ATI Informtation

Giving the World a

“New� Approach

to Life!

Advanced Training Institute International Information

Raising Up the

Foundations of Many Godly Generations (See Isaiah 58:12.)

Advanced Training Institute • Box One • Oak Brook, IL 60522-3001 Phone: 630-323-2842 • Fax: 630-323-6746 • ati.iblp.org

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Advanced Training Institute

What is the Advanced Training Institute?

The Advanced Training Institute International (ATI) is the home education branch of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP). IBLP was developed by Dr. Bill Gothard after fifteen years of working with youth on high school campuses, in church youth groups, and in neighborhood gangs. It was from this work that the Basic Life Principles Seminar (“Basic Seminar”) was developed, which now has more than 2.5 million alumni.

This seminar presents seven non-optional, universal principles that apply to every person. Topics include Scriptural guidelines for breaking destructive habits; conquering anger, guilt, and bitterness; restoring relationships; experiencing true freedom and happiness; and understanding why things happen.

ATI is an outgrowth of the Basic Seminar. It is a Biblically-based home education program for families who desire to raise up sons and daughters who are “mighty in Spirit” and able to impact the world for Jesus Christ.

The ATI curriculum was developed by a group of Christian educators, ministers, scientists, historians, and engineers led by Dr. Gothard. In the scope of the ATI curriculum, the Bible is the main textbook, the Wisdom Booklets are the core curriculum, and supplemental materials and programs are continually developed to assist parents as they teach (and learn) in the classroom of life.

ATI training begins with Scripture and combines valuable academic information with character training and Biblical life principles. The basic ATI curriculum contains more than three thousand pages in fifty-four Wisdom Booklets. Each booklet amplifies a section of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount through practical instruction in Linguistics, History, Science, Law, and Medicine. In brief, the Wisdom Booklets are a unit study based on Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7.

The primary objective in studying each subject is to discover deeper truths in the Scripture passage. The two secondary objectives are to grow in wisdom—to comprehend the particular academic subject from God’s perspective—and to understand the application of the subject to life.

The educational precepts of ATI include seeing the whole family as an educational team, turning life into a classroom, preparing children for adulthood, training older children to work with younger children, explaining principles rather than creating arbitrary rules, and building academics around Scripture.

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The Greatest Commandment “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart . . . .”

(Deuteronomy 6:5)

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Advanced Training Institute

The Five Goals of Life

The goal of the ATI program is to provide Scriptural and educational guidelines to achieve success in the five areas of life that God designed mankind to fulfill. This begins with becoming a successful Person through a growing relationship with the Lord.

We continue by learning how to be an effective Provider, Proclaimer of God’s truth, loving marriage Partner, and wise Parent.

The integrated information in the curriculum and in the related training programs involves these five areas. God carried out this sequence in the life of Adam. It is a prototype for each of us and provides clear direction for training every son and daughter.

1. A vibrant walk with God—being a successful Person A successful person is the one who loves God with his whole being (see Deuteronomy 6:5), and whose personal life is surrendered to God and centered on Scripture. A successful person embraces memorization and meditation on Scripture, and seeks moral purity and freedom from anger. He has a clear conscience with God and man while being under his proper God-given authority. This is developed in the Wisdom Booklets through the meditation, character quality, and theme song worksheets, along with other projects that are suggested at the end of each Resource and in the Parent Guide Planner. (For a full explanation of the ATI curriculum, see pages 11–13.)

2. Wisdom in financial matters—being a successful Provider A successful provider has attained the qualities of initiative, diligence, creativity, wisdom, and enthusiasm and has applied them by making wise financial decisions. He has mastered money-saving techniques, purchasing disciplines, and avoiding debt. He has not only learned to be a good steward, but also a generous sower. The ATI curriculum uses the Authority Through Accuracy and Law Resources to teach these concepts.

3. Having a powerful life message—being a successful Proclaimer A successful proclaimer is one who communicates God’s truth and love. He effectively shares the Gospel, understands and uses the power of prayer, and lives by the commands of Christ. He not only seeks to make disciples, but more importantly, he seeks to make disciple-makers. Learning how to study God’s Word, which is necessary to effectively communicate His truth, is encouraged in the Insights Through Investigation Resource. The lives of past disciple-makers are explored in the History Resource.

4. Enjoying a fulfilling marriage—being a successful Partner A successful partner learns contentment before marriage and is committed to a covenant marriage. He is sensitive to the needs of his spouse and works together with his spouse as a team. He is learning how to die to himself and become sensitive to the needs of others through verbal communication and listening skills to keep his relationship strong and free from bitterness.

Vocabulary and communication skills are taught in the Power Through Precision Resource of each Wisdom Booklet.

