Apprenticeship FAQ

Apprenticeships can be conducted in local churches, on a university or college campus, in an urban area or a city business district, in a school or even in another country.

Ministry is conducted in relationship. We could cover the content of a ministry apprenticeship in a classroom context in just a few weeks, but that is not the point. The real learning happens over time as the apprentice’s relationships develop with their trainer and with the people they are serving. It is usually in the second year that progress is identified and difficulties begin to emerge. Over the two years, apprentices see people converted, Bible study groups starting to make progress, and struggling Christians making tough decisions to follow Christ. They also see mistakes they have made, their failure to get their priorities right, etc, so they get to know themselves, their strengths and their weaknesses. In the second year, deep learning occurs. The two-year apprenticeship also gives continuity to the local ministry in terms of leadership.

While this may be a better option for some people, there are real benefits in taking up a ministry apprenticeship. It can help you work out whether or not you’re suitable for Word ministry before taking the plunge and committing to a theological degree. It will be harder and more inconvenient to make that decision at the end of three or four years when the personal cost of changing tracks is greater. Even if you decide not to pursue full-time paid Christian work after your apprenticeship, it is still worthwhile to do because your decision will be wise and informed, stemming from the hands-on practical experience you’ve gained. However, if you do decide to go on to enrol in a Bible college, your time as a ministry apprentice will help you to appreciate the value of a theological education and will prove invaluable in having equipped you for the realities of ministry in a range of settings.

It does. But there are certain adjustments that need to be made compared to full-time training. Most part-time apprentices do paid work for two or three days during the week to fund their training. It is always more demanding doing two part-time jobs, especially when one of them is open-ended, like ministry. If you choose to do it part-time, monitor your stress levels and try to avoid other stresses in your life if you can, because a ministry apprenticeship is stressful enough. Passing the Baton deals with how best to approach a part time apprenticeship and issues for trainers and apprentices to think through.

No. Over the years, we have seen many complete the apprenticeship and then—having learnt much about God, ministry, people and themselves—decide not to proceed towards a paid ministry role. This is a great outcome. Beyond their apprenticeship, these people have shown themselves to be godly and able leaders in their own churches, serving in all kinds of ways in personal, small group and administrative roles. The trainer has failed if they make their apprentices feel like second-class citizens if they do not go onto vocational ministry. In addition, the trainer has failed if they encourage apprentices to proceed into ministry roles for which they are not suited. Every member of the body of Christ contributes to the building of the church, but they do so in their own way.

For more questions and answers about apprenticeships, see
Passing the Baton p32-48.