Desertside Ministry Training Center
Learn how to make a meaningful impact.
Desertside Ministry Training Center is a three-month training program followed by a year-long internship. It provides classes in practical theology, instruction for deepening one’s walk with God, hands-on ministry experience, and ongoing mentoring by seasoned ministry leaders.
About
When we began camp ministry in Egypt after the Arab Spring, we discovered the country’s history of sending missionaries abroad. Committed Egyptian evangelical believers are still building the local church throughout the Middle East and taking the Gospel beyond its borders.
At our first English youth camp, many believers between the ages of twenty and thirty declared their willingness to leave family and career to enter full-time ministry. With the help of International Messengers in the States and Canada, the “Desertside Training Center” (DTC) was born, enrolling its first class of eight students in Alexandria.
Most students come from Coptic, Maronite-Catholic, or Syriac-Orthodox backgrounds, usually belonging to evangelical local churches.
Training
This training adopts the predominant leadership style in the Middle East. Students expect to be mentored in all areas of life, and teachers assist them in making mature decisions and finding their ministry niche. Each class learns to work as a team and forms lasting friendships. Former students now serve as staff in Egypt, Lebanon, and Turkey.
The sense of family and mutual dependence is strong, influenced by the often hostile societies of the Middle East and North Africa. Christianity is generally discriminated against, and sharing the Good News publicly is illegal.
This is why the Desertside Training Center does not have a fixed location. Security, confidentiality, and loyalty are crucial for fieldwork in the Middle East.
Internship
After completing the program, each trainee does a one-year missionary internship. Most cannot afford the tuition fees or accommodation expenses, therefore, students depend on donations from abroad. Increasing their English-speaking proficiency, communication skills, and building an international support team are key elements of the training.
Most interns serve with International Messengers (IM) in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. Interns work as part of a team alongside a veteran missionary.
Some ministry opportunities for interns include hosting English Camps, discipling new believers, leading children’s and youth ministry, leading Bible studies, and preaching in local churches. They also include outreaches in local communities using sports and media training.
For Churches
DTC enables the local church to equip and send missionaries from their fellowship.
This is an excellent investment of mission funds and we encourage the sending church to provide up to 50% of the support needed by the missionary intern.
The amount of support raised should cover the entire training and internship period. Desertside Ministry Training is committed to keeping this experience as affordable as possible and will provide training in raising prayer and financial support.
More Information
Dates
Twice a year
Egypt/Lebanon
