Training Minds Ministry
Mandates for Ministry
The apostle Paul saw the importance of calling leaders to do more than just lead, or just “being there” for the church. When writing to Peter, he emphasized “training” and “preparation” in the activities of the mind. “Train your mind for action,” Paul instructed Peter in 1 Peter 1:13. Like a soldier must exercise the muscles of his body to engage in physical combat, so the leader must exercise the mind to engage in cultural combat. Of all the apostles, Paul exemplified the leader with a trained mind, clear understanding of right and wrong, and communicated to all audiences (Acts 16 is a great example).
Problem:
Modern academia fails to provide “training grounds” for training the mind for action. Many educators spend most of their time on the “core competencies”—reading, writing and arithmetic—while leaving leadership and speaking skills to the side of extracurricular activities. Leadership activities like speech, debate, logic, rhetoric, and others are considered “electives” rather than part of the core educational foundation of a student’s academic career.
Consequence:
Without the training of the mind, young people who should naturally become leaders of society instead become detached and apathetic. Educational institutions fail to produce leaders who are able to think, articulate, and persuade for righteous and holy causes. Instead, driven by politically correct agendas instead of objective truth, these institutions produce robotic masses that are easily swayed and susceptible to atrocity. The “adult mind” is not inherently blessed with reason and rationality; rather, these adult minds—products of the education of their youth—are largely unreasonable and irrational. These adults become the leaders and educators of the next generation, and so goes the cycle downward.
Plan:
Training Minds Ministry seeks to change this tide by building curricula that brings forensic education back into the center of educators’ pedagogy. Debate will train students to engage political and philosophical propositions. Logic and reasoning will provide scientific methods for thinking correctly and properly. Speech will train students to articulate their beliefs fruitfully and persuasively. Training Minds Ministry curricula includes policy and value debate materials, lesson plans, camps, club resources, online communities, and local clubs.
Vision:
Future leaders, politicians, philosophers, and evangelists will possess godly character, rational minds, and strong moral backbones. The fallout of moral relevancy will become more and more of a distant problem facing the world. A social order of people who love one another, seek good will for one another, and capitalize on the strengths of individual potential will produce a peaceful and productive world.
Ministries:
Since 2001, Training Minds Ministry has accomplished much in the area of academic debate. Having a great impact on the National Christian Forensics & Communication Association, TMM has published the bestselling curriculum for policy debate, trumpeted by the yearly “Blue Book,” the policy debate manual. This has empowered national champions to be trained in the academics of debate and effectively compete in the league. TMM has also provided the “Red Book,” a similar yet scaled down policy version focused rather on values and philosophical debate.
In 2004, TMM started providing debate camps open to NCFCA debaters. Since then thousands of students from across the country have been trained by the best coaches available in academic debate. The results of Training Minds Debate Camps have been incredible: a large portion of NCFCA national qualifiers are debate camp alumni, and several of the top award winners are, too.
In 2008, TMM expanded its ministry impact by including Extemporaneous Speaking as a major leg to its ministry. TMM's Colorado Debate Camp brought over 50 students and parents to camp a day early for sessions on extemporaneous speaking, taught by Cody and Ryan Herche, national champions themselves.
The future ambitions on Training Minds Ministry are great. First, TMM will launch online classes in Spring 2009. Second, TMM will launch its first "Speech & Debate Conference" in the summer. These ambisions are great, and the results should continue to be impressive.
Press Information
Listen to Training Minds Ministry urge home-schoolers to “train the mind for action” on Generations with Kevin Swanson. Click here for audio download.
For press or speaking information, contact Chris Jeub at chris@trainingminds.org.
Staff & Board of Directors
President
Chris Jeub: Founder of Training Minds Ministry and author of several speech and debate resources.
Board of Directors
Eric Ludy (website)
Michael Turner
Dave Carter
Wendy Jeub, Secretary (website)
Staff
Cynthia Jeub, Administrative Assistant
Maggie Carabelos, Activities Coordinator (Clarion Events)
Coaches
Matthew Baker, Chap Bettis, Maggie Carabelos, Joanna Griffith, Cody Herche, Travis Herche, Chris Jeub, Samantha Nasser, Kaitlin Nelson, Rob Parks, Larry Sparks, Vance Trefethen, Mike Winther. This list changes often. See a complete list of our Conference Coaches.
Forensics is an activity that you will find rewarding to involve the whole family.
Please visit the other areas of our website to meet your forensics needs. You are in for a great experience!