5. Training mighty sons and daughters—being a successful Parent A successful parent communicates proper priorities to his family. He is striving to be a credible messenger of God to his family, to develop a joyful and safe environment for the growth of his family, and to incrementally release his children into God’s purpose for their lives. He develops a vision for his family and addresses family relationships. The father and mother teach the children to have a ministry mind-set with a focus on furthering God’s kingdom. Each Wisdom Booklet contains both a Medicine and Science Resource that will help prepare the student for having and raising a family in a joyful and safe environment.

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Giving All Diligence . . . “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.�

(II Peter 1:5–8) 6

Advanced Training Institute

Develop Your Family’s Philosophy of Education 1. Understand and personalize the key elements of ATI. • Centering all of life, including education, on Christ and His Word • Recognizing of the presence of Scriptural absolutes in the search for truth, the establishment of principles, the government of human life, and the design of morality • Training in character development • Establishing the father as the chief steward, entrusted by God for his children’s educational development; emphasis on parental responsibility and accountability in supervising the educational process • Tutorial instruction that personalizes the teaching according to each child’s needs • Increasing learning motivation for children and strengthening the family unit through mutual commitment as parents to become learners along with their children • Developing family relationships in order to learn how to be sensitive and helpful to those outside the family; emphasis on socialization with adults and all age levels of society, rather than exclusively with peers • Integrating all age levels—older students gain experience through teaching the younger ones; younger students benefit from being exposed to the training that the older ones receive • Incorporating academic studies with Scripture through the Wisdom Booklets • Motivating achievement through establishing goals for application rather than simply “covering material”

2. Discuss your goals as parents.

As parents, what do we believe . . .

• about the role of knowledge in the lives of our children?

• about our responsibilities to our children?

• is necessary and worthwhile for our children to learn?

• about our children’s individual learning styles?

• about the function of discipline in the learning environment?

• about our children’s spiritual gifts?

3. Write a concise statement of your beliefs.

____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

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Turning the Hearts . . .

Turning the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers to make ready a people prepared for the Lord, so that many generations can proclaim the kingdom of God

(See Luke 1:17 and Malachi 4:6.)

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Advanced Training Institute

Building the Foundations of Godly Generations One of the goals of the ATI program is to turn the father’s heart to his children, which is the beginning of turning the children’s hearts toward their father. In order for a father to gain and keep his children’s hearts, he should understand how to grow in loving God and in keeping His commands. The following diagram illustrates four different types of fathers and how they lead their families.

Credible Messengers On the quadrant diagram below, the top right corner represents a man who has learned to lead through humility. His desire to follow the ways of God is evidenced by his servant-leadership within his family. (See Matthew 28:18 and I Corinthians 4:15.) This man, like Aquila and Priscilla in Acts 18, is currently discipling others in the faith.

Faithful Men A second type of father is illustrated by the examples in the lower right corner of the quadrant. Just as Apollos was zealous for the things of God but needed further instruction, a faithful man loves the Lord and seeks to learn more of Him. (See II Timothy 2:2 and Acts 18:24.) He is willing to be discipled.

Overlords

Love High

Low

Overlords (Judaizers)

Credible Messengers (Aquila and Priscilla)

Carnal Christians (Corinthians)

Faithful Men (Apollos and Timothy)

Carnal Christians Finally, a father may be distracted by positions, possessions, and pleasures. (See I John 2:15–16.) He is unwilling to become conformed to the image of Christ and to let the Holy Spirit produce fruit in him. This double-minded, carnal Christian is unstable in all his ways. (See James 1:8 and I Corinthians 5:1–9.)

Commands

The upper left quadrant is one who focuses on personal convictions and standards, but lacks love for Jesus. This kind of father builds his life on various truths, but not on the Truth (see John 14:6). Because he does not give these directives (convictions and standards) in love, he alienates his children and creates contention rather than a nurturing environment for growth. (See I Peter 5:3, II Timothy 2:24, and Ephesians 6:4.) Those who emphasize truth without love cannot produce eternal fruit and need to become broken before God.

Low

The left side of the diagram, illustrating Carnal and Overlord parenting, often results in bitter, sensual children who take energy rather than give it. The right side of the diagram produces the fruit of loving, obedient children who are ready to be released into the fulfillment of God’s purpose for their lives.

Fathers often move back and forth from one quadrant to another. The diagram is simply used to help a man discern what quadrant characterizes his pattern of fathering and allows him to see with clarity the potential results if nothing changes.

ATI’s priorities are to attract and retain disciple-making families, such as those described on the right side of this quadrant diagram; allocate our organizational resources to support family success; and foster opportunities to incrementally release students and families into their life purposes.

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God Wrote a Curriculum . . . . . . and condensed it into one Book. God promises good success to those who apply His curriculum, the Scriptures, to their lives. (See Psalm 1.) God’s curriculum encompasses more than academic subjects.

