Our Beliefs

Our Beliefs

MTS believes theological truth cannot be chopped and changed. Teaching and training others in the God-given task of Gospel ministry presupposes certain basic truths and commitments.

Our doctrinal basis appears below, but first it is important to note:

  • We are passionate about the Lord Jesus Christ and seek to love him with all our heart, soul and strength. We are passionate about spreading his gospel throughout the world. We are passionate about seeing more workers trained for God’s harvest field.
  • We do not propose MTS as an intellectual strategy for maximizing gospel ministry ‘outcomes’, nor as a prescriptive strategy that automatically results in good gospel ministers. Whilst MTS is a defined training methodology, grounded on biblical principles of ministry – everything we do comes with the overriding qualification that God chooses to work in whichever way He pleases.
  • The MTS idea grew from Reformed, Protestant, evangelical theological soil, from which it gains much of its character. We have no formal connection to any particular Christian denomination, but those involved with MTS are aligned with mainline Protestant denominations, independent evangelical churches, or other evangelical ministries in universities and elsewhere.

The doctrinal basis of our belief is best summarized as follows*

WE BELIEVE IN

  1. The unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Godhead.
  2. The sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgement.
  3. The divine inspiration and entire trustworthiness of Holy Scripture, as originally given, and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
  4. The universal sinfulness and guilt of all men since the fall, rendering them subject to God’s wrath and condemnation.
  5. Redemption from the guilt, penalty, dominion and pollution of sin, solely through the sacrificial death (as our representative and substitute) of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.
  6. The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and his ascension to the right hand of God the Father.
  7. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration.
  8. The justification of the sinner by the grace of God through faith alone.
  9. The indwelling and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.
  10. The one holy universal Church which is the body of Christ and to which all true believers belong.
  11. The expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

*For a more detailed understanding of the theological convictions underpinning MTS and for our views on certain other types of ministry, read these pages in Passing the Baton.

*The doctrinal statement above is that subscribed to by the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), which we believe best captures the theological commitments of the Ministry Training Strategy.

Where can I find out more about MTS Beliefs and Strategies?

MTS’ core values and beliefs are detailed in MTS Core Values and the MTS Convictions Statement.

You can also find out more in Passing the Baton by Colin Marshall, available from Matthias Media where the theological basis, philosophy and strategy of MTS is explained in detail.