Strengthening Ministries

Training Institute

What is Strengthening Ministries Training Institute (SMTI)?

SMTI exists to promote excellence in Biblical Counselling/discipleship in the local church in South Africa by training and equipping pastors and other Christians in the theologically accurate and practical use of Scripture for understanding and solving the problems of people, and thus promoting growth in and usefulness for Christ in the church and the world.

All the teachers at SMTI are in the process of finishing off their master’s degrees in Biblical Counselling (MABC) and certification with the Association of Certified Biblical Counsellors (ACBC). They are all committed to the sufficiency of Scripture in helping their students discover God’s answers to life’s problems.

The SMTI programme is designed to prepare its students to counsel and disciple others from God’s Word under the authority of the local church in South Africa. It is, therefore, the aim of SMTI to:

• Present a full, unabridged programme in Biblical Counselling
• Assist students to complete their ACBC certification exam
• Offer an Internship at the Strengthening Ministries Counselling Centre (SMCC)

We are currently seeking accreditation from the Council of Higher Education for our MABC degree.

The Courses
What specific courses may be offerred at SMTI

2017 Dates

2018 Dates

The Teachers

Dr Wayne Mack, is a graduate of Wheaton College, Philadelphia Seminary and Westminster Theological Seminary as well as having had extensive graduate studies at La Salle University, Eastern Baptist Seminary, Wheaton Graduate School and Trinity Evangelical Seminary. Dr Mack was chairman of the graduate and undergraduate counselling programme at The Master’s University and Seminary. He currently serves as the Pastor for Biblical Counselling at Lynnwood Baptist Church. Wayne has been inducted into the highest level of membership in the Association of Certified Biblical Counsellors, and has authored 25 books on counselling issues.

Ps Sybrand de Swardt is Pastor of Lynnwood Baptist Church in Pretoria where he serves with Dr Mack. He has completed an intensive two year programme in Biblical Counselling and has done both extensive counselling and has taught counselling related issues at (SMTI). He is in the final phases of completing a master’s degree in Biblical Counselling from The Master’s University.

Dr Joshua Mack has earned a master’s degree in Biblical Counselling from The Master’s University, a doctorate in Expository Preaching and is Pastor of Living Hope Church in Sunnyside, Pretoria. He also provides oversight for the 1hope4africa.co.za mercy ministry. From 1998 to 2000 Joshua taught Biblical Counselling courses at The Master’s University in the USA. More recently, he has been involved in teaching in a pastoral training programme here in South Africa. He has co-authored three books with his father, Wayne Mack.

Patrick Nemabubuni is a member at Lynnwood Baptist Church and graduated from Strengthening Ministries Training Institute (SMTI) in November 2014, instructed by Dr. Wayne Mack. He is now completing his Masters of Arts in Biblical Counselling at The Master’s University in the United States. He is currently the secretary of the Association of Certified Biblical Counsellors in Africa since its establishment in January 2015. Patrick has passed both the theological and counselling exams with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors in the United States and he is busy finishing the required 50 biblical counselling sessions supervised by Dr. Wayne Mack.

Mike Brunk has an undergraduate degree in Zoology from Ohio University, Ohio, USA (1979). He taught at Community Bible Church, Leondale from 2001-2002. He completed the two-year SMTI programme with Dr Wayne Mack in Pretoria, South Africa in 2013. He has been serving as Senior Pastor for Kathorus Bible Church in Katlehong, Germiston since 2002. He is currently working on a MABC from Faith Seminary, Lafayette, Indiana, USA. He has completed all of the course work for his MABC and is in the process of completing the required supervised counseling and thesis.

What course materials are used in the classes?

SMTI will provide the students with a syllabus outlining the course assignments and the content of each module. The text books for each course are available from:

Good Neighbours

• (012) 993-4606
• goodneighbours.org.za

Christian Book Discounters

• (011) 895-8320
• [email protected]

What will it cost?

The cost is R1000.00 per module. this will Include,

• A manual with course material
• Refreshments and lunch
• Grading of assignments

How are the classes in SMTI structured?

At SMTI we plan to offer four training modules per year. The teaching will focus on explaining the theory of counselling and promoting the application of Scripture to life. Throughout the programme qualified Biblical Counsellors will provide mentorships to students.

Each module in the programme will be presented over five days: Monday to Friday - 8:00 am to 5:00pm

In addition to the regular courses that form the core of the training programme, SMTI intends to present seminars that will focus on issues of interest to all Christians, not just those who are interested in being trained to be counsellors.

How do I register?

Please click here and complete the online application form. After you have submitted the application form, you will be notified once it has been processed.

Where will the classes be held?

Lynnwood Baptist Church,
52 Jacobson Dr,
Lynnwood Ridge,
Pretoria,
Gauteng,
South Africa

For more information please contact:

[email protected]
Tel: +27 12 361 4559