What is the International Biblical Training Center (IBTC)?
The Vision of the IBTC is to train, disciple, and equip believers who are in leadership (along with their families) from rural regions of different countries.
After about one year in Albania, they will return to their mission field more competent to evangelize the lost and to nurture and disciple the saved. They will also be equipped with a vocation to self-provide for their ministries and will have mentorship help for an extended period of time.
Description of the IBTC
IBTC focuses on 3 aspects.
The aspect in rural regions of different countries.
The aspect in the western countries.
The aspect in Albania.
The aspect in rural regions of different countries.
Consists of constantly and purposefully developing a close connection and partnership between our ministry and the churches in the rural regions of different countries.
Usually, rural regions, unlike major cities, have more challenges but fewer opportunities, resources, and help. Thus, the possibilities for these leaders to be trained are very limited. We will invite these leaders along with their families to come and stay in Albania for a period of about one year. They will be trained and equipped in the biblical aspect, the ministerial aspect, and the vocational aspect. After their training time in Albania, they will return to their mission field better equipped and with many more opportunities, resources, and help.The aspect in the western countries.
Consists of developing a large network of healthy churches, pastors, teachers, organizations, and seminaries that want to partner in various ways, either in person or long distance, in equipping, training, teaching, supporting, and mentoring church leaders, their families, and churches of the rural regions of different countries.The aspect in Albania.
Consists of hosting the participants from the eastern and western parts of the world in our location for a period of time, to give them the necessary training and help.
The training will focus on 4 main areas:
Ministry: Participants will gain an understanding of and the ability to teach both lost and saved people of their country the theological/ministry concepts which they themselves will be taught by seminary level and pastoral level teachers.
Family: Participants will be discipled in the areas of marriage and parenting in the personal application and then in being able to teach and disciple both lost and saved people in their country. This will be delivered in the context of their own unique cultures.
Vocation: Participants will be trained in skill sets and business management that will enable them to make a living in the context of the economy and culture to which they will return.
Mentorship: IBTC will pair the leaders from the rural regions with mature and committed church leaders for long-term partnership and mentorship between them. This mentorship has great significance for the leaders in the rural regions.
Inside International Biblical Training Center
About 40 Christian leaders from rural regions of different countries will come together with their families for about 1 year in Albania at our campus location.
We are developing curricula for:
Men
Women
Children
The methodology of teaching is: for every 1 hour of theory, 2 hours of practical application.
First Hour of practical application: Personal exposure and transformation through the Scripture
Second Hour of practical application: Church/Family exposure and transformation through the Scripture
The curriculum is built and based upon 2 main pillars: Evangelism and Discipleship
Christian leaders from the rural regions of different countries will be taught to master a vocation to help support themselves when they go back to their home country.
Biblical Curriculum Content Overview
Each class will focus on three main areas:
What the Bible says about the topic.
How the biblical truths about the theme relate personally to the student in their cultural aspects (discipleship aspect)
How to help others (non-believers & believers) to hear, receive, put into practice these truths (evangelism aspect)
The list of classes for ministry:
The Triune God
Human nature
Sin
Christ fully God & fully man
Salvation
The gospel
Evil’s forces, mindsets and cultural obstacles.
Church of God
Bible
Preaching and the art of preaching
Biblical counseling, with special focus on living a holy life
Prayer
Gifts given by the Spirit of God
Mission
The list of classes for family:
A. Marriage
God’s plan
Marriage as a deliberate evangelistic tool
Devil’s threatening forces
Communication
Conflicts and godly solutions
Roles
Intimacy
Marriage and the church
B. Parenting
Parenting
Discipling children in God’s word
Cultural forces against godliness
Pre-marital preparation and marital counseling
C. Homeschooling
Since many church leaders and potential church leaders that participate in the IBTC are married and have children, we want to bless their children with a good, age appropriate, biblical curriculum during their stay here to help them to grow spiritually. We will also provide academic education at the appropriate levels per the requirements of their home region.
Vocational training
Many church leaders and potential church leaders from the rural regions of different countries have difficulty in providing for their families. Therefore, we believe that training both husbands and wives in a job or skill applicable to their region, alongside of the biblical training, will be very helpful to them.
The goal of the job/skills training is that participants will be equipped with the necessary tools, knowledge and experience required for their vocation. Multiple tools for use in training others back home will also be provided.
The following is a list of the vocations in which the IBTC may offer training per the need of the participant’s region:
Electrician
Tailor
Plumber
Hairdresser
Computer (hardware and software)
• Therapist
• Farming
• Baker
• First aid
• And many others
Mentorship
IBTC will pair the leaders from the rural regions of different countries with mature and committed church leaders from the western countries for long-term partnership and mentorship between them.
How will mentorship be established?
We are in an ongoing process of searching for pastors and churches willing to make a deeper commitment, to maintain long-term mentoring relationships with church leaders from the rural regions of different countries.
These are the steps:
Finding the pastor and the church that wants to mentor.
Introducing the pastor and the church with the leader from the rural regions of different countries in IBTC training center.
The pastor and the church that wants to mentor will spend considerable time personally with the leader from the rural regions of different countries to get to know each other.
Both build a mentorship plan based on the strengths and weaknesses of the leader from the rural regions of different countries.
They continue this mentorship, not only between the leaders, but also between the church members.
Description and details about teachers
We are very open to partnering closely with academic teachers, seminary professors, Bible teachers, pastors etc. of sound biblical doctrine who want to teach the truths of God’s word. Our desire is to equip the church leaders and potential church leaders of the rural regions of different countries in practically using God’s word in their context and culture.
Steps of engagement with prospective teachers:
The potential teacher provides a doctrinal statement and a biography.
Personal/online meeting with the potential teacher. Discuss: ITBC vision, doctrine, the practical aspects, professional conduct, and question/answer dialogue
Sample teacher’s ramp-up timeline:
Important Teacher Issues:
Teachers are encouraged to be in person for at least a part of the course onsite in Albania. The remaining content can be taught using internet video connections.
Teachers’ expenses inside the country of Albania are covered, except the airline ticket.
Teachers will be living on the IBTC campus.