Introduction
Dear Co-Laborer in the Harvest,
Welcome to the International School of Ministry™. We have created this program with one main objective, to train laborers for the End- Time harvest. We believe that God works through the local church, with God's shepherds being the key to a massive mobilization. While attending seminary some years ago, I studied a local church in Alaska that had sent out over 1,000 of its members, in teams, to plant new churches. I asked myself, "What if every church would send out at least 50 members?"
Missionaries to Nigeria
Armed with a vision, much zeal and little wisdom, I moved with my wife, Lisa, and two small daughters as missionaries to Nigeria, West Africa. There we worked on the two goals of the church in Alaska, which were to: turn local churches into ministry training centers, · turn local churches into church-planting centers.
Using an English video curriculum put together used in the curriculum to believers who sat under the instruction.
The International Curriculum™
While in Nigeria, my heart turned to other nations of the world. I knew if the program worked in West Africa, it would also function in Latin America, China, Russia, India and even developed regions like North America, Europe and Australia. I returned to California to create The International Curriculum™, a project we dubbed as "the training equivalent of the Jesus Film." The initial video recordings took 20 months and cost over $250,000 to produce. We could write a book on the miracles God did as we worked to get the finest instructors possible to participate in the program. The recordings were done live in up to 15 languages, using cutting-edge technology. Although creating the International Curriculum ™ stretched us to the limit it must be understood that we view it simply as a tool to implement a God given vision. That vision is a mass training of laborers for Christ to use in His end-time Harvest.
Multiplication Growth
The greatest threat to the devil is the multiplication growth of the Church. That multiplication is dependent upon the Church doing its part in five areas which God multiplies.
They are:
1) The Word
2) Discipleship
3) Leadership
4) Anointing
5) Church Planting.
The International Curriculum™
will help facilitate multiplication growth in all five areas. There also
are seven major missiological barriers which The International Curriculum™ crosses. A list of those obstacles is included on page one of this brochure.
International School of Ministry™(ISOM)
What we have done, in order to make the implementation of The International Curriculum™ as simple as possible, is to divide it up into a systematic five-trimester training program. Each trimester will take roughly 12 weeks to complete, provided that three hours of material are covered each week. The five trimesters will take about a year and a half to finish at this pace. This is only a recommended structure, but it is based on past
experience and an intimate knowledge of the material. The trimester format also provides a manageable means of releasing the material on the mission field, and helps to facilitate which material to translate and duplicate first in any country. Each course has special notes that complement the video training. A sample of these
notes can be found at the back of this booklet. The notes contain a written overview of the video content and also include group discussion ideas, homework assignments and exams. The program in this structure is called the International School of Ministry™ (ISOM). We will provide an ISOM Certificate after three trimesters an ISOM Diploma after five. An Associate of Biblical Studies degree from Vision International University also is available through the program. Literally thousands of schools can be started all over the world using this curriculum. We invite pastors, missionaries and national church leaders to partner with us to start church- based and other training centers in many countries and languages. Using the International School of Ministry™ materials, we can mobilize the Church globally for multiplication growth.
For the Harvest to be Won,
Rev. Berin Gilfillan
- Founder & President -
Good Shepherd Ministries International
What is the ISOM?
God Wants His People Trained for the End-Time Harvest!
• It's an acronym for International School of Ministry™.
• It's a church-based video training program.
• It's a complete training curriculum, with facilitator's guide, workbooks, group discussions, homework assignments and testing.
• It's a bilingual program available in over 50 languages.
• An ISOM Certificate, an ISOM Diploma and an Associate of Biblical Studies are attainable through the program.
• English- and non-English-speaking students can learn side by side.
• The program respects pastoral leadership and authority.
• It's a powerful missions tool.
• Every willing person in a church can be trained for ministry.
• All material is professionally recorded.
• Well known teachers impart life messages in their areas of expertise.
• The program is cost-effective and easy to implement.
• Each trimester has a balance of training in knowledge, character and spiritual gifts.
• There is no denominational name attached to the program.
• The power of the Holy Spirit is manifested throughout the program.
Major Missiological Barriers The Curriculum™ Crosses
1• Language barriers are overcome.
2• Unlimited numbers can be trained simultaneously.
3• The training can take place in any location in a country.
4• No foreigners are needed on site to conduct the training. Training can be done by the national leaders alone.
5• The cost factor is minimal.
6• Political hindrances are removed, as training can go underground easily.
7• There is control over the content, doctrine and spirit of the material being taught.
