Program Overview
The Galilee Program is for committed Christians, male and female, between the ages of 20 and 35 (inclusively). Qualified candidates should be fellowshipping in churches living out the principles of the New Testament, active in ministry for the Lord, ambitious in the things of God, zealous for Bible study, and living a disciplined life.
The Galilee Program is a seminar-style, discipleship-based, course of biblical studies and training for ministry. It is modeled after the Discipleship Intern Training Program, a leadership development course founded by William MacDonald and O. Jean Gibson in 1972. The training is held at Southside Bible Chapel, Lafayette, Louisiana.
Interns accepted into the program are provided with a wide gamut of teaching, discipleship, and training. The topics vary slightly from year to year, but large amounts of time are devoted to inductive Bible study methods, principles of discipleship and evangelism, key Biblical doctrines, prayer, and development of ministry skill sets.
This year’s Galilee Program will be from 6:00 pm Sunday, June 23rd – 12:00 pm Friday, July 12th, 2024. For more information regarding travel, arrivals, and departures, please see our online handbook.
The Galilee Program has been designed with two biblical texts in mind. The Lord Jesus sent forth His followers, saying, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). The Apostle Paul echoed this command, instructing his young disciple Timothy, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). The goal of the Galilee Program is to support the work of local churches in raising up a new generation of disciples and leaders committed to the proclamation of the gospel and to the establishment and revival of churches founded on the principles and practices of the New Testament.
The Galilee Program is now accepting applications for training. Thirty-two internships are being offered through an application process. If you believe God is calling you to participate in the Galilee Program, submit an application online.
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Doctrinal Statement
What Galilee Instructors Believe
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, each word having been God-breathed. God gave the Bible to the church, and the church is to serve God in obedience to the Bible. We hold the Bible as the final and supreme authority for our doctrine and lives, and that it is without error in its original writings (1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
We believe in one God, who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each is equal in attributes, power, and glory (Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
We believe that Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, was born of a virgin, whose name was Mary. He is the unique Son of God, true God and true man (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-14; 5:22-23).
We believe that God created man in His own image, but through man’s willful choice to disobey God, sin came into the world and death through sin. All now are born in sin, spiritually dead, separated from God, corrupt in nature, and guilty before God (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-7; Romans 3:12; 5:12; 6:23).
We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins in our place. He is our substitutionary and representative sacrifice. We believe that He rose again from the dead on the third day, never to die again. We believe His work of salvation is finished, that the righteous demands of God are fully satisfied in the work of Christ on the cross, and that there is salvation in no other (Mark 10:45; Romans 6:1-14; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 2:24; John 19:30; Hebrews 10:18; John 14:6).
We believe that all who repent and believe the gospel are eternally saved. Salvation is a free gift of God, given apart from any human merit. We believe that God’s gracious offer of salvation can only be received freely, and that those who would add human merit to the gospel preach a false gospel (Mark 1:15; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Galatians 2:21; 3:10).
We believe that every genuine believer is born again, sealed with the Spirit of God, and eternally secure in Christ. We believe that the evidence of new birth is the fruit of the Spirit and obedience to Christ. Every believer is a member of the body of Christ, the church, and gifted by the Holy Spirit for spiritual service. We believe that the goal of the Holy Spirit in this age is to glorify Christ. We believe that Christ alone is the head of the church and that we are called to serve Him. We believe that the local church is God’s primary means for reaching the lost and caring for the saved (John 5:7; 1 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:13; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Corinthians 12:11; John 16:14; Colossians 1:18; Luke 9:23; Matthew 16:18).
We believe in the personal and imminent return of Jesus Christ for His church, the establishment of His millennial kingdom upon the earth, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost. (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:4-15).
For a fuller statement of our beliefs, please download our complete doctrinal statement (PDF).