Training Modules | SeminaryApprenticeship

Non-Doctrinal Training Modules

Recommendation by Pastor Cliff Foster

Overview & Introduction: As we discover with many things in life, we don't know what we don't know. These Training Modules are designed to assist you to whatever depth of knowledge you consider that you need to conduct the ministry. However, from my experience as a Pastor, these Training Modules are necessary ministry skills & tools, but it is up to each Pastor to determine how much training and education they may require. Mentoring Pastors can add, change or remove any training topic they feel is unnecessary in the education of the Apprentice Preacher to complete the 3-yr Apprentice Certification.

Training Module 1: Familiarity with OT Hebrew Language

Introduction to Hebrew & Hebrew Language Tools: Pastors should be familiar with the basic mechanics of the Hebrew language, and how to recognize letters and words. The familiarity of the language allows the utilization of language tools and resources to research complex passages and explore conflicts in text interpretation or doctrinal conflicts.

Recommended Training:

Website: Learn Biblical Hebrew with Jeff Benner

Course Name: How to do a Word Study without Knowing Hebrew ($150)

Time Commitment: 18 hours

Further Reading:

Training Module 2: Familiarity with NT Greek Language

Introduction to Greek & Greek Language Tools: Pastors should be familiar with the basic mechanics of the Greek language, and how to recognize letters and words. The familiarity of the language allows the utilization of language tools and resources to research complex passages and explore conflicts in text interpretation or doctrinal conflicts.

Recommended Training:

Website: Learn Biblical Greek with Bill Mounce

Course Name: Option A - Greek for the Rest of Us ($89)

Time Commitment: 16 hours

Further Reading:

Training Module 3: Pastoral Counseling

During the tenure of the Pastoral Ministry, a Pastor may be called upon to conduct a variety of counseling activities, such as Marital Counseling, Parental Counseling, Grief counseling (Individual or Group), etc. There are two educational parts to this Training Module:

Part A: Pastoral Counseling -vs- Clinical Counseling:

Understanding the difference between Pastoral Counseling and Clinical Counseling is vital. Formal Clinical Counseling should be conducted by a qualified & licensed counselor, for a variety of reasons, in order to address Emotional Traumas or Psychological issues. Untrained Pastors trying to conduct Clinical-type Counseling risk making the problems worse. Pastoral Counseling should focus on the spiritual understanding of the problem at hand. Pastors are the spiritual authority on understanding the framework of the problem from a biblical perspective. The more in line we live within the Bible, the less friction will exist between two believers; even still, some problems should be referred to a licensed professional.

Demarcation Examples:

Marital Counseling – Depending on the problem, Pastoral Counseling might focus on biblical roles of husband & wives, both roles are equal but have different applications inside the family. No one is more important than the other. If both spouses are striving for God, then both will grow closer because marriage is a godly gift. If sin -or- rebellion against God is present in the marriage, then both spouses will grow apart and, therefore, greater friction will occur between spouses. Clinical Counseling should address spousal abuse*, traumatic events encountered by a spouse, etc.

Parental Counseling – Depending on the problem, Pastoral Counseling might focus on the biblical roles of husband & wives, the two shall be one. Therefore, parental efforts should be a unified front in the application of decisions, discipline, and other problems. Clinical Counseling should address child abuse*, loss of a child (parental grief), trauma at school, children’s disabilities (physical/mental) & learning to cope with those disabilities.

Service Members/ First Responders – Depending on the problem, Pastoral Counseling may focus on hypothetical moral dilemmas or working through the spiritual contradiction with performance of the duties and their feelings of committing sin in the execution of those duties. Clinical Counseling should address traumatic events to the person, the effects of witnessing trauma, post-traumatic disorders, etc.

Part B: Pastoral Counseling Basics:

As stated above, there are many scenarios in which a Pastor may need to conduct Pastoral Counseling*. A Pastor should be familiar with the basics & mechanics of spiritual or Christian Counseling. What is the purpose & goal of Counseling? What are the mechanics to conduct a counseling session? Learn how to protect yourself during the course counseling.

Recommended Training:

Website: Presence College - Faith-Based Online Certifications

Course Name: Christian Counseling ($97)

Time Commitment: 40 hours & Certification

Further Reading:

(*) Note - In many states, Pastors are mandatory reporters for abuses and endangerment. Every Pastor should be aware of their state's legal requirements and reporting protocols.

