Overview & Introduction: These Apprentice Certification requirements are provided for Mentoring Pastors/Apprentice Preachers to conduct the Seminary Apprenticeship un-registered, if they so choose to do. However, it is recommended to register in order to receive the current version of the Apprenticeship Certification cards; and assistance with training materials; and the official certificate of completion upon the conclusion of the 3-yr Seminary Apprenticeship program. To register as participants in the Seminary Apprenticeship program, see the registration instructions on the 'Home' page.

3-yr Certification Activities:

 

Introduction:  The below list is the list of activities, studies and training topics to be completed over the course of the 3-yr Seminary Apprenticeship program. There are three subsections of activities to be completed by the Apprentice Preacher:

Section 1 - Doctrinal Education

Section 2 - Practical Ministry Activities

Section 3 - Non-Doctrinal Training Modules

 

Section 1- Doctrinal Education:

 

Part A. Baptist Identities - Taken from Trail of Blood by JM Carroll

"If in going down through the centuries we run upon a group or groups of people bearing these distinguishing marks and teaching them as fundamental doctrine" – JM Carroll

 

1. Christ, the author of this religion, organized his followers or disciples into a church. And the disciples were to organize other churches.

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

2. The organization or church only has two officers: pastors and deacons. Both the Pastor and deacons are to be selected by the church and serve the church.

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

3. The churches in the governance are to be entirely separate and independent of each other.

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

4. To the church were given two ordinances only: Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

5. Only the 'saved' (defined as first faith or first belief) were to be received as members of the church (Acts 2:47). These saved ones were to be saved by grace alone, without any works of the law (Ephes 2:5,8-9). These saved ones and they only to be immersed (Baptized) in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19). And only those thus received and baptized, to partake of the Lord's Supper, and the supper to be celebrated by the church membership, in church capacity.

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

6. The inspired scriptures are to be the rule and guide of faith and life for the church as an organization and the individual members of the organization.

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

7. Jesus Christ, the founder of this organization and the savior of its members, is to be the Lord, Lawgiver, and the head over the churches.

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

8. This religion of Christ is to be individual, personal, and purely voluntary, or through persuasion. No physical or governmental compulsion. A matter of distinct individual and personal choice.

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

9. That neither Christ nor his apostles ever gave to his followers what is known as a denominational name, unless the name given by Christ to John was intended for this purpose, "The Baptist."

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

10. Complete separation of Church and State. No combination or mixture of the spiritual religion with a temporal "Religious Liberty" for everybody.

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

Part B. Mentoring Pastor's Doctrinal Studies: This section is led by the Mentoring Pastor with no governance by the Baptist Seminary Apprenticeship program.

 

1. Mentoring Pastor has already developed -or- will develop a 'discipleship' outline that is geared towards teaching the Apprentice Preacher the primary Baptist doctrinal beliefs considered important to the local assembly.

Formal Discipleship Program exists -or- has been developed - (Signature/Date)

 

2. Apprentice Preacher has completed the Mentoring Pastor's discipleship program in its entirety, outlined by the Mentoring Pastor.

Discipleship Program is Complete - (Signature/Date)

 

Part C. Call-to-Ministry Studies - This section is to discuss and understand the "call" to the Ministry.

 

1. Moses’ Ministry Call: Discuss the feelings of being ill-equipped for the ministry and the provisions of God to fulfill the ministry.

Discussion text: Exodus 3:1-4:17 “… and Moses answered and said, but they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice …”

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

2. Jeremiah’s Ministry Call: Discuss the ministry call that feels like a wasted effort or certain failure, but the necessity to continue forward with the ministry.

Discussion text: Jeremiah 1:4-19 “…and they shall fight against thee…”

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

3. Ezekiel’s Ministry Call: Discuss the possibility of occupation change in order to fulfill the ministry. Ezekiel’s Occupation was a rancher in exile, but called to the ministry as a prophet, a new profession.

Discussion text: Ezekiel 1-2:10 “… son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me…”

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

4. Jonah’s Ministry Call: Discuss the possibility of being called to the ministry as foreign missions, or requiring to relocated to the geographical location of where the call might be.

