I.　Our history of trainings:

A.　Started by Brother Nee in mainland China.

B.　Continued by Brother Lee in Taiwan in 1953.

C.　Brother Lee called urgent elders' meetings beginning in 1984 in Anaheim.

AA.　"Another thing I want to make clear is our burden to have trainings to train the saints. Brother Nee conducted regular trainings for the saints in mainland China. I came out of mainland China to Taiwan in 1949. We started a formal training there for four months in 1953. From that year on, I set aside a few months nearly every year for the training of the saints." (Elders' Training, Book 9: The Eldership and the God-ordained Way (1), p. 55)

II.　The New Testament examples of trainings:

A.　Paul at Ephesus in the school of Tyrannus—Acts 19:9-10:

1.　A work done beside the church but related to and for the church.

2.　The work took place for two years.

3.　Resulting in all those in Asia hearing the word of the Lord.

B.　Paul at Rome in his own rented dwelling—Acts 28:30-31:

1.　Paul rented a place to teach and at that time there was a church already in Rome.

2.　To proclaim the kingdom of God and to teach the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

3.　With all boldness and unhindered.

III.　The burden of the training:

A.　To perfect the saints unto the work of ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ:

AA.　"The genuine perfection of the saints must be in the church and under the ministry. Today the Lord's ministry is criticized, slandered, and scorned. If the eyes of the believers are opened, they will see what the ministry is and where it is today. In the church the ministry is needed to perfect the saints unto the work of ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ….In these days I bear a very heavy burden concerning the perfecting of the saints. This burden cannot be discharged until I see that all the saints are able to do the same kind of work as was done by the early apostles, prophets, evangelists, and shepherds and teachers….Children are perfected by feeding and by training. The same is true with respect to perfecting the saints according to God's economy. The saints need to be fed and they need to be trained so that they may function with the proper skill." (Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 351-352)

B.　To enrich and uplift the practice of the church life:

AA.　"I am extremely burdened that we all grow in life and that we all receive training in order to function. We are here to be absolute with the Lord. The church meetings are not a time for relaxation or entertainment. The Lord needs a people who are willing to grow, to be trained, and to be disciplined." (Life-study of Ephesians, p. 360)

C.　To help the leading ones out of their "probing way":

AA.　"Thus far, according to my observation, many of the leading ones are still building up the local churches in a 'probing way.' They heard something and they received some teaching, but in their practice they are not so clear what to do or how to do it. This is why I have the burden to be involved in the direct building of a local church in a certain place if the Lord would give me time." (Elders' Training, Book 9: The Eldership and the Go-ordained Way (1), p. 59)

IV.　The meaning of training:

A.　To have the rich supply of Christ for growth.

B.　To be equipped to become skillful:

1.　In speaking.

2.　In contacting new ones.

3.　In shepherding.

4.　In preaching.

5.　In teaching.

C.　"To be trained is to have the rich supply of Christ ministered to us that we may grow, and it is to be equipped that we may be skillful in speaking, in contacting new ones, in shepherding, and in preaching and teaching." (Life-study of Ephesians, p. 353)