Distinctives
God-Centered
Since all things exist for the glory of God, MCTS attempts to be God-centered and God-glorifying in all that it does. The earth is a theatre for God’s glory. MCTS exists to be a conduit through which God gains fame for his own name’s sake.
Intensively Christ-Focused
Since the central redemptive thrust of Scripture is the glory of God through the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ, MCTS will be intensively Christ-focused in all that it does. We want our students focused upon what God is focused upon. God’s focus on the earth is the revelation of his Son in order that he might bring many sons to glory. This attempt to be Christ-focused permeates all our classes and institutional endeavors.
Law-Gospel Oriented
Since future pastors must minister to both the lost and the saved and since both the law and the gospel apply to both groups of men (though in different ways), MCTS will be law-gospel oriented in all that it does. We will train our students to be skillful masters of the crucial distinctions between law and gospel and how each relates to various kinds of men.
Confessionally Grounded
Since we want to recognize and identify ourselves with what Christ has been doing in his church throughout the centuries, MCTS is a confessionally grounded institution. We are committed to providing ministerial training in a confessionally based environment. We adhere to the Second London Confession of Faith, otherwise known as The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. This time-proven document keeps us accountable to the myriad of worthy theological voices of the past and preserves us from the whims of novelty.
Pastorally Concerned
Since our primary goal is the training of future pastors, MCTS is keenly aware of the crucial need to be pastorally concerned and to mentor men throughout their educational experience. All of our professors are either pastors or former pastors. All resident students will participate in our monthly Table Talk. This informal time of discussion is our attempt at staying in touch pastorally with our students and providing a forum where they can discuss the practical elements of the Christian ministry by interacting with experienced pastors. In addition, all students will be involved in a personal, pastoral mentoring program.
Globally Minded
Since the Christian gospel was designed to be propagated throughout the earth, MCTS is committed to being globally minded. God is in the business of making worshippers from all the peoples of the earth. Therefore, MCTS seeks to foster global-mindedness in all its students. It is our desire to produce missionaries and church-planters for all nations of the earth.
Carefully Positive and Intentional
Since Christ is doing the work of building his church and training future pastors in many places, MCTS recognizes the worthy labors of other institutions. We support and seek to cooperate with those who are doing the much-needed work of training men for the Christian ministry. We are whole-heartedly committed to being carefully positive and intentional in such relationships.
Technologically Informed
Since we live in a technologically advanced age and since technology can be used for promoting the cause of the gospel, MCTS is committed to being technologically informed. We realize the importance of staying in touch with and utilizing the various useful mediums of communication available. To this end, MCTS has a website (www.mctsowensboro.org), a blog (www.mctsowensboro.org/blog), and a private, on-line discussion forum for students, staff, and faculty. We utilize technological resources to record (audio and video) many of our courses. These courses are available on the internet for distance learning. We also plan on offering some of our courses live via the internet through a virtual classroom medium.