Spiritual Formation

At a theological training institution such as WIST, it can happen that students place all their emphasis on academic learning and somehow assume that a growing knowledge of the Christian faith will automatically result in a growing intimacy with the Lord. Yet, sadly, it is possible to have extensive knowledge of Christian beliefs and values, to know the theories and the practices and yet not be a spiritual person, encountering God and responding to him with growing intimacy and devotion.

Of course, there is no dispute that academic training is fundamentally important. At WIST, we want to train you to be diligent in your studies, to become theologically competent, and to use your new found knowledge in a mature and wise way. Without knowledge of Christian belief and practice, we cannot progress in our spiritual lives.

At WIST, we aim to attain academic excellence; we provide varied and exceptional opportunities for the identification and honing of spiritual gifts to be used in Christian ministry. But alongside these, we desire that you will encounter God in a way that will transform your life, so that this divine encounter will be expressed in your attitudes, lifestyle and behaviour.

Your time here may well make you a superb theologian, but that is not enough. We want to graduate superb theologians who have learned how to nurture their spirituality and who have a growing and life changing relationship with God. Ultimately, we want to see Christ formed in our graduates, living through them and touching the world. Our purpose is to equip our students to be biblically-based servant leaders.

Therefore, alongside your practical training and your academic studies,you will participate in small Fellowship groups where pertinent issues regarding spiritual growth and maturity will be discussed.. Here at school, we consider the development of your spiritual character to be a priority, and we want you to make it a priority also. 

Download the complete Spiritual Formation Handbook (122.78KB).