Our Purpose
Training method: Discipleship
World Link Graduate Center combines “Normal” ways of learning (instead of Academic) with contemporary technology, following the pattern of Jesus in training those who are discipling the nations. WLGC’s “transformative discipling” develops understanding through experience, stories, mentoring, and deep involvement with people, deepening the foundation of knowing God.
Following initial orientation in an intensive residential session, learning will be outside the traditional classroom, primarily as part of the students’ ministry. The study is guided by mentors, as students work within a learning group. Study problems and content will be delivered digitally (CD, DVD, or Internet). Interaction with mentors will be through the “Claroline” learning platform creating a virtual classroom with learning units, message boards, forums, and email. As possible, regional refresher workshops will strengthen learning relationships.
Transformative discipling considers the differing assumptions and beliefs of the disciple, and confronts them with God’s revelation as it relates to those assumptions and beliefs. Teaching seeks to involve the total person, not only the mind. It begins with the trainees’ experiences, a mentor helping them to analyze case studies from other ministries, then considering what is happening in their own ministries, to discern valid principles.
The mentor directs trainees to specific resources- books, DVDs, online materials, and other available references, and is available for questions and discussions. As a learning group works together online, students help one another. The training follows an inductive approach so that by the end of each unit trainees are able to state guiding principles for their own ministries and demonstrate the value in application to their own ministry.
Continuing to teach and train within a traditional Western Academic framework certainly does not prevent learning, but seldom offers a similar challenge to non-biblical values and assumptions.