Pastoral Training Institute

The apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:2, The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, entrusts the training of men for ministry to the local church. Based on this biblical pattern, the Anchored in Truth: Pastoral Training Institute (PTI) is a church-centered biblically based pastoral training curriculum. Birthed out of decades of proven experience, in reforming both the doctrines and practices of the local church, the Institute equips God-called men to grow churches that are anchored in the truth of God’s Word and equips seasoned pastors for more effective local church ministry.

Core Values

PTI accords with the six basic principles of Anchored in Truth, namely, that it will be: God-Glorifying, Christ-Centered, Biblically Strategic, Focused on Spirit-Filled Preaching, Personalized Involvement, and always Local Church-Centered (1 Peter 5:12).

Proven Effective Practices

Vince Lombardi rightly said, “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” The practices taught in the Institute have proven effective in the crucible of the local church throughout decades at Grace Life Church of the Shoals (Joshua 1:7-8).

Experienced Faculty

The faculty at PTI are experienced pastors who have served faithfully in the local church and, in some cases, in the highest levels of academia. Nonetheless, all faculty members understand that their job is not merely to entrust their personal ministry experiences to faithful men but to set forth God’s Word and to share such experiences that harmonize with the principles of the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:1).

Incarnational Atmosphere

The training takes place in a local church setting where the principles taught are modeled by the leaders and members of the church. We believe that learning is as much caught as taught.

Curriculum

Wise Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:11-12, 11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body. While there is an endless array of subjects to study, the PTI curriculum is laser focused. The courses offered in the curriculum include what is most necessary for effective local church ministry.

Class Schedule

Biblical Pastoral Ministry (1 and 2 Timothy)

January 22, 2024 - May 13, 2024

Mondays, 6:00-9:00 pm

Biblical Church Discipline, Biblical Counseling, and Biblical Conflict Resolution

January 23, 2024 - May 14, 2024

Tuesdays, 6:00-9:00 pm

Biblical Theology

June 3, 2024- June 7, 2024

Pastoral Mentoring Practicum

Ministry Service under a Mentoring Pastor Approved by AIT, June of 2024-February of 2025

The Anchored in Truth Master Plan

August 26, 2024 - December 9, 2024

Mondays, 6:00-9:00PM

Expository Preaching I

August 27, 2024 - December 10, 2024

Tuesdays, 6:00-9:00 pm

Expository Preaching II

February 4, 2025 - May 20, 2025

Tuesdays, 6:00-9:00 pm

Every Member Ministry

February 3, 2025 - May 19, 2025

Mondays, 6:00-9:00 pm

Church History

June 2, 2025 - June 6, 2025

Personalized Strategic World Missions

August 18, 2025 - December 8, 2025

Mondays, 6:00-9:00 pm

1 Peter Intensive

August 19, 2025 - December 9, 2025

Tuesdays, 6:00-9:00 pm

Teachers

Jeff Noblit

Jeff Noblit

Founder and President

Jeff Noblit has served on the pastoral staff at Grace Life Church of the Shoals since 1981 and has served as the senior pastor since 1989. Grace Life Church is known for its earnest desire to be glory of God focused, Christ honoring, and Bible saturated with a passion for spreading the Gospel to all peoples for the glory of God. Jeff is the founder and president of Anchored In Truth Ministries, which is centered on expository preaching. Anchored In Truth is committed to supply resources and materials to strengthen the development of healthy local churches. In recent years God has expanded the ministry to include church planting and the support of pastors who are committed to both sound doctrine and practice in the local church. God has used the True Church Conferences hosted by Grace Life Church and Anchored In Truth Ministries to help train leaders in the United States and around the world. He is the author of the Accountability Notebook, which has been a tool in personal discipleship for more than 25 years. He has also authored booklets including The Great Answer to the Great Question, Born to Reform, Seeking God: Examining the State of Your Soul, and Baptism: Our Profession of Faith. He has contributed articles to various journals and magazines including The Messenger published by Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Founders Journal, The Wall Street Journal, and the book entitled Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialogue. He and his wife, Pam, have three daughters and multiple grandchildren.