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Advanced Training Institute

The Wisdom Booklets Learning to See Life from God’s Perspective

In most educational systems today, the curriculum divides learning into academic subjects that are studied independently of one another. In some schools, the Bible is added as a subject to be studied or the Bible is integrated in some other way.

ATI training begins with Scripture and combines valuable academic information with character training and Biblical life principles. The ATI curriculum contains more than three thousand pages in fifty-four Wisdom Booklets. Each booklet amplifies a section of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount through practical instruction in Linguistics, History, Science, Law, and Medicine. In brief, the Wisdom Booklets are a unit study based on Matthew 5, 6, and 7.

Wisdom Worksheets introduce the academic information covered in the Wisdom Booklet Resources.

Studies in Linguistics include the original meanings of Hebrew and Greek words as well as vocabulary, etymologies, and applications of English words. Students learn history, archaeology, geography, and fine arts through life stories of historical figures. Science includes concepts in astronomy, geology, chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics. Law Resources emphasize Biblical foundations of government, economics, and logic. Medicine Resources include training in nutrition, physiology, behavior, and counseling.

By learning educational concepts according to the way God presents them in His Word, family members gain an understanding of how knowledge develops from Godly wisdom. Information becomes valuable as it is applied to life.

Scripture is the main textbook for building all of life, including education, on Christ.

Wisdom Quizzes reveal natural inclinations and sharpen thinking about the foundational truths of the Scripture passages.

Resources go beyond the “facts and figures” teaching method by relating facts to principles. This trains families to think logically and to apply God’s principles to other areas of life.

Parent Guide Planners give ideas and projects that expand learning based on individual needs. A resource library to equip the family with supplementary study material is recommended in the ATI Handbook.

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Advanced Training Institute

Wisdom Booklets Explained Wisdom Quiz (Wisdom Booklet page 3) Purpose: To help you meditate on the passage of Scripture

• This page includes the Wisdom Booklet’s theme verse and the major concept.

• Answers are listed in the Parent Guide Planner on the bottom of page 3.

• The Wisdom Quiz teaches how natural inclinations are deceptive. It can also be used during a Wisdom Search time.

Consider asking the following questions to promote discussion: What other verses relate to this concept?

What testimonies in Scripture illustrate this point?

Is the statement fully true or partially true?

Is it true in every case?

Wisdom Worksheet (Wisdom Booklet pages 4–5) Purpose: To introduce the Resources

Meditation Worksheet (Wisdom Booklet pages 6–7) Purpose: To assist you in gleaning insights from the Scripture passage as you begin the Wisdom Booklet • The Meditation Worksheet is located in each Wisdom Booklet and Parent Guide Planner. It is also located in the back of the Weekly Planner. You may photocopy this page for your family’s use.

• Insights from your meditation will become a foundation for learning from the Wisdom Booklet.

Character Quality Worksheet (Wisdom Booklet page 8) Purpose: To relate Scripture to a character quality and make personal application • The Character Quality Worksheet is located in each Wisdom Booklet and Parent Guide Planner, and at the back of the Weekly Planner; the Character Focus is located on page two of each Parent Guide Planner.

• Character quality definitions (listed according to spiritual motivation) are in the back of the Weekly Planner.

• Examples from Scripture and nature may be found in the Character Sketches and the Character Booklets.

Additional information may be found in Achieving True Success and The Power for True Success.

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Theme Song Worksheet (Wisdom Booklet page 9) Purpose: To “anchor” the concepts from the booklet in students’ minds as they learn to speak to themselves in “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” (See Ephesians 5:19.)

• The Theme Song Worksheet is located in each Wisdom Booklet and Parent Guide Planner and at the back of the Weekly Planner.

Resources (Wisdom Booklet pages 10–end) Purpose: To study subjects as they relate to Scripture and to apply this knowledge to life • Insights Through Investigation explores the original Greek of a booklet’s theme verse. While gaining rich insights, students learn to do authoritative research by using source documents.

• Power Through Precision analyzes definitions, etymologies, and applications of words. Students develop a powerful command of the English language.

• History presents the life stories of historical figures.

• Science relates areas of chemistry, biology, astronomy, geology, physics, and mathematics to important Biblical concepts.

• Authority Through Accuracy teaches basic and advanced mathematical operations and explains how they illustrate basic concepts of everyday life.

• Law explains the Biblical principles on which the American Constitution and law system were founded.

• Medicine gives information and explains terms to enable students to interact knowledgeably with health-care professionals.

Life Classroom Worksheet (Wisdom Booklet last page) Purpose: To relate life situations to the Wisdom Booklet and gain insight and application from them • This is located at the end of the Wisdom Booklet and Parent Guide Planner.

