About

Our biblically conservative, comprehensive, and affordable curriculum has been used to equip over 180,000 pastors and church leaders with a face-to-face, discipleship model. What makes BTCP unique is our relational, face-to-face, accessible model.

BTCP offers comprehensive Bible training programs for Pastors (BTCP) and Church leaders (BTCL, BTCI).

  • To extend comprehensive theological training to the world’s untrained pastors and church leaders.

  • A life-on-life concept and a biblically sound, time-tested curriculum. We want our graduates to have a biblical and theological framework for life and ministry.

BTCP Concept

Life-On-Life Equipping for Ministry

Program Summary Manual

  • Provides the “irreducible minimum”

  • Trains students to properly handle the Word of God

  • Equips with knowledge and practical skills

  • Church-based, comprehensive education

  • Cross-denominational setting

  • Enables and encourages students to equip and train others

  • Exhorts students to personal obedience and growth toward maturity in Christ

  • Focused on biblical principles, truths and concepts, not mere accumulation of knowledge

  • Promotes an ongoing process of assimilation of knowledge

  • No traditional measuring devices such as exams and term papers

  • Student motivation comes from a personal desire to be biblically equipped, not from grade point averages, or fear of failure on exams

If you would like a comprehensive view of the BTCP guidelines, concept, curriculum, and philosophy of ministry, please download our Program Summary Manual. This resource provides a comprehensive view of our ministry as well as a syllabus and sample lesson from each of the 10 course manuals.

The BTCP Curriculum

The Curriculum—available in 40+ languages

The Bible is our main textbook (see 2 Timothy 3:15-17), along with 10 essential courses, which also become a resource library for the pastor in his ministry:

  1. Bible Study Methods and Rules of Interpretation

  2. Old Testament Survey

  3. New Testament Survey

  4. Preaching Biblical Messages and Pastoral Ministry

  5. Bible Doctrine Survey

  6. Personal Spiritual Life

  7. Church Ministry/Administration/Education

  8. Teaching Principles and Methods

  9. Church History Survey

  10. Missions/Evangelism/Discipleship

Please download our BTCP Program Summary Manual for an overview of the program and all ten of the courses. Pages 33-152 of the Program Summary will provide you with a Syllabus and other sample pages from each course manual

Using the Curriculum

BTCP “Classic”: Classes are conducted by partnering ministries in various full-time programs or modular formats. Class schedules can also be adapted to the students’ needs. Partnering ministries include churches, mission agencies, associations of churches, Bible colleges and seminaries, para-church ministries, and individual missionaries and pastors.

Church Sponsored Bible Institutes: Realizing the shortfall in scriptural instruction, many churches in the USA use 5 of the 10 BTCP courses to equip elders, deacons, Bible teachers, and small group leaders. We call this Bible Training for Church Leaders (BTCL).

Bible College: Some of our partners use our concept and curriculum to form the “backbone” or core of their multi-year formal programs.

Seminary Extension Bible Institute: Several seminaries outside the USA use BTCP to extend basic theological training in a Bible Institute format to remote locations.

History of BTCP

In 1988 Dennis Mock taught a conference for pastors in Mombasa, Kenya. He quickly realized that these men were eager to learn, but had never had any opportunity for theological or ministry training. Following his experience in Mombasa, Dennis wrote a comprehensive 10-course curriculum designed to equip pastors with essential Bible knowledge and basic pastoral skills. This curriculum was first taught in Nairobi, Kenya in 1990. Since that time the Lord has expanded the ministry of BTCP around the world through hundreds of ministry partners using the program in over 90 countries with 47 translations and 160,000 graduates.

About Our Author & Founder

Dr. Dennis J. Mock is an ordained pastor, having served on staff from December 1984 until October 1995 at First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, as Minister of Adult Education and Minister of Bible Teaching and Training. After January 1989 his ministry primarily focused on BTCP, of which he is the founder and author of its 10 course curriculum. He served as pastor of Genesis Bible Church, Atlanta for over 23 years from which he retired in October of 2018. 

Prior to entering the ministry in 1982, Dr. Mock practiced law in Atlanta for 13 years. He has been married to Patricia Mock since 1963 and they have three children and six grandchildren.

Dr. Mock has written numerous Bible book studies for use in Sunday School and was on the adjunct/extension faculty of Columbia Bible College (S.C.) from 1985 to 1990. He holds the following degrees: BA (1966) from Samford University; Doctor of Law, J.D. (1969) from Emory University Law School; and MA in Biblical Studies (1984) from Dallas Theological Seminary. God has used Dennis greatly over a lifetime of pastoring, Bible teaching, teacher training, curriculum development, and writing. Although he retired as President of BTCP in Dec., 2015, he is still actively involved in the ministry as BTCP’s Chairman of the Board.

“We are constantly amazed at how the Lord continues to multiply the ministry efforts of BTCP. Expansion and future growth are attainable through adding new ministry partners, increasing the capacity of existing partners and increasing available translations.

BTCP operates from the simple multiplication model provided in 2 Timothy 2:1-2,

“…and the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”

This illustrates the essence of BTCP’s ministry; students motivated for ministry become qualified graduates who are encouraged to train others.

We are reminded always that our ability to extend training is only possible through the generous support and prayers of God’s people. Please consider how you might help BTCP continue to fulfill our mission of training the untrained pastors and church leaders of the world.

- Dr. Dennis J. Mock
BTCP Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors

Ordering Materials

Thank you for your interest in using the BTCP concept and curriculum for equipping pastors and church leaders.