Timothy C. Seal

Timothy C. Seal

Vice President of the Pastoral Training Institute

Timothy C. Seal serves as the Vice President of the Pastoral Training Institute for Anchored In Truth Ministries and as the Associate Pastor of Grace Life Church of the Shoals. Prior to joining the Anchored In Truth and Grace Life family, he served, in various roles, for fourteen years at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, namely, as the Dean of the Seminary, the Academic VP, the Chairman of the Department of Practical Theology, and as a Professor of Practical Theology and Nouthetic Counseling. He also was honored to serve with Dr. Stephen F. Olford as a teacher and the Vice President at Olford Ministries International. In addition to his years of service in the academic field, he also spent fourteen plus years as the senior pastor of churches in Mississippi and Louisiana and, as an interim pastor, for numerous years. He has written various journal articles including A Prayer of Awakening for the Lost, Contrasting the Secular and Nouthetic Approaches to ADD/ADHD, and Church Discipline: Recovering the Lost Treasure. He and his wife, Sanrea, have three children and multiple grandchildren.

S. M.

Vice President of Operations and Management

S. M. serves as Vice President of Operations and Management for Anchored In Truth. He has had the joy to serve at Grace Life Church of the Shoals on two different occasions for a total of 21 years, and he is currently serving as a pastor/elder. He has filled various positions in multiple churches including that of Senior-Pastor. In his current role, he knows that God's ministry calling on his life is to serve and support Jeff Noblit through Grace Life Church and Anchored In Truth and has truly been blessed and honored to do so. He spends each year engaging various cultures around the globe and counts some of his closest friends as international. He is a graduate of Auburn University, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, and The Master's College. He and his wife have been married for 30 years and have three grown children.

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FAQ

How do I enroll?

To enroll in the Pastoral Training Institute Program, simply go to https://anchoredintruth.org and click on the tab entitled Pastoral Training Institute. On the Application tab, complete the Application Form and return it to AIT. When the application has been approved, you will receive a letter of acceptance within two weeks. After receiving the acceptance letter, the student should pay the deposit fee of $50.00 and choose the course or courses he would like to attend. The deposit will go toward paying the tuition when the student enrolls in the course.

When are applications due?

Applications are due 30 days prior to the class sessions. This time is important for preparing the materials and for determining the class size for logistic purposes.

Is there an application fee?

Yes, there is a $ 10.00 application fee. This fee helps to pay the cost of materials and handling.

Is the Pastoral Training Institute accredited?

We ourselves do not provide accreditation. However, 27 of the 30 hours are fully accredited through Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.

When and how will I know what work is required for the course?

The syllabus for the course [or courses] will be sent to the student via email one month prior to the start date of the course. This lead time is necessary to give the student time to complete the pre-work for the course. In the syllabus, you will find the objectives of the course, the contact information, and the requirements for the course and when it is due.

Are there any prerequisites before taking the one-week courses?

Yes, the syllabus of each instructor will designate how many books must be read for each course and what work product must be completed before the week of classwork.

Will a certificate be awarded upon completion of the coursework? If so, when?

Yes, the first graduation will take place three years after the first courses are offered and will take place each year as necessary. As the student draws close to completing the program, he should make sure everything is completed on the completion checklist and confirm it with the registrar.

I would like to have my entire church staff take this training. Can we study as a group? Are there any group discounts available?

Yes, church staffs of three or more will receive a 10% discount.

How much does it cost per course?

Each course costs $275.

Is there any kind of financial help available? Scholarships? If so, how should I apply for one and when?

Yes, if you are applying for scholarship assistance, email the AIT office at contact@anchoredintruth.org for more information. We ask that you reach out three months prior to the start of the semester.

Can I get academic credit for taking a course through the Pastoral Training Institute?

Yes, if an accredited Institution approves the PTI course for credit, you may do so. To obtain credit, you must contact the accredited institution and arrange it through them.

Do I have to know Greek/Hebrew to benefit from the training?

No, but a working knowledge of Greek and Hebrew is always helpful when studying the Bible. Nonetheless, if you have no knowledge of these languages, you can benefit greatly from the training.

How long will it take me to complete the certificate program?

The coursework can be finished in three years if the student takes two courses both in the fall and the spring and, in addition, takes one course each summer. An additional year of mentoring is required to be awarded a certificate.

What kind of lecture format and quality can we expect?

Most classes last for approximately 5 months and take place one night a week on either Monday or Tuesday from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Intensive classes last for one week (Monday through Friday) and take place for about 8 hours each day. Academically, each course will be equivalent to a seminary level class.

What can I do to help the Pastoral Training Institute?

- Pray for AIT.
- Encourage. E-mail us with your comments.
- Advertise. Tell others about the Institute and urge them to check out our website (anchoredintruth.org).
- Give.

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