History
In the early days of Victory Family Centre (VFC), Rev. Rick Seaward, the founding pastor, determined to reach new frontiers for God by planting churches in select countries around the world. The Missions Training Program was inaugurated as part of the means to fulfil the vision of world evangelization (Matt 28:19). It is essentially a program in which missions-minded individuals form into teams for training and deployment in the various mission fields and church planting sites. There they seek to plant numerous house churches, which, in turn, will perpetuate the mission’s vision by sending out their own teams, and reaching the lost. Consistently, participants in the program have continued to develop in their Christian experience and acquire a vision for reaching the lost world. Many have gone on to be leaders of the church.

Objectives
The Church Planting Training Program (CPTP) aims to:

  • Develop the individual in the basic Christian disciplines of prayer, fasting, worship, evangelism, and discipling.
  • Provide opportunities for church members to be involved in short-term missionary endeavors that will have a lasting effect in their lives and the nations targeted.
  • Provide opportunity and exposure for those who feel that they might have a full-time missions call.
  • Plant multiple house churches in various towns with VFC as is model in a strategic location of the world in obedience to the Great Commission.

The CPTP is sponsored and coordinated by the corporate mission office of VFC in cooperation with the various regions of the Singapore church and its mission churches.

Application for involvement in the program is made through the VFC Regional church office or the missions office of VFC. (Interested persons may secure full information about the programs through those offices).

The basic program covers duration of 12 – 15 months. It may be longer if special language studies are required. The basic program of training consists of several phases including preparatory, local and field training, as well as re-entry phase. When language study is required, an additional preliminary phase, and possible a second intensive phase, can be involved, depending on the target field. In such cases, a special extended and more intensive program is designed to meet the particular language needs. Students may earn foreign language credits with ATC for these language studies.

The basic MTP consists of the following four phases:

CPTP Phase 1
This three-month preparatory program provides potential church planting candidates with an overview of the entire program. It is held weekly and is non-residential and free of charge. It is the recommended prerequisite to being selected as a member of the church planting team.

CPTP Phase 2
Once selected and approved for admissions into the church planting training program, the trainee spends two months in a local residential training program, the third month is “on field” language and culture immersion. Training combines practical and classroom studies that aim to equip the future church planter with the skills necessary for cross-cultural evangelism and discipling. Trainees are required to pay a nominal fee to help defray the overall cost of running such an extensive program.

CPTP Phase 3
This is the natural extension of Phase 2. It is the overseas assignment where the trainees put into practice all they have learned and experienced in the local training. The “on field” assignment lasts from ten to twelve months and has the aim of planting numerous house churches, with the local leaders trained and set in place.

CPTP Phase 4
Upon returning from foreign service, all church planting trainers are required to attend this re-entry phase of the program. This phase aims to provide returnees with opportunity to share their field experiences, reflect on their experiences, evaluate the personal changes and growth that have occurred, and understand the challenges they will face as they re-enter the home culture. This phase is a non-residential and runs over four half days at the church center.  This re-entry phase provides appropriate closure to the church planting training program and facilitates a smooth transition into the home church life.

Academic Credits
CPTP candidates who has successfully completed their entire CPTP program will be granted academic credits for:

EV 101   Evangelism Practicum                            1 credit

Proper registration and verification by the Mission Office of VFC is required