How Were ACOP Leaders Trained?

[Chris]

I have found that during different seasons of my life I have undertaken learning in all three forms and have appreciated them all for the various outcomes that they provide. When I was younger, I focused a little more on Formal learning, as the positions I was headed towards required a certain level of accreditation and recognition. I still find myself engaging in all three forms, for different reasons, however I would say that I now gravitate more towards Non-formal or experiential learning, as my learning is now less about employment, and more to do with acquiring knowledge, skills and abilities in areas that interest me and. I also engage in informal learning for personal growth.

[Sarah]

I think in the past I mostly leaned towards formal learning and I still have a huge appreciation for formal education and the value of the classroom. I love how formal education forces you to really set aside and dedicate time to a topic or focus and allows you to go deep quickly. However, in this stage of my life I think I am learning a lot more from informal and non-formal learning experiences as I walk out ministry in a full time capacity.

[Nate]

I have gravitated to more formal learning, which is evident through my time here at Eston College. I think that getting some form of formal learning is really important. Learning how to intensively study is an important skill to have and develop.

I found it interesting that many of the men from the A-team seemed to have some sort of formal training which wet the appetite to become life-long learners. That is encouraging to see. One of the goals of formal education should be to create people who don’t just know what to think and learn, but how to think and learn and I think FGBI/Eston College has done that!

[Micah]

I find I gravitate to all of these things, and am growing more and more fond of learning itself. I love formal learning not for the certification, but rather because it is well-directed and focused. In that sense, it is excellent for diving into topics that someone else has researched well. That being said, some of the most formational times in my formal learning experience have been personal in-depth research that was primarily self-directed. I also love hands-on things. There is no better way to truly understand what you are learning then by doing it, and there is no better way to understand some theological concept then by having to explain it to 5 year olds in a camp cabin or Sunday school. Because I am naturally driven and curious, I do a decent amount of self-study and research, but the way that I am wired leans closer towards formal learning and hands-on forms of learning.