Learning Areas

The School of Ministry provides on-the-job ministry experience at a multisite, multigenerational, and multiethnic growing church. Residents are actively involved in all facets of the ministry, including meetings, planning, responsibility, leading people, and more. The goal is to get a comprehensive, well-rounded experience of the ministry environment. Ministry experience is the main pillar of our learning areas, the area on which our students spend most of their time, and from which they learn the most about daily ministry. Residents are not just able to contribute to their ministry, but expected to! They receive the support and tools to do so from their ministry coach.

Students will be paired with a ministry and campus, bearing in mind their interests and the church’s needs. A director or leader in that ministry or campus will be paired as their School of Ministry coach and supervisor. Coaching goes hand in hand with ministry experience as the coach will guide students through day-to-day ministry, while setting and working toward personal, professional, and spiritual goals for the student.

Every other week, students will meet for a time of teaching/learning and discussion with other residents. Cohort topics vary, will include guest speakers, and are designed to grow residents personally and professionally as a ministry leader. Cohorts are not meant to replace or compete with formal education, but to complement it.