What Makes The Porterbrook Network Different?
The Values
Porterbrook is designed to equip the ordinary Christian for everyday Gospel ministry. What drives the Network is a desire to equip individuals and churches to rediscover mission as their DNA, to become better lovers of God and lovers of others, and to proclaim the Gospel through word and action for the glory of God. It’s all about mission!
Porterbrook values training that is..
- Biblical: deeply rooted in and springing forth from the Scriptures
- Missional: starts from the understanding that all that we do in the Christian life is intended to be "missional"
- Practical: contains rich theology which is applied in details so as to be relevant to real life
- Relational: study in community, discuss online
- Flexible: allows one to remain in their everyday vocation and to participate in their local Christian community
- Affordable: quality, in-depth training at a reasonable price
- Accessable: designed for the ordinary Christian and yet remains compelling for even the theolgoically trained
- Comprehensive: not theology for theology sake, but rather holistic biblical training in the areas of Character, Bible & Doctrine, the Church, and Engaging the World
Therefore, every component of the Porterbrook Learning material is designed to encompass all of these values.
The Method
The Porterbrook Network is an evangelical training network comprised of two branches: Porterbrook Learning and Porterbrook Seminary.
Porterbrook Learning produces training materials and runs courses in various locations around the world.
Porterbrook Seminary is a Bible College level programme of study for Christians in the UK.
Because The Porterbrook Network values flexibility, the material has been designed to be adaptable to multiple contexts and used in multiple formats.
Porterbrook Learning, for example, can be used through a Learning Site or in a Local Group. Each method of study is designed to allow the user flexibility to leverage the Porterbrook resource to serve the needs of their local Christian community.
Both Porterbrook Learning and Porterbrook Seminary were created to allow participants to stay connected to and serving in their local church and to stay committed to their full-time employments and their families. On average, Porterbrook Learning (when done through a Learning Site) consists of about 5 hours a week of study and practice, while Porterbrook Seminary requires about 10 hours a week.
Porterbrook Network Learning Sites also join the “Co-operative”. This allows each Learning Site to contextualize the material, determine schedules and fees, and be creative in finding ways to best equip the participants in their Learning Site. Each Learning Site shares resources, best practices, and creativity with the other Learning Sites in an effort to build up the Network as a whole.