Welcome to The Local Church Training Institute
Built for pastors who actually do the work.
At The Local Church Training Institute, we offer practical, church-anchored theological education for men serving faithfully in local church leadership. Our programs are designed to equip pastors and ministry leaders through writing-based, self-paced learning that integrates doctrinal conviction with real-world ministry output. We do not exist for academic prestige — we exist to strengthen the local church, one pastor at a time.
Explore our degree pathways, all designed to be affordable, rigorous, and deeply tied to the life of the church.
Our Educational Model
The Local Church Training Institute follows a competency based model of ministry education. This means students learn by completing real pastoral work rather than by attending scheduled classroom sessions or accumulating credit hours. Sermons, ministry plans, theological writing, counseling case work, and church leadership assignments serve as the primary means of instruction. This model is built on the conviction that pastoral formation happens in the life of the local church, under pastoral oversight, through Scripture-saturated work that reflects the demands of real ministry.
“Built for pastors who actually do the work.”
Degrees
Bachelor of Arts in Local Church Ministry
A self-paced, practical ministry degree focused on preaching, discipleship, leadership, counseling, and church administration. Ideal for men actively serving the local church who seek to strengthen their doctrinal understanding and ministry skills.
Master of Arts in Local Church Ministry
A portfolio- and thesis-based graduate degree designed for pastors and church leaders. Students demonstrate mastery in applied theology through sermons, ministry documents, and a substantial thesis rooted in their local ministry context.
Doctor of Local Church Ministry
A writing-only doctoral degree that integrates theology, pastoral philosophy, and strategic ministry practice. The program centers on a unified dissertation reflecting the student’s actual church leadership experience.
Doctor of Preaching in the Local Church
A practice-based doctorate focused on sustained expository preaching over one full year. This degree emphasizes sermon preparation, delivery, reflection, and the spiritual growth of both pastor and congregation.
Cost
The Local Church Training Institute charges no tuition for its degree programs. The only cost to students is a $125 graduation fee, which covers the printing and shipping of an official diploma upon successful completion of a degree. We are committed to making high-quality ministry training accessible and affordable for local church pastors.
Faculty
The Local Church Training Institute is led by W. Russell Threet, pastor of West Park Baptist Church in Ozark, Arkansas. Russell brings years of pastoral experience, preaching, biblical counseling, and theological education to the institute. As the Institute grows, other qualified local church pastors may be involved in mentoring students through their programs as needed.
About Our Degrees
The degrees offered by the Institute are religious exempt ministry credentials issued under Arkansas law. They are designed solely for pastoral preparation and local church leadership. They are not accredited academic degrees and are not intended for transfer to regionally or nationally accredited colleges or seminaries. Their value rests in the rigor of the work required and their usefulness in strengthening men who are actively serving or preparing to serve in the local church.
Application Form
Contact
For more information about The Local Church Training Institute, please contact us:
Email: localchurchinstitute@gmail.com
Website: westparkozark.org (see Institute tab)
We welcome inquiries from pastors and church leaders interested in our programs.
Disclaimer
The Local Church Training Institute is a religious institution that is exempt from state regulation and oversight in the State of Arkansas under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-61-301 et seq. The Institute offers religious education solely for the purpose of ministry training and does not grant state-recognized degrees. The Institute is a ministry of West Park Baptist Church of Ozark, Arkansas, and operates under the oversight of its leadership in accordance with its religious mission and purpose.
