The Athens Institute of Ministry (AIM) was launched in 2004 in Athens, Georgia, USA. Now it is a global programme represented in over 27 nations. Here in the UK and Ireland, Douglas Jacoby has teamed up with Malcolm Cox, Andy Boakye and the Thames Valley churches of Christ to provide high-quality, flexible courses on various topics of biblical significance which everyone can benefit from. The AIM programme itself is composed of 12 courses, with a certificate of completion given at the end.

Students of the Athens Institute discover how to apply their knowledge to their relationship with God, with one another and with the ever-changing modern world.

Mission Statement

The goal of AIM UK and Ireland is to ensure that as many as possible have the tools and knowledge they need to mature as Christians in order to work with the Holy Spirit in growing their faith, strengthening their convictions and learning to handle the Word of God with full integrity.

It was he who gave some to be... evangelists, some to be shepherds, some to be teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature... Then we will no longer be tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching... Ephesians 4:11-14

Overview

Here is what will be covered in the AIM certificate programme over a three year period.
New Testament Survey Intro to the world of the New Testament, from the historical and geographical background to the culture of the first century to the formation of the New Testament itself.
New Testament Interpretation Interpreting what a N.T. passage meant to those to whom it was written, and making a proper application to our situation today.
Doctrine The study of doctrines related to the Holy Spirit.
Church History There is so much to learn from two millennia of church history. Includes sections on the early church, Patristics, Restoration Movement, and more.
Old Testament Survey Intro to the world of the Old Testament, from the historical and geographical background to the formation of the Old Testament itself.
Old Testament Interpretation This course has the potential to radically change how you read and interact with God's word. Units on interpretation of: Narratives, Law, Psalms, Prophets, Wisdom Literature, and more.
Homiletics A journey on how to preach and write sermons that have a powerful impact and deeply resonate spiritually.
Biblical Counselling Learn the ABCs of pastoral counseling: when to advise and when to refer, working with professionals when necessary. Learn about Family Systems and other invaluable approaches.
Apologetics Intro to Apologetics and Christian Evidences, from the Creation/Evolution debate to Archaeology to Theodicy (the problem of suffering) and much more!
World Views The world is made up of many faiths and beliefs, this course introduces you to some of the main ones, including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and more.
Spiritual Life The Bible places far more emphasis on who we are inside than on how we behave or appear to others. The course covers character, sexual issues, financial responsibility (guest speaker), and so much more.
Family Life According to 1 Timothy 3, how we build our own family is how we tend to build the church family. This course covers everything the Bible teaches about parenting, marriage, and family.

Our Teachers

Douglas Jacoby

Douglas Jacoby is a Bible teacher who has served as a minister on church staff for 20 years, in London, Birmingham, Sydney, Stockholm, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and Washington DC. Since 2003 he has worked as a freelance teacher and consultant.

Douglas has engaged in a number of public debates (Islam, atheism, theology, Judaism). He also serves as adjunct professor of theology at Lincoln Christian University and professor of theology in the Rocky Mountain School of Theology and Ministry.

With degrees from Drew, Harvard, and Duke, Douglas has written 35 books, recorded nearly 900 podcasts, and spoken in over 100 universities, and in over 500 cities, in 126 nations around the world. Douglas has led 25 tours to the biblical world. The Jacobys have three adult children. Douglas and his wife, Vicki, reside in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Dr. Andrew Boakye

Andy Boakye is Lecturer in Religion and Theology at the University of Manchester. Andy is on the editorial board of Grove Books, is a member of the British New Testament Society and is a frequent contributor to the Journal of the Study of New Testament. He has taught New Testament Studies at the University of Manchester, the University of Chester and Leeds Trinity University. He was formerly theologian-in-residence for St Peter's House church and Chaplaincy, a multi denominational University Chaplaincy. His book “Death and Life: Resurrection, Restoration and Rectification in Paul's Letter to the Galatians”, was published in 2017 and his most recent book, co-authored with Professor Peter Oakes, is entitled “Rethinking Galatians: Paul's Vision of Oneness in the Living Christ”, and was published in February 2021. He has been commissioned to write the Zondervan Word Biblical Themes volume on Ephesians for release in 2025.

Dr Boakye is, most importantly, husband to Chi and father to Aaron (19) and Storm (17).

Malcolm Cox

Malcolm currently ministers to the Watford church of Christ and the Thames Valley churches of Christ. His original degree was in music (BMus, Birmingham University), subsequently supplemented by a diploma in Theology from the London School of Theology. He is currently pursuing his Masters in theological studies. After teaching in prep schools for a couple of years (with dreams of being an opera singer), God called him into paid Christian ministry. He has worked in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin - in fact in most parts of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

It has been his privilege to travel extensively both in these islands as well as around the world. Invitations to speak and train in Mexico, Japan, Ghana, Switzerland, Indonesia, South Africa, Poland, India, Ireland, the United States and Singapore have broadened his understanding of how the human experience is at one and the same time both universal and individual.

In addition to a book on the Gospel of John, he has authored or recorded hundreds of blog articles, podcasts and YouTube videos, and written a number of songs.

His wife of thirty-six years, Penny, is a GP in London. They live in Croxley Green, West of Watford. One of their two grown-up children lives nearby, while the other is married and lives in Bristol.

His spare time is taken up with reading, walking and playing the piano.