ABT’s church-planting teams include more than just Bible translators. Medical, agricultural, and literacy workers will be needed on many church-planting teams. Aviation, construction, and computer skills may also be needed.
Besides Old Testament and New Testament translators, each church-planting team will typically include a community development facilitator trained in humanitarian and logistical skills.
The community development facilitator will not necessarily try to meet all of the community’s humanitarian needs. Rather, as he works to evangelize and disciple the people, he will also facilitate efforts to train the community to take responsibility for its own needs.
For example, a medical worker would not only serve people’s medical needs, but also train them in hygiene and first aid. He could help the community develop its own healthcare system with trained staff. To ensure that the Gospel of the Kingdom, not community development, remains the priority, the community development facilitator will maintain accountability in his work with the rest of his team, the sending church, and ABT.
Any community development efforts should clearly serve the end goal of discipling and church planting. ABT will help to prepare and equip community development facilitators to that end.
Training Requirements for Community Development Facilitators
In addition to relevant training that may be required for specific roles in community development, ABT requires the following training for community development facilitators. Along with the home church, ABT will provide direction and financial assistance to help members-in-training complete these requirements. Training completed previously may also be accepted.
1. Phase I ABT training
2. Wayumi course (Ethnos360)
3. Time spent in cross-cultural outreach or mission
4. Four semesters or equivalent in Bible study
5. Linguistic training
6. Mission Medical Intensive (MMI)
7. Phase II ABT Training
Interested in serving on an ABT church-planting team?
Training Sources
These are some of the training resources we may recommend to community development facilitators depending on their needs.
Medical and Humanitarian:
EQUIP International
Mission Medical Intensive (required), Aquaponics, Clean Water, Community Health, and more
Biblical Studies:
Faith Builders Educational Programs (FBEP)
A five-week Winter Term with courses like Reading the Bible, Anabaptism as Worldview, 1 Corinthians, and The Kingdom of God. Two-year tracks of apprenticeship-focused study also available.
Institute for Global Opportunities (IGo)
A hands-on training school in Thailand that integrates Bible, missions, and Anabaptist theology.
Sharon Mennonite Bible Institute (SMBI)
Six-week terms of study from September to May. Courses in Bible, Theology, Evangelism, and more.
Linguistics and Literacy:
Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL)
Nine weeks of graduate-level linguistic training each summer (undergraduate students may apply). Hosted at the University of North Dakota (UND).
SIL Literacy Megacourse
Nine-week course offered during the summer of odd-numbered years at SIL-UND (2017, 2019, etc).
Covers community-based literacy programs and methods with an optional class on writing systems.
Cross-Cultural Mission Training
Institute for Global Opportunities (IGo)
A hands-on training school in Thailand that integrates Bible, missions, and Anabaptist theology
SENT I and SENT II (Serving Every Nation Training School)
Serve and study on the field in Ghana under experienced church planters with Charity Christian Missions.
SENT I is a three-month course in the fall. SENT II is a two-year internship.
Wayumi by Ethnos360
A week-long course providing a thorough introduction to the big picture of church planting and Bible translation.
Walk through the process with instructors who have personal experience, learning about pitfalls to avoid and methods that have proven effective.