Discussion text: Jonah 1:1 – 2:10 “… arise, go to Ninevah, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me…”

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

5. Elisha’s Ministry Call: Discuss the challenges and necessity of being called to the ministry field backfilling what may be perceived spiritual giant -or- an extra-long pastoral ministry requiring to measure up to perceived expectations.

Discussion text: 2 Kings 2:1-22 “… the spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him…”

Discussion Completed - (Signature/Date)

 

Section 2 - Practical Ministry Activities:

 

1. Preaching Experience: Monthly Apprentice Preacher should preach at their home church, but at least annually preach at another church by invitation or as arranged by the Mentoring Pastor:

Year One - (Signature/Date)

Year Two - (Signature/Date)

Year Three - (Signature/Date)

 

2. Evangelism Experience: Annually join the Mentoring Pastor for a dedicated evangelism effort to witness to unbelievers the gospel message; street evangelism, door knocking, or some other similar effort.

Year One - (Signature/Date)

Year Two - (Signature/Date)

Year Three - (Signature/Date)

 

3. Foreign Missions: Adopted a Foreign missionary and conduct regular correspondence with that missionary to provide at least annually an update to the church congregation.

Year One - (Signature/Date)

Year Two - (Signature/Date)

Year Three - (Signature/Date)

 

4. Baptism: Conduct a one-time Baptism service -or- simulate a Baptismal Service with Mentoring Pastor - (Signature/Date)

 

5. Lord's Supper: Conduct a one-time Lord Supper service -or- simulate a Lord Supper Service with Mentoring Pastor- (Signature/Date)

 

6. Business Meeting: Conduct a one-time Business meeting at your local church -or- simulate conducting a Business Meeting with Mentoring Pastor - (Signature/Date)

 

7. Church Letter: Generate an official church correspondence letter during the 3-year Apprenticeship, such as membership transfer, discipline, invitation, etc. - (Signature/Date)

 

8. Worship Preparation: No better way for an Apprentice Preacher to understand the importance of worship environment and the role of the Pastor as a servant of the church than an Apprentice Preacher conducting the janitorial tasks to prepare the church building for worship four Sundays in a row. Missing one Sunday resets the clock, and the Mentoring Pastor may require longer: Straighten books, sweep the floors, vacuum, clean the bathroom, take out the trash, etc.

1st Sunday - (Signature/Date)

2nd Sunday - (Signature/Date)

3rd Sunday - (Signature/Date)

4th Sunday - (Signature/Date)

 

9. Hospital Visitation: Conduct a one-time hospital visit with the Mentoring Pastor during the 3-year Apprenticeship to visit someone in the hospital - (Signature/Date)

 

10. In-Home Visitation: Conduct a one-time in-home visit with the Mentoring Pastor during the 3-year Apprenticeship to visit an existing Church Member and their family in their residence. - (Signature/Date)

 

Section 3 - Non-Doctrinal Training Modules:

 

This section is to certify the completion of each Non-Doctrinal Training Modules. Upon the completion of each Training Module, the Mentoring Pastor should conduct a debrief -or- after discussion of the training topic with the Apprentice preacher, imparting their additional wisdom and experience to the relevance of the training topic.

 

Module 1 Completed - (Signature/Date)

Conducted Debrief or After Discussion - (Signature/Date)

 

Module 2 Completed - (Signature/Date)

Conducted Debrief or After Discussion - (Signature/Date)

 

Module 3 Completed - (Signature/Date)

Conducted Debrief or After Discussion - (Signature/Date)

 

Module 4 Completed - (Signature/Date)

Conducted Debrief or After Discussion - (Signature/Date)

 

Module 5 Completed - (Signature/Date)

Conducted Debrief or After Discussion - (Signature/Date)

 

Module 6 Completed - (Signature/Date)

Conducted Debrief or After Discussion - (Signature/Date)

 

Module 7 Completed - (Signature/Date)

Conducted Debrief or After Discussion - (Signature/Date)

 

Module 8 Completed - (Signature/Date)

Conducted Debrief or After Discussion - (Signature/Date)

 

Certificate of Completion: