop their own materials or to adapt resources from other sources. Other programs may follow quite different structures and still be faithful to Scripture and suited to their own settings.

How the GTEN Curriculum Was Developed

The GTEN curriculum was developed within the life of the local church. Indian church leaders and curriculum designers led the work. They worked with pastors and trainers across many different contexts, and with mentors as well.

The curriculum grew out of long-term discipleship practice. It responds to gaps that the designers saw in biblical understanding and character formation, and also in ministry skills. It assumes that most learners learn while they serve. For this reason, training takes place alongside real church ministry. The curriculum was tested and revised through repeated use in churches.

Core Features of the GTEN curriculum

The GTEN curriculum is built around several commitments that match GAAMT's understanding of church-based training.

• Church ownership. Training takes place within the local church. Each participating church acts as a learning community that takes responsibility for teaching and mentoring, and for ministry supervision.

• Biblical theology. Scripture is taught as one unified story, with Christ at the centre. Courses rely on biblical stories and longer passages as the main teaching material.

• Simple content. The curriculum focuses on the core teachings of Jesus and the apostles. It uses Scripture itself as the main source.

• Integrated learning. Classroom teaching is combined with mentoring and active ministry. Ministry involvement is part of the learning process, and it counts toward course credit.

• Structured mentoring. Mentoring is expected in every course and receives credit. This design helps make mentoring a regular part of formation in the church.

• A Great Commission focus. Courses help learners move from being disciples toward discipling others in their own local context.

GTEN Program Structure

The GTEN program is a three-year, church-based program. Learners can leave at different stages and still receive a recognised qualification:

• One year: Certificate of Ministry

• Two years: Diploma of Ministry

• Three years: Bachelor of Ministry

Each year includes eight taught courses and one year-long course called Ministry-Based Learning. Each taught course carries four credits, and Ministry-Based Learning carries eight credits each year. Each year therefore totals forty credits, and the full program totals one hundred and twenty credits. Credits measure the whole of a learner's engagement, including ministry and mentoring as well as classroom hours. Credits remain valid if a learner pauses and returns later.

GTEN Curriculum Content

The courses are organised into five streams that continue across all three years. Each stream grows in depth from one year to the next.

• Learning the Bible. Learners move from the overall storyline of the Bible to the study of selected passages. In the third year, they study whole books such as Acts and the Pastoral Letters.

• Discipleship. Learners begin with the meaning of following Jesus. They then apply discipleship to family life and work, and later to spiritual leadership.

• Great Commission. Learners move from sharing the gospel to forming discipleship communities. They then learn to develop other leaders and sustain mission over time.

• Church and Community. Learners explore the church as a family and its place in society. They also study specific areas of church ministry.

• Preparation. Learners build skills for learning and ministry. These include study habits in the first year and teaching and preaching in the second year. In the third year they focus on pastoral care.

GTEN Course Design

Every GTEN course follows a common design so that it can be taught consistently in different places. Each course has eight classroom lessons of about two to three hours each. The lessons focus on engagement with Scripture and guided discussion, with less lecturing.

Each course also includes learning outside the classroom. This part has three components:

• Course-based ministry, in which learners apply the course in real ministry connected to their local church, under supervision

• One or two mentoring conversations, which connect the course with the learner's spiritual life and ministry

• A reflective project, which learners can complete in written, audio or video form

GTEN Faithfulness-Based Assessment

GTEN assesses learners on their participation and their growth over time. Each learner is assessed on their own engagement, without comparison to other learners. Students are trusted to report their participation honestly, and this honesty is treated as part of their formation.

GTEN uses badges in place of grades:

• A Gold badge shows that the learner completed all required components.

• A Silver badge shows that the learner completed some components, while others remained incomplete.

• A Bronze badge shows that the learner took part but did not meet the minimum requirements for credit.

Checklists record each learner's participation in classes and mentoring, along with ministry hours and projects. At the end of each year, each learner meets an external supervisor for a viva. In the viva, the learner talks about their goals and their learning over the year, and about their ministry involvement. Mentors and ministry supervisors also observe the learner's growth during the year.

Implementation in the Local Churches

Local churches and church networks run the GTEN curriculum. Local churches host learning groups called cohorts. They also take responsibility for teaching and mentoring, and for ministry supervision.

GTEN uses a cascading training model. Master trainers are trained at regional or national level. These master trainers then train cohort leaders, who lead the courses in local churches. Training for leaders focuses on how to facilitate learning and support mentoring. It also covers how to use the assessment tools.

Churches can choose how to deliver courses. Some teach weekly, while others use short intensive sessions followed by ministry and mentoring. Teaching takes place in local languages, with examples drawn from the local context.

Connecting with GTEN

GTEN shares its material on an open-source basis with Majority World groups. Partners are free to edit and adapt the courses to suit their own contexts. If you would like to connect with GTEN, GAAMT can help you. You can also visit the GTEN website at www.gten.church.

More Information

Appendix D of the GAAMT Accreditation Handbook gives a short summary of the GTEN model. The Handbook is available to potential partners on request from accreditation@gaamt.org.

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