The Torchlight School stands out as one of the more critical features in the Journey to Transformation (JTT) process. It is during this 12-week period that participants receive their first exposure to the fundamental principles of transforming revival. It is also a season in which they are encouraged and coached on how to apply these principles.

The people who provide this assistance are called Facilitators. Although it is not their primary task to deliver teaching (this is handled by our international faculty via locally-screened DVDs), their familiarity with the concepts allows them to effectively guide students through post-session discussions and decision making.

Before facilitators can be released to guide students in a Torchlight School they must first attend a weeklong training seminar. The purpose of this event is to insure that they are familiar with the emphasis points in the JTT curriculum, and that they know what is expected of them in their role as discussion leaders. They will also receive some great tips and techniques for process facilitation.

In generic terms, the job of a facilitator is to encourage people to think about, discuss, and then act on new truths and ideas. To handle this task well involves drawing on a broad repertoire of knowledge and skills — including the ability to recognize when a discussion is getting off-track, and which tools and techniques are needed to help a group refocus on the salient issues. Success comes when students absorb fresh revelation that leads to meaningful change.

Selecting the right people to serve as facilitators in the Torchlight School is extremely important.

In fact, a mistake at this stage can deal a severe setback to a community that is endeavoring to prepare for transforming revival. Failure can result from an approach that is too casual and distracted, or from one that is exclusively cognitive. To improve the odds of success, an effective facilitator should do two things:

1. Maintain a sober and focused atmosphere (by reminding students they are on a holy quest)

2. Avoid the trap that knowledge equals success (by reminding students that unapplied principles are impotent).

To help JTT community leaders select well-rounded and effective facilitators, The Sentinel Group has asked Deborah Leverett, a professional facilitator with Entera Partners, to develop the following list of desired characteristics and core competencies. Although it is unlikely that candidates will manifest all of these skills and attributes, a successful school experience requires that a strong majority of them be present. Each selection should therefore be carried out with great care and prayerfulness.

Finally, it is important to remember that the Journey to Transformation is essentially a spiritual experience — not an academic exercise. This means that intellectual engagement and professional technique should never be allowed to overshadow the role and prerogative of the Holy Spirit. At the end of the day it is not what we think needs to be done, but what He instructs us to attend to. Transformation always begins with transactions of the heart — and no one knows the human heart better than its Maker.

Desired Attributes and Competencies for Torchlight Facilitators

Manifests humility and self-control

Know-it-alls, domineering personalities and argumentative spirits are toxic to healthy discussion and learning. People like this should be avoided in favor of individuals who are servant-hearted and possess a healthy self-awareness of both their weaknesses and their impact on others. Facilitators must have the capacity to remain neutral and objective during debates and heated discussions.

Strong cognitive and communication skills

Facilitators should possess a puzzle assembler’s ability to arrange various and diverse details into a coherent big picture. They should also be able to communicate these connections and conclusions in a clear and concise manner.

Confident leadership style

In addition to being good listeners, facilitators also need to know when it is time to intervene, and how to do this appropriately. As captains of the Torchlight ship, is up to them to set the course for each session and keep the process moving.

Disciplined organizer and time manager

It is very important that Torchlight facilitators know how to establish priorities and manage their time. This entails determining how they will interface with other facilitators and making sure they come to each session fully prepared.

Willingness to protect the integrity of the course

It is the responsibility of Torchlight facilitators to maintain a consistent focus over the duration of each school. This means avoiding efforts to blend other streams of thought into the JTT curriculum (this sets up a troubleshooting nightmare), and resisting any proposal to diminish the discussion and application process.