In order to order the BTCP manuals, you must be an active BTCP ministry partner. Please see Partnering With BTCP for the criteria. Contact us by email at info@btcp.com or call 770-938-6160 Ext. 206, and we would be delighted to discuss BTCP more fully.

Partners Ordering BTCP Course Materials:

If you are already a BTCP partner and would like to place an order or have questions concerning an existing order, please contact us by email at orders@btcp.com or call 770-938-6160

Other materials available for purchase without being a BTCP ministry partner:

Bible Book Studies for Adults (BBSA) from Bible Training Centre for Pastors

The BBSA series is designed to promote practical understanding and application of the principles of God’s Word through expositional studies of individual Bible books. The focus is on what Scripture says so that believers may develop a biblical world view and look to God for guidance in every area of life. Every Christian should be involved in systematic Bible study if spiritual growth and effective service is to take place.

→ The studies are suitable for use:

  1. in adult Bible Study or Sunday School classes.

  2. in small group Bible studies.

  3. in personal study by individuals.

  4. by pastors/teachers.

The material is designed for a one-hour lesson per week format.

The Bible Book Studies are written to enable believers to grow and mature in Christ by knowing and obeying His Word. 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Ephesians 4:14-16

Sample of BBSA Genesis Student Manual – Cost per manual $10.00

Sample of BBSA Genesis Teacher Manual – Cost per manual $5.00

The BBSA manuals can be ordered here (*Please note that we can only ship these books to US addresses at this time)

FAQs

  • BTCP Pastor Certification: Men who meet the biblical qualifications for pastors as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 are eligible to earn a BTCP certificate upon completing all 10 courses in our pastoral training program. This includes requirements such as being faithful to one wife, not divorced, and demonstrating proven character and leadership abilities.

    BTCL and BTCI Certification: All other committed disciples seeking ministry training—including women, divorced individuals, and lay leaders—are welcome in our church leader training programs. Students can earn either a BTCL certificate (8 core courses) or BTCI certificate (5 core courses) depending on their chosen track.

  • Our Bible training curriculum is intentionally designed for live, face-to-face classroom instruction with qualified mentoring teachers. We do not offer online classes, correspondence courses, or distance learning options for several important biblical and pedagogical reasons:

    Biblical Model of Discipleship: Scripture consistently demonstrates a relational, life-to-life training model. As Jesus taught in Luke 6:40, "A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." This transformation happens through personal relationship and mentorship, not just information transfer.

    Character Formation: While online education effectively transfers knowledge, research shows it falls short in spiritual formation and character development. We believe "we teach what we know, but we reproduce what we are"—requiring personal interaction between mentor and student.

    Reproducible Ministry Model: Our face-to-face approach creates leaders who can replicate this discipleship model in their own contexts, multiplying effective ministry training worldwide.

    Though we recognize online training has its place, we remain committed to the biblical standard of relational discipleship that has proven most effective for developing mature church leaders and pastors.

  • We are intentionally non-accredited and do not offer degrees, diplomas, or academic transcripts. This deliberate choice allows us to provide several key advantages:

    Why We Choose Non-Formal Education:

    • Accessibility: No academic prerequisites required—training is open to all qualified candidates regardless of educational background

    • Affordability: Extremely low cost compared to formal Bible colleges and seminaries

    • Flexibility: Focus on practical ministry skills rather than academic requirements

    • Character-Based: Emphasis on spiritual development and practical application rather than grades and testing

    What Our Certificates Represent:

    • BTCP certificates: Completion of comprehensive 10-course pastoral training program with documented hours

    • BTCL certificates: Completion of 8 core ministry courses with specific course details and training hours

    • BTCI certificates: Completion of 5 foundational courses with documented training hours

    Transfer Recognition: Some Bible colleges and seminaries recognize our completion certificates and may grant advanced standing to transferring students, though this varies by institution.

    Our Mission: Provide excellent biblical training to those who need it most—pastors and church leaders in underserved areas—at an affordable cost without traditional educational barriers.

    If you require formal academic credentials, degrees, or official transcripts for your ministry goals, you will need to attend a traditional Bible college or seminary.

  • You will need to recruit a qualified teacher from your church or organization to teach your BTCP or BTCL classes. We are, however, available to conduct a 2-day Partnership Orientation/ Teacher Training Workshop to orient potential teachers and coordinators to the use of the curriculum.

    Understanding Our Partnership Model:

    Teacher Training Support: We provide comprehensive support through our 2-day Partnership Orientation and Teacher Training Workshop, designed to equip potential teachers and program coordinators with everything needed to successfully implement our curriculum.

    Our Partnership Model: BTCP operates with a lean staff of 5 ministers and 2 administrative assistants, allowing us to focus on developing excellent curriculum and supporting partner ministries worldwide. We provide:

    • Initial teacher training and orientation

    • Complete curriculum materials and teaching guides

    • Ongoing consultation and program support

    • Multiplication strategies for expanding training in your region

    Teacher Qualifications: Potential teachers should have completed theological training through seminary, Bible college, BTCP programs, or equivalent biblical education.

    Interested in becoming a teaching partner? Contact us to learn about bringing BTCP training to your area. Already a student? We can help you locate existing programs in your region.

  • Governance: BTCP operates under the oversight of a 7-member Board of Directors who provide strategic guidance and ensure faithful stewardship of our mission.

    Financial Accountability: Our ministry undergoes annual independent financial audits to maintain transparency and responsible fund management.

    Legal Status: Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1991, making all donations tax-deductible according to IRS guidelines.

    Industry Standards: BTCP maintains membership in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), demonstrating our commitment to the highest standards of financial integrity, fundraising practices, and board governance.

    Take a look at our financial report and ministry impact in this year’s annual report.