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Breaking new ground

What makes the Aquila Theological Institute so unique?

What makes the Aquila Theological Institute so unique?

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THE VISION

The big picture

The Aquila Theological Institute offers theological training coupled with apprenticeship in a local church and Business in Mission (BIM) to give potential church planters relevant training and in the field experience, so that they are thoroughly equipped for the work ahead.

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Our emphasis is building up the local church toward multiplication. This means apprentices must be part of a local church, studying is done in conjunction with their local church, and graduates are approved and subsequently sent out by their local church, to reproduce it rather than themselves.

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A unique aspect of our Apprenticeship model is the Business in Mission training. We desire to equip people with the theological and business skills necessary to go into a new city and start up a mission-minded business. This business will serve to financially support the church planters, quickly build relationships in the community and be used as a platform to share the gospel and plant the church. 

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KEY DISTINCTIONS

Mentors

Each apprentice is discipled

through their training by 3 mentors.

Competency

The goal is demonstrated competency in the context of ministry, so the pace and material is adapted to the needs of the apprentice.

Business in Mission

Apprentices are also trained in the context of a local business to equip them for faithful stewardship and sustainable church planting.

THE AIM IS COMPETENCY

We define the targets and then work backward.

Below is a list of the qualities that we hope to see in Aquila apprentices before they complete the curriculum.

It is a high standard, because God has a high standard for those who serve in His church, those who disciple others, and especially those who teach His Word.

  • Able to Give Reason for Hope
    (E.g., Isa 26:4; Jer 17:13; Ps 18:2; Eph 1:18; 1 Pet 3:15)

  • Able to Counsel
    (2 Pet 1:3)

  • Able to Train Leaders for the Church
    (E.g., Matt 28:19–20; 1 Tim 1:2; Col 3:16)

  • Clear Sense of Call
    (Jer 1:5; Heb 3:1; Acts 13:1–3; 2 Tim 1:8–10)

  • Considers Others More than Self
    (Matt. 7:12; Luke 6:31; Phil 2:3)

  • Courageous
    (Deut 31:7; Ps 27:1; Josh 1:9)

  • Desire to Live in Community
    (Ps 133:1–3; Eccl 4:9–12; Acts 2:42–47; 1 Cor 1:10; Gal 6:2; Col 3:14)

  • Disciplined
    (1 Tim 3:2)

  • Effective in Preaching
    (1 Tim 3:2)

  • Entrepreneurial Spirit
    (Acts 13:1–3)

  • Ethical in Business
    (Lev 19:13; Deut 8:18; Prov. 11:1; 16:8; Jer 22:13; Rom 13:8; Matt 5:37; 6:24;
    1 Cor 9:19–27; James 5:4)

  • Generous
    (2 Cor 9:6–8; 1 Tim 6:17–19)

  • Gentle
    (Isa 42:3; 1 Tim 2:24–25)

  • Good Testimony
    (Deut 4:6–8; Isa 42:6; Matt 5:14–16; 1 Tim 3:7)

  • Gracious
    (Exod 34:6; Ps 86:15; Ps 103:8; 145:8; John 4:2; Rom 5:2, 15, 17; 1 Cor 15:10)

  • Heart for Evangelism
    (E.g., Matt 28: 16–20; Acts 13:4–5; 1 Cor 9:19–27)

  • Hospitable
    (Gen 19:1–10; Mark 9:37; Rom 12:13)

  • Household in Order
    (1 Tim 3:4)

  • Humble
    (Matt 23:12; Lk 14:7–11; 17:7–10; Eph 4:2; Col 3:12; James 4:10)

  • Intercultural Communicator
    (Acts 17:22–34; 1 Cor 9:19–27)

  • Knows and Consistently Applies Spiritual Gifts for
    Building up the Church
    (1 Cor 12–14; Rom 12:1–8; Eph 4:1–16)

  • Knows Weaknesses
    (Matt 7:3–5; John 15:1–27; 2 Cor 12:9)

  • Life-Long Learner
    (1 Cor 13; 2 Tim 4:13; 2 Pet 1:5–8)

  • Lifestyle of Discipleship

    (Matt 28:19–20; Titus 2:1–10; 2 Tim 1:1–14)

  • Lifestyle of Prayer

    (Mark 1:35; 1 Thess 5:16–18)

  • Lifestyle of Worship
    (Col 3:17)

  • Motivates People

    (E.g., Prov 3:5–8; Rom 12:11; 1 Cor 15:58; Col 3:23)

  • Not Easily Offended

    (Prov 12:16; 19:11; Rom 12:3; Phil 2:5–8)

  • Passion for Church Planting

    (Matt 28:18–20; Acts 1:8; Rev 7:9)

  • Person of Integrity

    (2 Tim 2:22–23)

  • Personable/Relatable/Relational

    (Prov 18:24; Eccl 4:9–12; Matt 7:12; John 15:12;
    Acts 20:17–38; Rom 12:15; Eph 4:32; 1 Tim 1:2; 1 Pet 3:8)

  • Reliable

    (Prov 6:16–19; 11:3; Matt 5:37; Col 3:9–10)

  • Self-Controlled

    (Acts 24:25; Gal 5:22–23; 2 Tim 1:7; Titus 1:7–8; 2 Pet 1:6)

  • Self-Motivated

    (Rom 12:11; 1 Cor 15:58; Col 3:23)

  • Servant Leader

    (Lk 17:7–10; 22:25–28)

  • Sober-Minded

    (1 Tim 3:2)

  • Skilled in Business

    (Deut 8:18; Prov 31:10–31; Eccl 9:10; Matt 6:19–21)

  • Steadfast

    (Ps 112:7; 1 Cor 15:58; Titus 2:2; Jms 1:12)

  • Steward of Finances

    (Matt 6:25–34; 1 Tim 6:10, 17–19; Jms 1:17)

  • Strong Work Ethic

    (Prov 13:4, 11; 22:29)

  • Submission to the Authority of Scripture

    (Ps 119:142, 160; Matt 5:17–18; John 16:13;
    1 Thess 2:13; 2 Tim 3:16–17; Heb 4:12; 2 Pet 1:3–4)

  • Teachable

    (Ps 143:10; Prov 1:5; 15:5, 32; 18:2; 1 Thess 5:21)

  • Team Player

    (E.g., Acts 13:1–3; 15:36–41; Rom 16; 1 Cor 12–14)

  • Unafraid of Conflict and Skilled in Conflict Resolution

    (Matt 18:15–17; Rom 12:17–21; 1–2 Cor)

  • Uses Influence Well

    (Prov 13:20; 27:17; Matt 5:13–16)

  • Visionary

    (E.g., Acts 15:6–35; 15; 36–41; 20:17–38)

Competencies
Mentors

FACULTY

The centrality of mentoring

Apprenticeship in the context of local church ministry means that mentors are foundational. That's why each of our apprentice gets three. The first mentor is their Ministry Mentor, who is their local church pastor/elder. The second mentor is an Academic Mentor who helps ensure the academic rigour and personal adaptation of the curriculum. Finally, a Network Mentor is strategically selected from the larger Aquila network to help the apprentice achieve their specific calling and vision for ministry.

portrait 3
Academic Mentor

Subject matter expert

portrait 2
Network Mentor

Expert in
business/counselling/church planting

portrait 1
Ministry Mentor

Your pastor/elder

THE INITIATIVE

Being part of something more

ATI is part of a larger picture. The larger organisation is called Aquila Initiative.

 

Aquila Initiative seeks to establish a network of like-minded churches who partner together to engage in church multiplication by apprenticing leaders who will establish Christian community through marketplace missions.

To fulfil this greater vision, Aquila Initiative established Aquila Theological Institute to help churches train up leaders for church planting.

 

Click the link below to learn more about the Initiative.

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