Theme Song (Wisdom Booklet back cover) Purpose: To reinforce the Scriptural insights from the Wisdom Booklet

Mastery Quiz Purpose: To provide questions pertaining to the Major Concept • A set of Mastery Quizzes comes with each set of Wisdom Booklets.

• Answers are provided in the Parent Guide Planner.

• Giving the Mastery Quiz is not essential. Feel free to write your own quiz based upon what you taught, or choose questions from both sides of the Quiz. (One side is designed for older students; the other is for younger students.)

• Concentrate on the educational needs of your family rather than on “teaching the quiz.”

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Our Goal Is Changed Lives.

Instead of scheduling six or seven separate subjects plus some Bible study, academic learning should be filtered through the principles of Scripture, related to character, and made usable through practical application. Our goal is changed lives, not just filled minds! It takes time to adjust to this design, but the adjustment is well worth the effort.

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Advanced Training Institute

How to Join ATI

1. Attend Basic and Advanced Seminars.

Viewing of the Basic and Advanced Seminars by both parents is a prerequisite for enrollment in ATI. The teaching in these seminars is vital for the success of your home education through ATI. Special arrangements can be made to help you view them. The Advanced Seminar may be attended within the first year of enrollment.

Training—

Vital for Parents

2. Apply to ATI. The ATI application starts the process of enrollment. Be sure to include all the required information! To obtain an application, call 630-323-2842, e-mail us at admissions@ati.iblp.org, or visit our Web site at ati.iblp.org. Your application is kept confidential.

Parents have the opportunity to receive specific training on how to implement the ATI curriculum, with the goal of replacing the traditional paradigm of education with a new way of instruction.

3. Pay tuition.

ATI Training Series

An annual tuition fee per family is due after you have been notified of your acceptance into ATI. This fee is nontransferable and must be paid in U.S. funds. Families are also given the option of purchasing the Christ-Centered Curriculum for children aged three to eight and Wisdom Booklet Language Arts for students in grades two through ten.

Parents may either rent or purchase copies of training videos that will provide practical instruction about how to use the ATI materials, as well as how to plan a schedule.

4. Receive training.

To help you understand the purpose of ATI and equip you to use the program, it is vital that both parents attend an ATI Training Conference. Additional training will also be provided through the ATI Training Video Series.

ATI Training Conferences Training conferences contain something for the entire family! They include inspirational sessions, special events, and enriching fellowship with likeminded families.

5. Begin!

Once your acceptance packet has been sent and we receive your tuition, your curriculum and new family resources will be shipped to your home address.

Mail to ATI Admissions: ✓ Your completed application form with attachments Please include only the processing fee. Make checks payable to the Advanced Training Institute. ✓ Your family photograph ✓ Individual pictures of all children aged fourteen and older

ATI Admissions • Box One • Oak Brook, IL 60522-3001

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Statement of Faith •

We believe

in the one true God, existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal from all eternity, each with distinct personalities but of one essence.

• We believe the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God, and is the sole, infallible rule of faith and practice.

• We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, that He entered into the world through the virgin birth, and lived among us without sin as perfect Man and perfect God. • We believe Adam was directly created in innocence and in the image of God and did not evolve from preexisting forms of life. By voluntary transgression, he fell, and thus the whole human race is now sinful by nature and practice and, therefore, under just condemnation to eternal separation from God. • We believe Jesus Christ shed His blood on Calvary as a vicarious substitute for all sinners, was buried and rose again bodily, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, from whence He will personally return.

• We believe people are justified by grace through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ without any mixture of works.

• We believe the Holy Spirit convicts the sinner; regenerates, sanctifies, and indwells the believer; and fills the believer for effective service.

• We believe in the priesthood of the believer and that God has made provision for each believer to be victorious by being led of the Spirit and not walking after the flesh.

• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost—the just unto the resurrection of life eternal and the lost unto the resurrection of eternal damnation.

• We believe Satan is a living being and that hell is a place of eternal, conscious punishment for him, his hosts, and all unbelievers.

• We believe Scripture commands Christians to abstain from all forms of compromise with unbelief.

• We believe that the Bible sets forth principles for Godly living and that if one learns and follows these principles, one will be able to avoid and refute false teachings and false concepts.

Information Booklet—2nd edition

Image of family on pg. 2 courtesy of Nathan Roth. Pictures of man praying on pg. 4 and Wisdom Booklets on pg. 10 courtesy of Jennifer Meyer.

Image of Bible on pg. 12 courtesy of Katie Pleckham.

Copyright ©2006 Advanced Training Institute International. All rights reserved. First Printing: 060378 All Scripture verses are quoted from the King James Version of the Bible, unless noted otherwise.

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