BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR ESTABLISHING A TRAINING CENTER

 Acts 19:1-20 records the ministry of the Apostle Paul in the city of Ephesus. When Paul first arrived in Ephesus, he sought out disciples who lived there. These men and women had already accepted the Gospel and become followers of Jesus (Acts 19:1).  These new believers needed further training in order to minister effectively in their city. 

Paul taught them through experience.  The first thing he did was lead them into a new spiritual experience, the baptism of the Holy Ghost (see Acts 19:2-8). Through the demonstration of God's power in his own life, Paul taught them by example.  They witnessed many great miracles done in the name of the Lord (Acts 19:11-12). Those who were not true followers of Jesus were exposed and repented (Acts 19:13-17).  New converts were won to the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 19:17-20).

When opposition to the Gospel arose from traditional leaders, Paul established a training center for disciples at Ephesus:

But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he (Paul) departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. (Acts 19:9)

The center Paul established offered a two-year training course for disciples.  The purpose of the school was to multiply disciples who would spread the Gospel message:

And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus Christ, both Jews and Greeks.  (Acts 19:9-10)

This training center knew no cultural lines.  Students ministered to both Jews and Gentiles (other non-Jewish nations of the world).  The school had no geographic boundaries.  The students not only ministered in their own city of Ephesus, they reached the entire continent of Asia: 

...So that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus Christ, both Jews and Greeks.  (Acts 19:10)

So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed. (Acts 19:20)

The school at Ephesus trained believers to be effective ministers of the Gospel.  These disciples multiplied spiritually to reach all of Asia with the Word of God. By establishing such a center, Paul multiplied his own ministry.

Read Acts 19:23-41 and 20:1. The production and sale of occult objects, books, etc., was big business at Ephesus.   When people repented from sin and followed the way of the Gospel, they no longer purchased these items used in the worship of false gods.  They burned such items which they had previously purchased.

The merchants who made their living from the sale of these items became very angry.  A riot resulted and in the end, Paul had to leave the city.  But when Paul departed, he left something very important behind at Ephesus. He left a group of trained disciples to carry on the work of the Gospel.  He left an established training center which continued to lead new converts on to discipleship.  The center Paul established continued the multiplication process when he could no longer remain in the city.

The need for similar training centers still exists today.  As converts multiply, it is important that they be trained as disciples.  Disciples must be challenged with their responsibility of reaching the world with the Gospel.

As nations experience political change, many missionaries are forced to leave countries where they have ministered.  If the process of spiritual multiplication is to continue in their absence, they must leave behind training centers similar to that in Ephesus.