We have been using Melvin’s PACE Training Manual in Korea for 15 years. It was derived from his first book, and we have used it very effectively. It is a very simple manual—only about 30 pages of A4-sized paper.
This experience has led me to rethink what a training manual should be for any ministry.
First, a training manual should be simple, but not simplistic. There are basically two kinds of people. Some prefer simple manuals with simple concepts that are easy to understand and apply. Others prefer more complicated and comprehensive manuals, perhaps 80 to 100 pages or more. I understand why both approaches exist, and churches have produced many kinds of manuals. But if I had to choose between the two, I would choose the simpler one.
Why? Because most ministries begin very well. There is enthusiasm, vision, and passion. But sooner or later, that initial passion begins to fade. When people encounter difficulties, they often look for solutions in books. The problem is that many ministry books are written primarily for the beginning stage. They explain what the ministry is, how to begin, and what to do first. Of course, there are more mature books, but generally, much of the available material focuses on the early stages.
As a result, people may remain at the starting line. They know how to begin, but they do not necessarily know how to grow beyond the beginning.
If we imagine ministry as a journey from 1 to 10, I would say that a training manual should mainly cover stages 1 to 3. But what about stages 4 through 10? We should not spend all our energy developing resources for the beginning while neglecting the later stages of ministry development.
Second, a training manual should be used primarily for the start-up line.
Starting is more important than almost anything else. Look at many ministries. People have good intentions. They talk about their vision and have reasonable plans, but they never actually start. They stand beside the swimming pool and discuss swimming, but never jump into the water. Eventually, the ministry dies before it really begins.
Without starting, nothing happens.
Therefore, whatever else we do, we have to START. The primary function of a training manual should be to help people cross that starting line and begin doing the ministry.
Third, a training manual should provide direction and guidelines, rather than excessive detail.
At the beginning, people need a general picture of where they are going. Every manual should have a clear purpose. For example, the purpose of our PACE Training Manual is to produce lay pastors. It needs to answer basic questions: Who are lay pastors? What are they supposed to do? Why are they doing it?
The goal must be clear. A training manual should point people toward that destination and give them enough guidance to begin moving in the right direction.
Finally, I suggest practice first, and theory later.
This is something I learned from Peter Drucker, particularly through The Daily Drucker. The idea makes sense to me. People want to know, “Does this actually work?”
That is exactly how the PACE ministry developed. The PACE Manual did not begin as a theory developed in a classroom. It came out of actual ministry practice at College Hill Presbyterian Church in Ohio. First came the practice. Then, after seeing that it worked, the experience was developed into a book, a manual, and eventually a ministry system.
In other words, practice came first, and theory came later.
This is why I believe a good training manual should not begin with a large amount of theory. It should come from the field, be tested in real ministry, and then provide a simple and practical framework for others to follow.
A training manual is not supposed to explain everything about a ministry. Its primary job is much simpler: help people understand the ministry, know where they are going, and take the first step.
Start first. Practice first. Then, as the ministry grows, theory and deeper resources can follow.