The purpose of the NTMI is to disciple believers in the personal application of biblical truth and in cross-cultural church-planting skills.
Missions Course: Students receive training for cross-cultural church planting as well as useful training for living in a remote context. Daily schedule: Monday - Friday, 8-12 a.m., classroom instruction; 1:30-5 p.m., practical skills and facility maintenance.
Locations: Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Oregon, and Ontario, Canada.
Course Length: Two semesters, beginning in January and August of each year. Missionary candidates reside on campus and study for approximately 10 months; then spend six weeks interacting with their sending church. Following this, they begin the Culture and Language Acquisition Course in Camdenton, MO.
Spiritual Growth: Students are challenged to apply God's Word to their everyday lives and see the Lord continue to mature them in their Christian character.
Community: Students and faculty attend, and are actively involved in, local churches. Other areas of ministry include Christian witness in prisons and on college campuses, home Bible studies and Bible clubs.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS *
The numbers in parentheses denote class hours.
Semester I
The Big Picture (8) gives an overview of tribal evangelism and church planting so the student can know what lies ahead, and how the different parts relate to the whole.
Cross Culture Communication (7) introduces the student to cultural differences in communication, and to potential problem areas that need to be addressed in order to communicate clearly.
Animism (14) teaches the basic premises of animism and why understanding it is essential for missionaries working in animistic contexts.
Shamanism (6) explains the shamanistic system; develops a scriptural basis for discerning the reality of shamanistic practices and beliefs; and explains how to objectively confront these beliefs when teaching foundational biblical truths.
Language/Culture (2) focuses on the importance of learning the target language and culture as a prerequisite for an effective ministry with a specific people group.
C.A.R.E (8) is an introductory course leading to a methodology of cultural analysis.
Summer Partnership Program (8) addresses various topics that will help prepare students for the six weeks of interacting with their sending church.
Chronological Overview (10) presents students with the rationale for teaching the Word of God using the chronological teaching method. Examples from specific people groups provide a model for evangelism.
Christian Life (15) focuses on the truth of our position in Christ and its practical outworking in our lives.
Composition/Term Paper (3) teaches basic research and composition skills in preparation for doing a research paper on a specific culture of the student's choice.
Culture Investigation (12) provides students with a methodology to discover cultural similarities and contrasts between a target culture and Biblical teaching. They will learn how to handle these similarities and contrasts in order to clearly present the Gospel.
Time Management (6) helps students understand and practice the importance of managing their time; "why" they should set goals and "how" to go about it.
New Testament Church (10) teaches the fundamentals of New Testament Church principles in light of planting New Testament churches among animistic people.
Pre-Evangelism (14) focuses on the importance of building relationships with people before formal Bible teaching begins.
Dispensations (10) teach basic aspects of "dispensations" to help the student begin to see the importance of this doctrinal subject in the church planting effort.
Oral Communication (12) teaches students how to disciple illiterate believers to be teachers of the Word of God in the local church.
Styles of learning (7) introduce the student to three approaches to learning/thinking styles and how to recognize those styles when teaching people.
Women's Role (4) focuses on the role of women in tribal church ministry.
Teaching Considerations (20) focuses on various considerations relating to teaching in tribal contexts and equipping tribal believers to train others in the same manner.
Introduction to Translation Principles (8) presents different styles of translation and introduces problems encountered when translating from one language to another. (This is in preparation for the Bible Translation course at New Tribes Language Institute.)
Tool Kit (30) teaches methods useful for planting churches in tribal societies. These methods are reproducible by the tribal church. Students are taught how to create Bible teaching aids to be used by tribal people.
Curriculum Development (4) exposes the student to a broad range of curriculum which is feasible to produce for the tribal people.
Practical Skills (45) instruction throughout the semester focuses on practical skills in construction and mechanics useful on the field.
Semester
The Big Picture (6) is an extension of the same course in semester 1.
Developing the Church (36) builds on the New Testament Church Principles taught in semester 1, incorporating and implementing a chronological teaching program in the tribal context that is reproducible by tribal believers.
Relation to God (11) is an extension to the Christian Life course in semester 1. It focuses more in depth on our position in Christ and the practical outworking of our life in Christ, especially in view of working in a different culture, with people who have little or no knowledge of God.
Composition/Term Paper (10) teaches basic research and composition skills in preparation for doing a research paper on a specific culture of the student's choice.
Relationship to People of the Target Area (10) is designed to help students grow in their understanding of how God relates to us in grace and truth and to apply these principles to the people where they will minister.
Family (12) is designed to help the student grow in understanding and application of biblical principles pertaining to husband/wife, and parent/child relationships.
Partnership Development (11) addresses how and why we should build a growing, lasting, personal relationship with prayer and financial supporters, especially with the home church.
Summer Partnership Program (10) addresses various topics that will help prepare students for the six weeks of interacting with their sending church.
Leadership Skills (12) focuses on styles of leadership and their proper function in ministry.
Teamwork (14) addresses the composition and function of the church-planting team.
Singles (6) addresses issues of specific concern to singles. It presents common problems and attitudes and offers solutions which can help prevent and/or solve these situations.
Working Alone (2) teaches how to be prepared to effectively minister alone in a remote setting when necessity demands this.
Introduction to Literacy (6) addresses the basic philosophies and procedures necessary for a successful literacy program.
Relationship to Co-workers (10) examines the dynamics of team members working together in a ministry setting; and focuses on the attitudes, characteristics, and qualities that must be present in order to have a positive relationship among team members.
Handling outside Influences (8) analyzes outside influences (religious and/or secular) which may affect the local society in the process of establishing a New Testament church in the area.
Discipline (5) addresses the scriptural and practical aspects of church discipline in a cross-cultural setting.
Discipleship (10) focuses on the missionary church planter and his ability to train believers to function as church planters themselves.
Maturing Church (6) addresses how to bring the tribal church to maturity and how church planters may relate to the tribal church once the church is capable of functioning without a resident missionary.
Community Development (3) describes various kinds of community development projects and helps the church planter discern the priority of each project.
Existing Works (3) addresses the advantages and disadvantages of entering an existing work. Students will be challenged to consider an existing work for their ministry.
Topical Lessons (7) addresses the importance and development of topical lessons for the tribal church.
Practical Skills (45) instruction throughout the semester focuses on practical skills in construction and mechanics useful in a remote setting.
Jungle Living Skills provides exposure to living conditions typical of a remote context.
* Some courses are not offered at all locations.