Daystar Institute of Biblical Theology & Leadership Development (aka Daystar Institute / NM) is dedicated to training and equipping self-motivated pastors and church leaders in a church-based setting so as to thoroughly establish them in the way of Christ and the apostles. By this means, we prepare them to reproduce this training in the lives of their families and members of their church congregations.
Our goal is to contribute significantly to the global endeavor of preparing men and women to serve as ministers, teachers and leaders in the advancement of the kingdom of God. Walking in the Way of Christ and the Apostles (WitW) is a study in Christian discipleship which is designed for use by pastors, church leaders, and Christian ministry workers, who will then use the study to train others.
Our goal is to contribute significantly to the global endeavor of preparing men and women to serve as ministers, teachers and leaders in the advancement of the kingdom of God. Walking in the Way of Christ and the Apostles (WitW) is a study in Christian discipleship which is designed for use by pastors, church leaders, and Christian ministry workers, who will then use the study to train others.
Our Vision, Mission & Values
Our Vision
To see the Kingdom of God advanced by trained and equipped ministers worldwide who walk in righteousness and justice.
Our Mission
To train and equip disciples of Jesus Christ to become thoroughly established in the way of Christ and the apostles according to the Apostle Paul's mandate in Colossians 2:6-7 that they, in turn, might train others. Our materials emphasize discipleship without compromise, practical Christian theology, and building a biblical worldview.
Our Values
We embrace three core values, and we covenant with one another to consistently practice and model these values. We are committed to these values as an essential aspect of being disciples of Christ and of walking in His way.
- Koinonia. The essential meaning of this Greek word is having things in common. Experiencing koinonia within a Christian community means that we are in partnership with one another, and we collaborate – work shoulder to shoulder as members of a team – under the headship of Christ to advance His kingdom. Koinonia means that we practice open communication without hidden agendas.
- Philadelphia. The essential meaning of this Greek word is brotherly affection. Experiencing philadelphia within a Christian community means that we are careful to consistently treat one another as we would want to be treated. We are kind toward one another, and we are quick to forgive and seek forgiveness whenever offenses arise.
- Servant Leadership. Jesus Christ our Lord modeled servant leadership. He stated and modeled through His life and ministry that He came not to be served, but rather to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. He commands us to walk in His way as a principal means of demonstrating our love for Him.
Our Field
Our field is the world with special emphasis at this time on the USA and East Africa. In the US our target audience consists of Christ followers who are serious about walking in the way of Christ and the apostles, whereas in East Africa and South Asia we target pastors and church leaders who would otherwise have little or no access to theological education.
Our Objectives
Our 4-fold objective is for students to learn how to:
1. Practice uncompromising Christian discipleship,
2. Become people who are wholeheartedly devoted to following Jesus Christ,
3. Walk in the way of God, which is the way of wisdom that leads to life, and
4. Know God and His ways through study of His word, both individually and in community.
Our Resources
Walking in the Way (WitW) of Christ & the Apostles was developed as our tool of choice in teaching the objectives outlined above. The WitW Study Guide Series is not your usual book-by-book or topical Bible study. Rather, it uses a holistic approach to challenge students to apply biblical principles to their lives and ministries.
Bible study teachers and leaders are encouraged to read the WitW Theological Readers in order to gain a better understanding of the material presented in the WitW Study Guide series.
Our Primary Teaching Method - Doing Theology in Community
In the WitW study, we define theology as a set of concepts and principles that govern behavior, rather than merely belief. Accordingly, we define doing theology as the action of deriving theological, moral, and ethical principles from Scripture through proper hermeneutical procedure and skillfully applying those principles to the practical issues of life and ministry in community and in culture.
Per this definition, every disciple of Christ needs to acquire skill in doing theology. In fact, to live and minister as a disciple of Christ requires the doing of theology. The reason for this is that the way of Christ and the apostles is radically counterintuitive. Only by habitually aligning our thinking process to the language of Scripture are we able to live and walk as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
We urge doing theology in community. Guided socratic discussions are an excellent learning tool.
Our Affiliations
Noah Webster College, Albuquerque, NM: For granting certificates of completion for WitW students.
Trinity Southwest University, Albuquerque, NM: for the granting of undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Our Founder
Daystar Institute of Biblical Theology & Leadership Development (Daystar Institute / NM, Inc.) was conceived by its founder, Dr. Peter Briggs, as a vehicle to provide discipleship and leadership development training to pastors, church leaders, and disciples in Jesus Christ that they, in turn, may train others. Dr. Briggs holds a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Trinity College & Seminary in Newburg, Indiana. He has held various faculty and dean positions at Trinity Southwest University in Albuquerque, and is a former Pastor of Adult Education at Foothills Fellowship, also in Albuquerque, NM. His passion is for establishing disciples the way of Christ and the apostles, which is evidenced in the teaching materials he has produced.
Testimonials
"The Walking in the Way of Christ & the Apostles (WitW) series by Dr. Peter Briggs is a powerful tool for fulfilling Jesus' universal mandate to make disciples. WitW is theologically sound, conceptually brilliant, and life-changing for those who are trained by it. The impact of WitW is not only personal transformation into the image of Christ, but also a profound influence on families, churches, and the larger culture, whether in America or Africa or anywhere else. Peter Briggs is a theologian of substantial import, but he has not merely plied his theological craft in the halls of academia. With God's leading, he has managed to translate biblical truth and disciple-making principles into something that actually works in the real world! Those who embrace and imply Walking in the Way in their own lives will find themselves part of a movement affecting generations to come." Dr. Steven Collins, Executive Dean, Trinity Southwest University
"Walking in the Way of Christ & the Apostles (WitW) is a magnificent literary work in biblical theology that offers the student an education in practical Christianity. The WitW study was first introduced in Kenya in November 2011. Since that time we have been using it to instruct ministry leaders and rural pastors at a low cost, and the transformation of lives is phenomenal. Learners get to understand the message of the Bible and are able to study it effectively. In my own interaction with the material over the past five years, I have come to realize the Jesus Christ is using it to revive His remnant in Kenya and other parts of Africa, teaching us how to think in a biblical way and be successful in all spheres of life. I am convinced that the WitW material holds the key to Africa's revival, and, in Yahweh had, it is a mighty tool for returning the continent back to Him." Michael Mutinda. Team Leader, Daystar Institute / Africa.
