No one can dispute the fact that effective leadership is pivotal for successful organisations, including the church. However, effective leadership is contingent on having the right leaders who can influence others to follow. It requires leaders who walk the talk. Character and competence are symbiotic agents for transformation. One without the other leads to holding a position without helming the organisation. Talking requires the least effort. Doing is challenging but it makes a critical positive impact.

At BTS, we do not just teach leadership, we train leaders. We train visionary leaders because without vision, people are lost in disarray (Prov 29:18). We train servant leaders who aspire to serve and not to be served (Mk 10:45). We train spiritual leaders who do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil (Eph 6:12). We train empowered leaders who lead not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God (Zech 4:6). We train team leaders because together, everyone achieves more (Eccl 4:9-12).

In April 2021, Rev Dr Sim Swee Kee initiated the Advanced Institute of Ministry (AIM) as a ministry arm of BTS after much consultation with pastors and leaders on what they needed to nurture their churches. AIM’s objective is to equip lay ministers, raising the Next-Generation leaders for team leadership and missional growth of the Church. On seven occasions at meetings with theologians and pastors who were not BTS staff, the seminary was spontaneously commended for doing the right thing with intentional lay leadership training. Such training was especially needed when Baptist churches are autonomous and embrace the royal priesthood of believers (1 Pet 2:9) where pastors and lay leaders work together to declare the praises of our Lord Jesus who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light.

Equipping lay leaders deepens their spiritual growth and injects a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment as they apply their spiritual gifts and talents to serve and build up the church, leading to a greater sense of community and connection. With effective lay leadership, pastors can share their load of ministry responsibilities, reducing their stress and avoiding burnout, empowering them to focus more on preaching and pastoral care. Such collaborative teamwork will lead to greater ministry effectiveness and impact.

AIM has two major training tracks – the Ministry Advancement Programme (MAP) and Ministry Emergence Programme (MEP). MAP aims to provide lay leaders with continuing spiritual and ministerial formation training, while MEP is designed to train young and emerging leaders to think biblically, live truthfully, and serve skillfully.

By the end of 2024, AIM successfully trained 5 MAP, 3 MEP (English) and 3 MEP (Chinese) cohorts, ministering to about 280 lay leaders from 23 Baptist and 9 other churches. Regular participants who completed the course are accorded with certificates and earned credits for further study at BTS. We derived much encouragement and satisfaction from the feedback of those who had completed our MAP/MEP courses, and cite a few testimonials: