Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

  • In which languages are the classes being held?

    Classes are being given in English with translation into Chinese, Korean, and Spanish. An FM radio and headset is required for all trainees. Some classes are being taught in English, Chinese, Korean, and Spanish in separate classrooms.

Preparing for the Training

  • What should I do to prepare myself to come to the training?

    If you intend to join the Middle-age Full-time Training, you should live your life now with the training in view. Consecrate your life to Him and give the training the priority over your other objectives.

    It is suggested that trainees would have read through the entire Bible at least once. In addition to the Bible, trainees are encouraged to read some of the books from the booklists prior to joining the training.

    Probably the most important prerequisite of the full-time training is a heart to be trained. If you possess a personal desire to be a living, overcoming, functioning member of the Body of Christ, and are willing to allow the Lord to touch and perfect you through the training, it will benefit you greatly.

About the Training

  • Where do trainees live?

    Trainees live either in training-arranged housing or at home and commute. Trainees, who live in training-arranged housing, live in the nearby neighborhood. They are encouraged to provide their own vehicle or carpool with other trainees to get to the training classes and other places for the meetings. The living arrangements are warm and comfortable, and provide an excellent opportunity to be built up with other trainees.

  • How much free time do trainees have?

    The trainees get one day off a week from 4:00 p.m. on the Lord’s Day to 5:45 p.m. Monday. They use this time to take care of practical things (like laundry), to exercise, to visit places of cultural interest, to read, or to rest. They also have an hour and a half of free time every afternoon. Trainees use this time for exercise or for rest.

  • What services do trainees participate in outside of the regular daily schedule?

    All trainees are assigned to weekly scheduled services covering the areas of meal preparation, clean up, and hall maintenance (cleaning and vacuuming). The services assigned to each trainee vary from week to week and give the trainees the opportunity to experience blending with other trainees and serving in a variety of areas.

  • What are the exams like? Do trainees get grades? Is it possible to fail?

    “What then, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has....Let all things be done for building up.” (1 Cor. 14:26).

    Most of the classes in the training have either oral or written exams in the middle and end of the term, depending upon the type of class and the teacher. With oral examinations, trainees are usually asked to speak concerning some point of truth, testify of some personal experience of the Lord, or simply share what they have enjoyed from the Word or the ministry. Sometimes for the sake of our perfecting, teachers call specific trainees to the front of the class to speak individually, but typically this is done in groups. There is a lot of light here, but the light is in an atmosphere of love. By exercising a spirit of learning through listening to one another, we are all encouraged and built up together.

    Some of the classes have written exams. These exams test more objective facts (e.g. “What are the 4 accomplishments of Christ in the stage of incarnation?”). The questions are based on either assigned reading material or what was spoken in class, and are mainly used to highlight important points and principles that we should know. Numeric grading is used for all the exams. Trainees who fall below the passing grade are given a chance to have a make-up test with additional help in order to pass.