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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The Chilton Baptist Association and Samford University’s Ministry Training Institute are partnering to establish an extension site in Chilton County.

“Ministry Training Institute has just recently grown significantly under their new director Kevin Blackwell at Samford,” Tyler Eiland, director of the Chilton Baptist Association, said. “… I heard great things about the program, so I reached out to him about having an extension in Chilton County.”

He said he is “excited” for the Association to be able to offer these classes.

“I think the better equipped you are through courses like what we will be offering the better you’ll be able to serve more effectively in ministry,” Eiland said.

Training courses had been offered in the past but were discontinued due to lack of participation. When Eiland became director of the Association, there was interest in establishing classes again.

“We have had several people already express interest in being a part of it,” Eiland said.

Although the classes will be taught from a Baptist viewpoint, the training is open to anyone who is interested, no matter what church they attend.

Eiland said the classes are ideal for those who want to become better equipped to serve in a church setting without completing a degree.

“It would be a great fit for Sunday School teachers, deacons, young men who feel called to ministry, pastors who want a refresher course, etc.,” Eiland said in an announcement about the courses on social media.

Each course will last eight weeks. Classes will be held on Tuesdays at 6-9 p.m. The first course, “Introduction to Biblical Interpretation” is set to begin Aug. 25. An online option will also be available through Cisco WebEX.

Registration can be completed by visiting samford.edu/programs/ministry-training-institute/current-classes and scrolling down to Chilton-Clanton Extension.

Cost for each course is $50 per person.

Instructors for the courses will be selected by Eiland and Blackwell.

“All of the instructors have to have a master’s degree or higher to teach,” Eiland said.

The courses offered will follow the Ministry Training Institute course of study.

A second course to start in October has also been set.

Eiland said the plan is to offer as many of the courses, one at a time, as people are interested in attending.

For more information, contact the Chilton Baptist Association at 205-755-3188 or visit http://chiltonbaptist.online/mti.