MTS: Background
Saturday, 13 January, 2007
A bit of background (particularly for the benefit of non-Sydney readers who have no idea what MTS is): MTS is a shorthand way of referring to ministry apprenticeship. MTS the organisation was started by Phillip Jensen and Col Marshall (so says the MTS handbook and the MTS handbook), and the goal was to train up young men and women for the ministry of God's word by first giving them the opportunity to get a taste of what it was like. Trainees were paired up with trainers who would help them to understand the Scriptures better and learn ministry by doing—having a go at things like leading (and organising) Bible study groups, preaching, doing evangelism, running training groups for Christians (in things like evangelism), meeting one-on-one with people to study the Bible, and so on. Trainees were also strongly encouraged to think about undertaking study at a theological college and take up ministry as a career. The philosophy behind MTS comes from 1 and 2 Timothy where the relationship between Paul and Timothy (along with the exhortation to guard and pass on the gospel) is something of a model of what MTS is supposed to be like.
The idea of training people for ministry isn't original to Phillip Jensen or MTS the organisation. I've just gotten into the habit of calling it “MTS” because that's what the people around me have done. At Sydney Uni, it's called the “Howard Guiness Project” and in France, it's called “Relay” (picking up the idea of passing the baton from the older generation to the younger generation). I hope you will forgive me for continuing to use the term “MTS” to express this idea—particularly if it offends you.
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Keen to see what yr experiences have been, Karen. Particularly your thoughts on the ministry ‘pathway’ MTS establishes.
I guess my interest there comes from having toyed with MTS several times over the years, largely because it’s something lots of my friends are/will be doing.
But I’m not sold on the idea that MTS and I are a great match - I’ve never seen myself going into a pastoral ministry role, per se.
For someone who’s looking at arts/design as their ministry, how much value would MTS have?
0.02c?
Hey Karen,
this is awesome! I went home and wrote down some of the things we discussed at Berkelouws, but I couldn’t remember everything, so this’ll be great!
I’m looking forward to hearing about your experiences more in-depth.