Training Module 4: Suicide Prevention Basics

During the tenure of the Pastoral Ministry, a Pastor may be called upon to intercede with a person contemplating suicide; such as a church member, relative of a church member, secular coworker who know you are a Pastor, etc. Formal counseling should be conducted by a trained professional, but a Pastor must know what to do to stabilize the person, how to get them to professional help, and what are resources available to a Pastor.

Recommended Training:

Website: QPR Institute - Practical and Proven Suicide Prevention Training

Course Name: QPR Gatekeeper Training (Basic $30 -or- Plus $60, the preferred)

Time Commitment: 3 hours & Certification

Further Reading:

Suicide: The Forever Decision, Dr. Paul Quinnett

Training Module 5: Death Notifications & Grief Counseling

During the tenure of a Pastoral Ministry, you will inevitably have to notify a next-of-kin that loved one has died. In many cases, you will deliver the news to the church membership, depending on the closeness of the congregation and the love for the person who died, it can be just like notifying a next-of-kin. Delivering such news can be awkward and uncomfortable, and yet Pastors are expected to know how to conduct such notification and be ready to tend to the emotional needs of the one losing the loved one. In some cases, a Pastor may need to help the church itself to grieve the loss of a church member. This Training Module has two parts:

Part A: Death Notifications

Understanding the basic elements of a Death Notification is important, for many reasons. More importantly is understanding the frame of mind of the loved one in that moment and how to minister to the person is vital.

Recommended Training:

Website: Emergency Resilience - Courses

Course Name: Death Communication & Death Notification ($39)

Time Commitment: 3 hours

Part B: Grief Counseling

Understanding the five stages of grief is important to the ministry of the person, even outside any formal Pastoral Counseling. Through time and variety of interactions, you will be able to minister to the loved one who is grieving the loss.

Recommended Training:

Website: IACRT - Available Courses

Course Name: Grief following Trauma (price varies)

Time Commitment: 2-day course & certification

Further Reading:

Training Module 6: Pastoral Preventative Self-Care

Pastors are some of the worst people to practice preventative self-care to prevent acute trauma and burnout. Pastors are quick to sacrifice themselves for the ministry leading to their own emotional trauma and burnout. This Training Module will be focused on educating Pastors about impacts to accumulative stresses, understanding coping mechanisms and how to increase your own coping capabilities.

Recommended Training:

Website: ICISF - Online Courses

Course Name: The Secrets of Psychological Body Armor ™ – Holistic Wellness for Emergency Personnel ($125)

Time Commitment: 1-day course

Further Reading:

Training Module 7: Early Church History

The modern proverb is that those that don't study history is doomed to repeat it. Therefore, it is necessary for Pastors to be familiar with Early Church history. The study of Early Church (prior to 325AD) is a study of division among the Early Church, and the Baptist denomination has repeated these divisions several times. Today, each major denomination of Christianity today all point back to Early Church history as the legitimate strain of Christianity, and familiarization of the Early Church history is familiarization to the division of the Early Church to the Western division of Christianity (primarily represented as modern American denominations & Roman Catholic), Eastern division of Christianity (primarily representative as Eastern Orthodox & Oriental) and Southern division of Christianity (primarily represented by Alexandrian & Ethiopian).

Recommended Training:

Website: Christian Leaders Institute - Free Online Church History Course

Course Name: Early Church History Course (free)

Time Commitment: 3 credit hours (self-paced)

Further Reading:

Training Module 8: Ministry at Different Stages

This Training Module will be a series of video Panel Interviews with several veteran Pastors to explore, discuss and impart practical ministry experience through the various stages of a local church congregation. Each stage provides unique ministry challenges and opportunity for growth and ministry. An Apprentice Preacher may find themselves called to Pastor in any of these situations.

- New Mission or New Church, likely a small core group and no permanent location

- Young Church or Small Congregation, likely a couple of core families and maybe a newly established building

- Mature Church or Large Congregation, likely a large active membership and it is well known in the community

- Well Established Church that has declined to a few members through attrition or an event in the congregation's history

Recommending Training:

Website: "video series coming in 2026"

Course Name: Practical Ministry in various stages of the Local Church Congregation

Time Commitment: 4 hours

Bonus Module: Gear List for the Pastorate

Like you would expect at any trade craft or job, there are essential tools that are unique to that profession. Here is a list of ten things, a Preacher should have to conduct the ministry of the Pastorate; a proverbial gear list.

Gear List for the Pastorate (pdf)

PDF – 65.8 KB 16 downloads

Download