The Apprenticeship Journey | Aquila Theological Institute
The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
OUR 1 YEAR CURRICULUM
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EXAMPLE TIMELINE
OUR 2 YEAR CURRICULUM
OUR LEARNING OUTCOMES
APPRENTICESHIP
What does it mean?
In the context of ministry training, an apprenticeship is a model for training that combines classroom education as well as hands-on experience. Unfortunately, most missionaries and church planters that come to Europe have been trained in a context that has not allowed them to gain practical experience.
Another much-needed advantage of this approach is that the local church is involved the entire time.
At the end of the training, the local church can affirm competency and send a fully-equipped church planting team that has demonstrated their calling.
COMPETENCY BASED EDUCATION
How does it work?
Like other competency-based programs, the ATI curriculum is designed with the end result in mind.
With the aid of fellow pastors and practitioners the development of the ATI curriculum began with the end goal in mind. Next, the Aquila team worked backwards to identify the full range of competencies necessary to achieve these goals. In this way the result of the curriculum can be more assured than through traditional approaches. The competencies themselves represent a unified body of knowledge, skills, and character traits that, when achieved, ensure the graduate is fully competent for church planting and marketplace missions.
Apprentices and their needs are at the heart of curriculum development, and the program supports and encourages personalisation in response to experience, personality, context, and pacing. The curricular design ensures that the level and complexity of the competencies are congruent with the achievements required.
The chart below explains the stages of development of the Aquila curriculum and how the various components fit together.
PROGRAM PURPOSE
The purpose of the ATI curriculum is to help churches train leaders and church planters who are competent to fulfil their calling through marketplace ministry.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Church planters in Europe must be Kingdom-minded, must have Godly character, and must contextualise their ministry. These make up the Aquila Program Objectives.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Often known as classes or modules, these are the areas of study that embody the Program Objectives. They summarise the knowledge, character traits, and skills that the apprentices will master.
Competency in each Learning Outcome is developed through the following process:
INPUTS
The tailored sources used to build knowledge in the apprentice.
OUTPUTS
The contextualised activities that give evidentiary support for the assessment of competency.
INDICATORS
The measurable criteria for evaluating competency.
COMPETENCY
The unchanging standards used to evaluate mastery of key areas within a Learning Outcome.
SO HOW DO YOU PROGRESS?
Moving through the curriculum
Pick a Learning Outcome
Look through the Learning Outcomes and pick one that is strategic and interesting for you.
Mentor Team Confirms
Inputs / Outputs
Mentor team meets to determine the most strategic inputs and outputs for the apprentice.
Do Inputs
Turn in Outputs
Work through the inputs and outputs at your own pace.
Receive Assessment
(Improve if Necessary)
Mentors assess outputs and offer feedback. If necessary, work is redone or inputs are added to grow in competency.
Pick another Learning Outcome
Look through the Learning Outcomes and pick one that is strategic and interesting for you.
Achieve Competency
Once competency is demonstrated through outputs done in the context of ministry, it is awarded.
ACADEMIC BOARD OF ADVISORS
What is it and what do they do?
Every trade has a guild.
The guild is made up of leaders and experts of their trade who together set the standards and chart the trajectory of that trade. Our trade is marketplace missions, church planting, and leadership development. We have created what we believe is a unique approach to church planting in the post-Christian west that is sustainable, local church minded, and strategic. We are engaging in this manner of church planting ourselves because we believe in it.
In our context (western Germany) modern accreditation makes less sense than the apprenticeship model, which is more traditional and, we believe, more biblical.
At this point, all our current apprentices have a greater desire for church-based training than for an accredited theological degree. As a guild of sorts, the Academic Board of Advisors work together to help sharpen our curriculum to ensure that the training we provide is relevant, up-to-date, and directly transferrable to ministry in the twenty-first century. This approach helps protect us and our apprentices from a curriculum created in an echo chamber.
The members of the Academic Board of Advisors serve as necessary correctives, wise counsellors, seasoned practitioners, and godly examples. Together they review our curriculum and provide feedback that will help us ensure our apprentices will be thoroughly prepared and equipped for marketplace missions and church planting.
QUESTIONS PASTORS ASK
What does the apprenticeship cost our church?
Nothing. Aquila Theological Institute charges no tuition. The programme, curriculum, learning platform and mentors are funded by donations to Aquila Initiative e.V., a registered non-profit.
Does our apprentice have to leave the church to train?
No. Apprentices stay in their own church and keep serving. The church is the main place of formation, and the coursework is built around their real ministry.
How long does it take?
There are two tracks, a 1-Year and a 2-Year apprenticeship. Apprentices typically give about 10-15 hours a week, move through Learning Outcomes at their own pace, and finish when competency is demonstrated.
What does "competency-based" mean?
Progress is measured by what an apprentice can show in ministry, not by credit hours. For each Learning Outcome, the apprentice works through set inputs, produces outputs in their ministry context, and is assessed against clear indicators until competency is awarded.
Who are the three mentors?
A Ministry Mentor (a pastor or elder from your church), an Academic Mentor from ATI, and a Network Mentor from the wider Aquila network. Together they confirm the work, assess it and walk with the apprentice.
What does it ask of me as the Ministry Mentor?
Typically about 10 hours a month. You give pastoral oversight, real ministry opportunities, honest assessment of your apprentice's growth and, at the end, your church's commissioning. ATI gives you the structure and ongoing support.
Do we need to be a large church?
No. You need a person with a genuine calling toward leadership and a willingness to invest in them. No formal training infrastructure is needed.
Is it only for future church planters?
No. Churches use it to train elders, pastors, lay leaders and future church planters. Church planting and Business in Mission are part of the curriculum for those heading that way.
Is ATI accredited?
ATI is not an accredited degree programme. Its curriculum is reviewed by an Academic Board of Advisors made up of pastors and practitioners, and competency is affirmed by the sending church.
Where does the learning happen?
In your church, and online through ATI's learning platform (Pathwright), where apprentices access course material and submit their work.
In which language is the training offered?
English. German-language training is in development.
Who is behind ATI?
ATI is the apprenticeship programme of Aquila Initiative e.V. in Aachen, Germany. Aquila Initiative is a network of churches committed to multiplying leaders and churches across Europe.
How do we start?
Book a 30-minute call. Tell us about your church and the person you have in mind, and we will help you assess the fit honestly.